Friday Night Lights

We'd built our last sand castle, jumped in the pool for the last time, and eaten our last dinner at Myrtle Beach. There was only one thing left to do. Felicia so sweetly offered me some tickets to the Family Amusement park that her family had left over from last year. I thought, "Sure. Why not?" Not really thinking Ella could do much, I had sort of put it off, but I really did want to give it a try. Earl agreed we'd go see what we could spend the tickets on that Ella could enjoy. First off, we did the Antique Cars. All three of us piled in a truly antique car (that should be retired) while Ella and Earl drove around a 30 second circle listening to Ella scream the entire time. Yep, it was all sorts of fun.

We quickly hopped off of the car before it exploded, and walked around to see what else we could find. We walked past all the roller coasters and arcade games, past all the kiddie rides, and straight to the carousel. I thought that one of us could be with her during the ride. Remembering that last year Ella hated the carousel at Six Flags, I volunteered to ride so that I would be the one to deal with fits and screaming. While waiting to get on, Ella seemed intrigued. I said intrigued, not thrilled.

We were the first ones to get on the carousel. "Great!" I thought. That way we could pick the horse that she wanted. Not, "Great," we're going to have to wait ten minutes before the ride even starts! She started off fine. She picked a horse and acted like she was really going to enjoy this:

Wrong. After sitting on that horse for 5 minutes, she started in: "Me off, Mama. Me off." Trying to keep the peace, I got her off that horse and tried every other horse. Nope. So I sat down in the carriage portion of the horse while she commenced to crying for what seemed like an eternity.

That was until the carousel started. She perked right up and even halfway smiled.

Once the ride ended, she realized what fun it was and wanted to ride it "gin! gin!" (again). I decided I'd let Daddy have the fun this time. But, with lessons learned she was one of the last ones on the horses and had a blast.

After not one, but two carousel rides, Daddy needed a potty break. You know because Ella doesn't need those yet. We were headed that way when, out of nowhere, she spotted him. Yes, him. I tell you, that child came to us prewired with Elmo sensors. Except for this time, she happened to be holding the right person's hand at exactly the right time. Of course to get him, you have to play a game, and this Elmo was a "medium" sized prize so you had to win the game twice. Mean 'ole Mama would've said no, but you-know-who got to see those eyes light up this time. And they worked.

Am I the only one who finds this hilarious? I wish I was a great photo editor because I sure would insert the letters s.u.c.k.e.r across a certain forehead below.

After that Carousel and getting Elmo, Ella was ready to conquer the world- or at least the amusement park. Every ride she could get on she liked. She hesitated giving up Elmo, but she even entrusted him to one of us so she could have some fun. Watching her on these rides made her grow at least two years. How quickly I realized our baby isn't a baby anymore. It was so fun. Ella had a blast, but I think Earl and I would agree we enjoyed it even more.

She rode the swings,

Motorcycles ("cytles"),

and bugs (that she figured out how to move up and down at the end),

After all that excitement, and leaving with Elmo, I think all three of us would name this the best evening of the week.

Thanks again, Felicia, for the tickets to help create some special memories for us all!