THIS WEEKEND WAS EXHAUSTING! But it was fun!
Here's what we were up to...
Here's what we were up to...
We had a big day planned, so after coffee and breakfast, I got my workout going- 3 miles and 1 mile of walking.
We spent the entire day at the best amusement park in the WORLD- Knoebels Grove! Along for the fun were me, Paul, my parents, my brother and his family, along with my SIL's sister and fiance. What a crew!
Knoebels is America's largest free-admission amusement park. I have lived less than an hour from Hershey Park my entire life, but Knoebels Grove was the place my family went yearly. So not only do I love Knoebels because it is awesome, but because it reminds me of my childhood.
I rode the Grand Carousel, which is one of the ones where if you get an outside horse, you can lean out and grab brass rings each time you go around.
Paul and I also rode the Log Flume. I hadn't been on that since high school. Boy did it make me feel like a kid again!
My fearless niece, who is TWO, experienced the log flume for the first time. As you can see, she had a blast! That's my brother and dad with her.
We got soaked on the Skloosh. That's us in the second row!
Tyler entered a wet t-shirt contest. Just kidding, he is soaked from the Skloosh!
I set aside my fears and rode the Scenic Skyway with Paul because he wanted to. Aren't I a good wife? The entire time we were on it, I feared crashing to my death.
A view of the park from the Scenic Skyway.
I also rode the Flyers, which I immediately regretted because they are deceptively scary!
A trip to Knoebels is not complete without spending some quality time in the arcade!
My brother Tyler and Paul
Tyler and my dad- aka "White Lightening"
I love Deal or No Deal!
I had 16 shots and I hit... 2. I better keep my day job!
A family tradition is riding the Pioneer Train! It is a short but beautiful ride under coasters, around the pool, and through the woods. We even saw a deer!
By the end of the day my feet hurt, my legs hurt, and my back hurt from walking so much. Crashing into bed never felt so good!
Saturday was Paul's birthday! Happy Birthday, Doodlez!!!!
Another big day was planned, so I got my run going right when I got up.
My longest walk/run in about two weeks- AND my third day of running in a row!
I actually felt great! Not perfect, but I enjoyed my workout and
I wasn't too uncomfortable after.
Paul had a great birthday hanging out poolside with out friends!
The Birthday Boy!
Maren and Max's little baby Huxley was learning to swim.
Randy and Mike, looking like freaking models!
My main girl, Maren. I love her!
Mike told me I don't look 33, which made him my new best friend.
I think he was just sucking up because I was the bartender.
Paul is the dog whisperer. Little Ruby Sue is Maren and Max's other baby!
Again, we were very happy to crash into bed when we got home. Swimming and drinking really is tiring.
I could not fall asleep Saturday night. Part of it was my fault for reading a really scary book. It was called The Profiler: My Life Hunting Serial Killers and Psychopaths. I read for about two hours until I got so creeped out I could barely breathe! I got on the computer and started fiddling around. The goal was to get my mind off the book. Well, I ran out of things to do on the computer, so I started reading a different book- a happier, less scary book. A little after 4:00 am the cats begged for their breakfast, so I got out of bed and fed them. Finally, I curled up in bed and fell asleep, not planning to wake up until well after noon...
But instead I got up at 10:00 am. Not being able to sleep always frustrates me and depresses me. So it was sort of a "do nothing" morning and afternoon for me. I did manage to get in a semi good lifting session. When I started, I was quickly hijacked by my baby boys!
I'm looking for some 20, 25, and 30lb dumbbells.
Trying to find them used before I shell out all the $$$$ and get them new...
Then I dove into the scary serial killer book I was reading the night before. What do you know, it's less scary in the day time!
That evening, we went to see our friend Randy in an improv show in Harrisburg. It had been quite awhile since we saw the Oxymorons perform, and they were hilarious, as always!
If you live in the Harrisburg area, you should definitely check out the Oxymorons! Like them on Facebook and you can stay up to date with their shows. But they have a longstanding gig at Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg the second Sunday of every month at 7pm. For a mere $7 you get two hours of laughs!!!
Have you ever been to Knoebel's?
Did you go swimming yet this summer?
Do you like improv?
Did you go swimming yet this summer?
Do you like improv?
What a truly fun weekend! That amusement park looks awesome and who doesn't love a good pool party?! I love theater, improv, comedy shows--you name it! That sounds like a perfect way to end the weekend!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the runs. Maybe you body is slowly healing itself? Curious to hear what the doctor says!!
I can't wait to hear what he says too! I think I am just not overdoing it and it is helping things not be as bad as they could be.
DeleteI would never be able to read something scary before bed. I can't even watch the news! I am a light-weight!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a FUN weekend!
The news is real life and that's why it is so scary. :( The book I was reading was non fiction as well. I was convinced someone was going to break into our house, rape me, and kill us both!
DeleteHappy late birthday to Paul!!!! I think it's neat your birthdays are super close together. :)
ReplyDeleteShould I be embarrassed that I do not know how to swim? lol.
Your weekend sounds awesome!
What!? You can't swim? So like if you dove into a pool and you couldn't touch, you wouldn't be able to save yourself?
DeleteWow what a jam packed fun weekend! Looks like you had a blast at the amusement park. Happy birthday Paul!
ReplyDeleteCan you believe it I have not been swimming yet this summer. I'm not much of a swimmer but I will be doing lots of it on our cruise in three weeks!
Oooh that is going to be so fun to swim on the cruise and possibly islands you visit??
DeleteWow that was a busy weekend, but filled with a ton of fun. Oh yeah, we are swimming out here in AZ lol. Never been to improv, we have a few in town so maybe I should take the wife.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a fun date night! :)
DeleteRichard, I am not sure where in AZ you live but Rick and I went to Tempe Improv when we were there in February and it was awesome!
DeleteWe've been to Knobels and we usually take our dog one day each summer. She even rides the train with us. We haven't gone at all this year yet though. Oh, I remember in high school to Cosmotron was like the coolest rides!
ReplyDeleteRuby sue is so cute!
I could sleep last night either. I was so worried about booking a flight. That stupid Harrisburg airport has crappy flights...lol
I looooooved the Cosmotron and still love it! I just don't ride it because it would be SEIZURE CITY for Paul hahaha. (I know it's not funny, but you gotta laugh or you'd cry!)
DeleteOne of the things I love about Knoebels is that you can take dogs! I don't have dogs but I love to see them. Did you know dogs can ride the carousel and the antique cars too?
Haha poor HIA. It sure is convenient for us though because it's only 20 min away and we can park my car at Paul's parent's house since they live 5 min from the airport! In fact you can see the planes taking off from his parent's living room window.
It is free in that you don't have to pay to go in. If you want to ride rides you can get a hand stamp or just use tickets and pay as you go (kind of like a carnival). It is really nice because then if a family wants to go and someone doesn't want to ride rides, or maybe just wants to ride one or two, they don't have to spend money to get in. They can still walk around and enjoy the sights and free entertainment. Also, you can bring your own food and drinks into the park and enjoy one of the many picnic areas. Growing up, it was a VERY affordable place for my parents to take me and my brothers because you didn't have to spend all that money on food on top of everything else. It is just such a wonderful place with AWESOME customer service. I feel like I should work in their PR dept, don't you??? :) Oh, it is not crazy crowded. We went on a Friday, it was crowded, and some of the popular rollercoasters had a 20-45 min wait. But all the rides I rode we either didn't wait or only waited for the ride to go through a one or two times and then we could hop on. That Skloosh ride there was NO line!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA DEATH ROPE RIDE! I love my man! Actually I researched amusement park accidents and a man actually did fall 30 feet and injure himself on that right pretty soon after it opened. It was determined to not be the park's fault though. The man came with an assisted living place for adults with mental disabilities and no one was on the ride with him... the asst. living place got charged with neglect. That's what I do after visiting an amusement park- research the deaths and accidents that have occurred there.
Happy Birthday, Doodlez!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe your niece went on that roller coaster at only two years old! She's so brave!!! I didn't go on a roller coaster until I was about 12 years old, and then I stopped going on them at about 15 years old! I'm such a wimp and I hate long drops. That feeling you get in the pit of your stomach ... UGH! I can't stand it!
You had such a busy and fun weekend! I'm really jealous. I had a busy weekend too but it wasn't really filled with anything fun. Womp womp! I need to get my act together!
Well you know my weekends are hit or miss! I could not survive two weekends like this in a row. :)
DeleteI am scared of roller coasters now too. It is interesting though because I researched amusement park accidents/fatalities, and roller coasters are actually the SAFEST thing to ride at an amusement park!
It looks like you had a very busy weekend. I am still so impressed that you can stay up until 4am. We have a place very similar to Knoebel’s here in Oregon called the Enchanted Forest, even though I think there is still a park entrance fee. I love theme parks that have an old-school vibe.
ReplyDeleteImprov is probably one of my favorite forms of acting/theater. There is something very comical about watching people react spontaneously – especially when they are quick to think and good at it. Sounds like something I would really enjoy.
I bet I would love Enchanted Forest. The old-school vibe is something I love.
DeleteI used to hate improv because I would get secondhand nerves for the actors. I love performing in musical theater and don't mind being in front of the audience as long as I KNOW what I'm doing. With the whole point of improv being that it's unplanned... I am just not comfortable with that at ALL. When I was in Rent, our director made us warm up for rehearsals by doing improv. I would always find a way to not take a turn by either hanging in the back or going to the bathroom. It was very uncomfortable when I actually had to do it. So I would feel nervous just watching improv-ers on stage. But I have finally gotten over my stage fright for them (hahaha it is so ridiculous) and now can enjoy it.
I think it enjoy it more because my pal is in it. :)
I love improv, but I am absolutely terrible at it. It's like as soon as it's formal improv, my creativity goes out the window. I really admire actors who are able to pull off improv like it ain't no thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, you do not look 33.
Then you are my second new best friend. :)
DeleteNot visible in pictures I provided: grey hairs and laugh lines.