Kiddie Land

Lily and I at take off! Lily driving the Moon!

Cutie Pie with strangers

Whoa! "Dad's a crazy driver!"

How did Charlotte do? Well...as you can see, she was just fine! Happy to see Lily have her well deserved fun!

Lily made it! Remember the earlier post about good behavior with the prize at the end being a family trip to Kiddie Land? Waa-la. Mission accomplished. I am totally delighted with Lily's new big girl behavior. She is doing a great job at picking up after herself, is always telling the truth, working diligently at treating others with kindness (even when its not easy or she's been "wronged"), and the listening part, well with very few threats she is starting to pull through :)

Did I say this was a treat for Lily? Its true. The other truth is that it was fun for the whole family! Darin took the day off work and really forgot his cell phone at home, which turned out to be the greatest of blessings. We took turns going with Lily to ride rides, and then snuggling with Charlotte (who was the greatest of champs being tied to a stroller without complaint ALL day!). As one of us waited in line and the other waited with the stroller we were expressing our favoritism to whichever of the girls we were with. And then in the next moment our positions changed. DREAMY!

What is Kiddie Land? a bit of plagarism here...

Kiddieland started out as a small venture of Arthur Fritz in 1929 when he purchased six ponies and offered rides as an escape for parents reeling from the Great Depression. Bumper cars were added in the 1960s as they replaced the original pony ride.
The park transferred ownership in 1977, as Arthur Fritz's grandchildren took over the park and its operation.
The park will close at the end of this season so it was our one and only chance! Why?
A dispute developed between the grandchildren, Shirley and Glenn Rynes, who own the land that Kiddieland occupies, and Ronald Rynes, Jr. and Cathy and Tom Norini, who own the amusement park itself. The landowners sued the park owners in 2004, claiming that the park had an improper insurance policy and that fireworks were prohibited in the lease. The case was thrown out in a Cook County court and later in an appeals court. The landowners declined to extend the lease on the land in early 2009.
The rides are expected to be sold by late October, when the park closes for the season.

This little park was so unique. We are so sad to think a strip mall will probably replace it. Alas...Lily rode EVERY SINGLE ride...even the big scary ones with her arms in the air laughing and screaming for joy. And I had a moment with Lily where I laughed so hard I nearly wet my pants...I just love that feeling of falling! Is there a sky dive in my future? And Lily's = yikes.