Madison's 2nd Birthday

September 30, 2011

Watching Sesame Street one of her favorites on her birthday.

Licking the bowl for mom while she was baking cupcakes for school.

Sesame Placee -2011 Summer Vacation

Family Photo with Cookie

First off I just wrote this blog and went to erase one picture and the whole thing went into cyberworld.  Arghhh!  This has happen before except with just the photos, not the words.  Ok, back to the post.

Andy and I decided to take the kids on a family vacation this year.  He only has three available weeks to take so I had plenty of time to plan out where the perfect place to take a 20 month and 3 year old.  Madison is still taking one nap a day so I had to keep this in mind.  I heard about a Sesame through online blogs.  Both the girls love the characters and watch the show weekly.  Madison is in love with Elmo and Reagan loves Big Bird.  I went to the site in March and found a great deal for a hotel rate and season pass.  I wasn't thinking a season pass but it was well worth it.  We were able to spend four days at the park, get in quickly with a separate entrance, 35% off any purchase in the park, and our kids got in free to the character dining.  Plus our hotel had a reliable shuttle to and from the park and dinner for us Monday and Wednesday night.  Not to mention the great breakfast in the lobby where they played kid movies each morning.  The only thing I would have changed if I had known was that our suite was an open floor plan.  I was hoping for the bedroom to be closed off but they were completely out once we realized what kind of room we had.  Still it had a kitchen and living room so we were happy.  

We woke up early and left the house around 5am.  The kids were excited so were wide awake.  After many stops (more than I would ever take, but Andy travels different from me), we finally made it to our hotel around 3pm.  We relaxed, ate, and headed over to the park on the shuttle.  It was fun to see the place and to get an idea of the lay out.  We headed straight over to the dry rides.  After the carousel, we went to Elmo Live.

Then on to some rides before we were all exhausted.  No one was staying for the parade tonight.  Off to the hotel we went.  The next morning the girls were super excited.  Here they are waiting for the shuttle.  Reagan found a friend and Madison was intrigued by the automatic doors.

The day was spent on the dry rides and shows.  Madison went back with Dad to the hotel for a nap and we met up for our free dinner before heading back for the parade.  I was amazed at how many rides the kids had to be only so tall to even go on.  The park is really made for 2-7 year olds, except for the water portion.  We spent only one day at the water park on Tuesday because Reagan was terrified of going down the rides.  We did get her to go on the one with the family in the tube and the lazy river.  However, the other ones, I had to take my baby Madison with me.  She loved the water rides and was not scared at all.  Madison also doesn't mind water squirting in her eyes so the water work towers she loved while Reagan tended to like the wading pools more. they are so different!

Cookie's Tower Climb, Reagan's all time favorite.  She did this everyday.

The kids climb up to the top and then slide down.

Madison's attempt, :)

Elmo's tower drop.  Even Madison rode this and loved it.

I love this photo of Reagan on the twirling balloons.  She was having so much fun!!!

Of course, my kids loved the shows too:

And the  characters:

The Parade:

More to come, tired and going to bed