Summer Staycation: Six Flags Great America, Finally!

Thursday July 1st

Since the perfect weather continued on Thursday, we thought we should once again take advantage of it. We hadn't planned on Six Flags in advance, but Alyssa had a free ticket, and they were running a buy one get one free promotion. We spontaneously decided to go and the kids were bouncing with excitement.

We have lived here for 5 1/2 years and had never been. We had a nursing baby, or I was pregnant, or I was nursing again, or we had a napping baby. This year has been the first year when Six Flags seemed like a good idea. The park looks really small compared to the Six Flags I grew up with so I am not sure I expected much, but we LOVED it! They have lots of good rides and it is not as spread out as Magic Mountain (the Six Flags in CA) so that means a lot less walking. We also expected massive crowds, but with the exception of Superman (60 minute wait), we got on every ride in about 10-15 minutes.

I didn't get too many pictures, because for the first three hours I ditched the camera, and the kids to ride roller coasters. It has been so long since I could do that! My dad and Linda took the kids, and Seth and I joined Christian and Jeff on all the big kid rides. Superman was the best ride there. Best ride ever, maybe? You are laying face down, so you can't see the ride that is holding you, or the track. Too cool!

While we were in one line, I asked everyone else if they thought my kids were being good, or asking for everything they saw. As if on cue, my kids rounded the corner with giant souvenir bottles full of Icee and the biggest bag of cotton candy I have ever seen. As I suspected, they were being beggars but my dad and Linda looked pleased to be catering to their every whim.

After we hit all the rides Alyssa and Alex were too short for, we joined up again, to ride together. Can you believe that even Alex is tall enough to go on a few roller coasters. He even rode one with 4 loops. Thank goodness the seatbelts are a lot better than when I was a kid. Do you remember when all we had was a silver bar that only came down halfway? Yikes! Now you are locked in to custom fitted full body harnesses. Much better. Alyssa even rode the one that drags you slowly up 250 feet and then drops you straight down. Even I can't stomach that one.

It was the most pleasant day. It never got too hot. I never got soaked, and we spent very little time in line. We were all in such a good mood that we didn't even let it rattle us when Alex peed in line for a ride. He was wearing his swimsuit. He thinks if you are in a swimsuit, you are free to urinate at will because your clothes don't get wet. We were in line, an indoor line no less, with a painted slick floor, when I noticed a puddle. I jokingly asked Alex if he'd had an accident and he casually said, "I couldn't hold it". We all just laughed and shuffled through the puddle. Sorry Six Flags!

After lots of riding and eating, Chloe had just about had it. Seth, Jeff and Christian were not interested in staying for the parade so they offered to take Chloe home and put her to bed while the rest of us stayed. Alex had been pleading for a souvenir cape all day. Since they were only $4, we grabbed a couple and headed over to wait for the parade. Of course as soon as we found a seat, Alex saw all the light up toys for sale and needed one right away. I tried to explain that we already got a souvenir and spent all our money, but I remember being a kid and needing to have one of everything I saw too. Apparently Grandpa remembers that too, because he disapperared for a moment and returned with light up swords. Alex was satisfied, at least until we passed the cotton candy and balloons on the way out. Oh how well I remember being a kid in an amusement park.

We did get duped in to buying one souvenir picture. We couldn't help it. Alex's face sold it. Do you think he was on the same ride as the rest of us?

The crazies who went on the raft ride, in the people dryer.

We finally exited the park as the gates were closing , and ventured home with our tired little superheroes, who hung up their capes and retired for the night.