Staycation!

After a crazy April, Jeff decided to take a few days off last week.  Rather than packing the family up and going somewhere, we decided to just stay home and enjoy our new home.  A staycation.  It was fantastic!

Some highlights of our staycation were:

A bouncing good time at Pump it Up

Games at Chuck E Cheese

A picnic at the BIG fountain

Followed by rides & lollipops in Riverpark.

But the best part of our staycation happened on Friday night. 

We had heard from lots of people about riding the train to Hanford, getting ice cream at Superior Dairy, and then riding the merry-go-round. 

This sounded like a fantastic idea.  So we purchased our tickets, picked up some McDonalds for the train ("O-Donalds chicken & apples & milk!" exclaimed Jackson joyfully), and headed to downtown.  We had been talking up the train for the past 24 hours, and Jackson was sufficiently excited- he brought his toy train to the station. Even Bella couldn't wait. 

We were waiting for the train to arrive at 5:20.  And then we kept waiting. And waiting.

Finally we found out our train was stuck on the tracks and wouldn't arrive until around 6:45, changing our arrival in Hanford to 7:15.  Considering our train back to Fresno left at 7:45... this wasn't going to work.

But we had a bag full of O-Donalds & a little boy that wanted to see a train.

So we hopped in the van and drove to Hanford, promising Jackson 

he would still ride a train, just a little later.

Once in Hanford, we found Superior Dairy.  We ordered a 4-scoop sundae for all of us... and were completely unprepared for what we got.  

HUGE!!!

The ice cream was delicious, and we barely made a dent in it.  Across the street was a fountain (do I even need to say that we had to go see it?) so we headed over to see it.  Both kids were delighted.

Finally, we walked across the park to the merry-go-round.  Sadly, it was closed.  Apparently you have to make reservations to ride it (??????).  

At long last, it was time for the train.  We found the station and waited behind the yellow bumps it to arrive.  When the kids heard the whistle ("CHOO CHOO!!!") they were in awe.  Jeff took both kids on the train, and I drove the van home to pick them up.  

Jackson stared out the window the whole time, looking away only to tell Jeff, "Daddy, train so cool.  Train so awesome."

All in all, a pretty great staycation.  So cool, so awesome.

posted by shara