Adventure(land)!

  

Last week I went to Adventureland with Abby and David and Paul.

We slowed down to a full stop for this picture, and couldn't quit thinking about Clark Griswold and his family at Wally World.

What is Adventureland? If you had any sort of middle class upbringing in Iowa, I'm sure you know the answer to this question already. Adventureland is a theme park in Des Moines that feels like Valleyfair, but can actually be a place you go to where you don't feel nauseous before noon. It's got an older look to it, and clearly it's not as trendy as Valleyfair, but I loved it more.


I'm not sure though if it's because Valleyfair is such a hot spot for 8th graders everywhere this time of year and I'm taking a hiatus from 8th graders for a while (aka summer...the hiatus ends in September). Or if it's because I had an experience as an 8th grader myself that included getting into a dramatic 8th grade fight at the end of the day. Do NOT leave your friends for a fun-filled day at Valleyfair with your crush. If you're intending to have a sleepover at the end of the class trip, they will not be happy with you. Lesson learned, right away.





So Adventureland is way cooler to me on a lot of levels.  It looks like it was built in the 1960s and hasn't seen much in the way of remodeling since then.  But it's got a homey feel.  While there, I kept noticing the trees. When you push babies around anywhere you are always in search of shade at some point in the day. Adventureland did not disappoint. And Valleyfair doesn't have very many trees nearby. That's why you feel like you're going to barf by the time it's noon. Total sun exposure, funnel cakes, and adrenaline, post-roller coaster experience, is not a good combination. Also it always seems like people are daring each other to do extreme things.

Lots of fun for 14 year olds.  Also lots of drama. 

Rereading the above paragraph tells me that it's been over 10 years since I've been to Valleyfair, and I have the bias of being an adult while at Adventureland as compared to last being at Valleyfair when I was 14. Major difference. But still.

As we drove there, I couldn't stop thinking about National Lampoon's Vacation.  Specifically these clips...  We did not plan our trip like this, but the excitement level, especially when Abby taught David the Adventureland theme song, was clearly there.  Also, Clark Griswold IS my dad in that he planned our family vacations like this too...minus Pacman.

(Link)
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Chevy Chase Sound Clips

and
Clark Griswold Sound Clips

 We were there for 7 hours, and there were no major meltdowns from either David or Paul.  They went on rides, they went swimming, they fell asleep in the stroller, they ate lots of crackers, they found that one ride and got really repetitive with it....all classic things that toddlers do.  I had a ton of fun with them because they're funny and cute and going to Adventureland is exciting.  David could sing the song from the commercial on cue, and most of the employees were like grandmas and grandpas, so nothing was overly sketchy.  There is also an entire area devoted to Iowa farms, pig concession stand and windmill included (see picture below).  It was fun to hang out as cousins and be huge dorks about certain things together.  This is no uncommon thing, but it's enhanced for sure at a place like Adventureland.  All in all, the trip was a total stress reliever. 

What I Learned While in Iowa....

1. It's important to wear sunscreen and apply it to your skin as often as you apply it to the baby.
2. Adventureland is best located when traveling along 80E, not 80W.
3. Toddlers repeat what you say because they are listening all the time (this includes Arrested Development quotes).
4. Thomas the Train songs are repetitive and creepy, and yet David loves them always.
5. If you are hanging out with a cute one year old in a stroller who hams it up like Paul does, people will come over and talk to you (and also try to hug him).
6. Babies will try to eat wood chips when you take them to the park.
7. Fazoli's is still an AMAZING restaurant and you can find one when driving from Des Moines to Clear Lake in Iowa.
8. A $6.00 'mix it up' Icee is worth it at 4 in the afternoon.  
9. Goldfish crackers make crabby kids happy again.
10. You really do have to stop and make toddlers use the bathroom every time you see one
11. Paul will head for open waters (the lake) or the splashiest part of the splash pad (at Kokomo Kove in Adventureland).  He is fearless.  And yes, as usual I hate that Kokomo Kove is spelled with two K's (HATE THAT) but it was still an awesome water park.
12. Kids really do fall asleep before leaving the parking lot if they are tired enough.  I thought this was a myth but I watched it happen. 
13. Kids really do run away from you just that quickly, and I experienced a very scary and long feeling seven seconds.
14. Toddlers are very literal.  You have to say it or not say it and it is set in stone forever.  Sometimes it reminded me of being with middle schoolers.  There are similarities!  (No disrespect intended.)

The Best Things

For David...the train and the dragon ride

For Paul...the teacups and taking a nap in the stroller

For Jessica and Abby...pulling VERY relaxed kids through the Lazy River, watching her kids be really happy about everything, and eating Fazoli's kids' meals on the ride home

 

25 Pictures to Chronicle the Trip

 

Shopping for Supplies

 Toy Aisle (that is Paul's hand...he loves glasses)

Toy Aisle

TACO TICO!  - Once when Abby and I were little and I came for a few days to visit, we went to Taco Tico.  It's your basic fast food Mexican restaurant, but it was magical in 4th grade.  When I came back to this place I admitted to the cashier that I hadn't been there since 1994.  She totally didn't care.  I realized there was a good possibility that this was the year she was born.  It was weird.

Pre-Adventureland

 Paul gazing into Adventureland

Train ride!  David's favorite ride (and the topic of conversation for the rest of the day)

 Teacups!

This is the smile that made people come up to him and try to hug him.

Teacups - clearly not just for Disneyworld

Classic kid lunch...Juicy Juice included

The Chuck Wagon...this ride was TINY, and actually in the end kind of scary for adults.

 The second most discussed ride of the day...flying dragons.  He went on this ride 4 times. 

Too small for some rides!  We'd hang out at the stroller.

This looked like a celebrity picture for People magazine, so I took it. 

NECESSARY Sno-Cone break, post-Kokomo Kove (you can tell)

This is how happy you are if you are at Adventureland when you are 2.

You can tell you're in Iowa when you buy treats out of a giant pig and there is a ride called the 'Silly Silo' in the background.  Abby told me that when they were little it was her brother Kevin's favorite ride.

Kokomo Kove baby area...Paul is cute everywhere he goes.

After swimming

SO TIRED.  Last ride of the day.  Paul needs a diaper change and some Goldfish.  David needs to hold someone's hand and not run away.  We need Fazoli's.

Classic Abby, Paul, and Jessica picture...see below for other versions of this in earlier seasons.***

When Abby was talking on the phone, David asked for a lot of cheddar chips, and I gave him as many as he wanted.  Then he fell asleep with a cheese moustache on his face.

Paul did not sleep.  Instead this is when I fed him a lot of small pieces of Goldfish crackers.

Exhaustion in the back

Exhaustion in the front

I left Iowa tired and happy and sunburned and gratified. There is nothing like being with your family. Abby and I have lots of memories together, and this one was especially fun because it was time with her kids too. They're cute and funny and very special because they belong to Abby and Kurt. Taking care of kids is a ton of work and it's also a ton of fun. When I spent a few days in Iowa, I once again caught a glimpse of what this means.



***

P.S.  My friend Heather is having a baby in about a month, and this is the only official picture I took the night of the baby shower.  Since this day my skin has continued to look crispier and crispier.  When did I think that skin care with my complexion could be a versatile endeavor?  It never ever can.  I'm excited for another baby to come into the world, and I will never forget the good conversation we had in Mia's kitchen about being souls. 

My lovely friend Christi

P.P.S.  Jenna ran a race on the 4th of July.  She is awesome! 

Before

During

After