Riverfest '09

Yesterday we took the kids over to the annual Riverfest festivities at Riverside park. The kids have been looking forward to this event for ages (you know, like three days at least!). They were really jazzed about it after seeing the rides being assembled on Tuesday. We had saved some money from their birthday presents so they could each get the unlimited rides stamp. Thursday's special ran from 4pm-8pm, so we decided to have dinner there as well.

We got to the park shortly before it opened and found a great parking space across the street from the entrance. In previous years we parked in a neighborhood that required a trip up and down a very steep hill, so we tried a new area this year. Good choice, because the walk was much shorter and easier. We arrived and scoped out the rides first to determine if it was worth it to get Ben the unlimited rides or just a few tickets for the rides he was willing to go on. We wavered, but opted for the unlimited option and I'm so glad we did. Each ride cost $3 and the stamp was $18, so after just six rides, it was all "free." Ben and Matthew rode everything they could as many times as they could in a four-hour time span! Ben is usually my chicken so it was surprising that he was so willing to keep up with Matthew. I guess it helped to have Big Brother with him :) He would not go on the Ferris Wheel, however, so Mommy went on it with Matthew. I knew I couldn't handle anything else with my back pain (which actually felt alot better after the carnival!)

The boys went on the following rides: tea cups, bumpy cars, bumblebees, a Fun house, big slide, roller coaster, and a big playset thing with bridges and slides. Matthew only: the carousel and a boat ride. Ben was too short for both w/o a parent and I only agreed to take them on the Ferris Wheel. They rode all of these things more times than we could count. The lines were non-existant until after six, then there was a little wait time.

We paused for supper and managed to feed the whole family for only $15. The kids all had a slice of pizza and Rob and I had some super-yummy gyros (pronounced yee-ro). The different restaurants in town have booths so its a good way to sample foods from places you may not have been to (or heard of.)

Anna got a little restless after awhile and wanted down. We weren't going to put her on rides b/c each one would cost $6 ($3 for her and $3 for us) so we decided to pay $2 so she could pick up a duck at the game booths. The duck booth had three little duck ponds in baby pools. We let Anna out of the stroller and told her to pick up a duck. She decided to try to join the ducks, which would have been more fun of course, but a little too wet. We finally talked her into grabbing one and she won....a duck! It's a pretty toy duck with a pink lei. She was happy until we put her BACK into the stroller. Rob decided to take her to the park's playground and let her run around while I continued to let the boys ride.

At that point, I thought we should go look at the big rides and see if Matthew was tall enough for any of them. He rode the Scrambler and had a blast, then we saw Zero Gravity. That is one of those rides that is in a big circle where each rider stands in their own cage. The ride spins around fast, then lifts up. It's perfectly safe and the laws of physics keep the riders from falling out. (As Rob explained to me.) Matthew was tall enough, but not brave enough. Yet.

Rob and Anna returned and we let the boys ride some more, then decided to call it quits. We let them each pick one more ride and Matthew chose Zero Gravity. He went on after a quick height check and I stood there paralyzed with fear. There went my baby, my five-year-old, onto an adult ride that even I had never been on before! He had a ball! He came off the ride and while Rob and I were debating what ride should be Ben's last, Matthew got back into line and onto the ride again. Ben wanted to ride the roller coaster, so Rob took him there while Anna and I waited for the Brave One. Who, after riding Zero Gravity a second time, was not so brave. He came off that ride and the only color on his face were his freckles. He and I headed for a bench, where he melted onto the thing. Poor kid was so sick, but he manged to keep his dinner down. Rob and Ben joined us shortly and we made our way to the car. I gave Matthew a plastic bag for the ride home, just in case. He made it and went upstairs for a bath and bed. He kept saying, "I still feel like I'm on that ride! I should have only gone once!" Oh, the lessons we teach ourselves!

Anyway, we had a great time and the boys are already planning for next year. I'm so glad we went last night b/c it has been raining cats and dogs all day and I'd imagine they had to keep the carnival part closed. Might be rather soggy tomorrow for the craft fair as well.