We went to Great America today, in spite of the fact that it was barely 50 degrees and windy. So we bundled up, and we only stayed a few hours before coming home. Long enough to have the picnic lunch and for Ashley to ride most of the big coasters she has been wanting to ride for so long. Superman had technical issues today, so she did not get to ride that. And the new coaster, Goliath, won’t be open for at least a month (it’s not even done being built yet). Ashley rode Batman, X-Flight, and Raging Bull.  Here is the video of her first ever Raging Bull ride. Both girls had ski masks on due to the cold.

We’ll go back when it is warmer so that she can ride things again.

We had a baby shower today for Aunt Erin. We put out a nice little sandwich spread, with the family favorites included: deviled eggs, chips + onion dip (the good stuff), Fritos scoops, and Mom’s party punch. I baked 2 cakes that are supposed to be the Portillo’s chocolate cake recipe. Our cousin Lindsay came, as did her cousin Katie with her new baby and Lindsay’s Aunt Jeanette. Here are some pix from the party for those we wish could have come!

Erin got the Very Hungry Caterpillar blanket. Caleb recognized it right away! It was really cute.

Is it a boy or a girl? The girl cake was eaten first. The boy cake was chopped up and sent home as leftovers with everyone still there at the time.

I also got a couple of cute pix of Caleb. He got a special puzzle book from Gramma, where the puzzle pieces are shaped like little tools. He did a happy dance when he got to open his present. Then he measured my wall. He also played some music.

Now that the party is done, Ashley had her Barbie fashion show to model the awesome outfits that she got from Aunt Tiffanie. Here are the pix from that “photo shoot”.

Barbie is stylin’!

Tomorrow is a BIG day! It’s the annual CDW buy-out of Great America day, where only employees and their dependents can be in the park. There is a picnic lunch provided too. Of course, this is what it will be like tomorrow….

That 20mph east wind will be coming right off of Lake Michigan, so it will likely feel like the upper 40’s. But the lines will be short, even for the big coasters, and Ashley measures 54 inches EXACTLY! That’s the minimum height for her to ride ALL of the big coasters. So, we will bundle up, bring our hats and gloves and ski masks, and go to the park. We have season passes, but being a buy-out day means Ashley won’t have to wait to ride hardly anything. The new coaster doesn’t open for another month, and the chilly weather might keep a few people away too. Kayla has already decided which coasters Ashley will ride with her, and which ones she can ride with Daddy. I will watch, hold hats, and try to stay warm. A nice hot shower will be my friend when we get home!