Se-ame Srweet Place

Yesterday we made our annual pilgrimage to the wonderful world of

Sesame Place.

Hey!  There's Daddy!

The first thing we did when we got there was eat some lunch.  (Note to self for next year - a leisurely departure will assure traffic delays.  Get out by 7:00am!)        Once we had our nourishment, we headed for the carousel.  Jocelyn scoped that out from her lunch table!

Then we headed over to the water park area.  The weather was perfect, but the water in all of the water park attractions was FREEZING, compliments of the recent downpours from Hurricane Irene.  Doesn't matter, we were game!  Jocelyn wanted to try it all, but the lines were huge for everything.  We did go down Slimey's Shutes (water slide) and meandered along Big Birds Rambling River though.   Sorry for the lack of pics, my camera is not water proof you know!

Much to our surprise and pleasure, we found out there was a parade at 4:00pm.  I only thought they came through at 7:00pm.  We got to see all the characters!

Including these two characters!

After the parade, we caught a show - Abby Cadabby's Treasure Hunt!

Then it was off to the balloon ride and one last trip on the carousel. 

Despite Jocelyn's best efforts to close the park, we swung through Hoopers store to bring home our very own Telly Monster, and then headed home.  Jocelyn was asleep within 45 minutes of our ride home, and when we got home, she only cared to grab Telly Monster and her lovies and snuggle into bed.  

We will of course make another venture to Sesame Place next year and Jocelyn looks forward to being bigger so she can ride some other rides, but in the meantime, here is a trip down memory lane from last years visit.  Sesame Place 2010

Home again, home again, jiggidy jig

We arrived home last night after 4 days in North Carolina visiting family.  Jocelyn, Auntie and I flew to NC, where Pepere and Memere live during the summer months, and Uncle Steve and Uncle Clayton drove up from Georgia to meet us there.  It was one big family reunion! 
We spent our days doing lots of fun stuff.

We spent some time walking through town.










We took a boat ride around Lake Lure.





We mined for gemstones and look what we found!  That there is a GIANT amethyst, and we got to keep it!

Jocelyn found a new best friend in Uncle Clayton.

And 6 other friends....   Red Bear, Green Bear, Blue Bear, Yellow Bear, Orange Bear and Tan Bear....   gifts from Uncle Steve and Uncle Clayton.   (We can't hold them all!!!)



We visited some goats and fed them hay...  whether they wanted it or not!

And Jocelyn got to play the Gut Bucket  (yes that is really what it's called) as part of Memere's orchestra!








But Jocelyn's favorite thing to play with, by far, was the doll house that Pepere is making for her.  It's not quite finished yet, but she enjoyed it anyway!

We did so much in just four days, these are just the highlights!!!   It's going to be a few days before we recuperate!  :-)   But it was a great trip and it was so nice to see everyone!

Nap Hell

As I sit here typing, Jocelyn is in her bed "resting".  Notice I did not say napping because today is a No-Nap Day. 
Yes, I know she is 3 1/2.  Yes I know I am very lucky that she ever takes naps at all these days.  But on the said "No-Nap Days", I truly miss the oh so joyous 2 hours of peace.
Jocelyn now takes naps about every 3 days.  Here is how the pattern goes:

Day 1 - She sleeps 1 1/2 to 2 hours
          Bedtime - She can't fall asleep and we get hounded for up to an hour for drinks of water, snuggles in the rocking chair, hugs, etc.  She finally falls asleep around 9:15-9:30.

Day 2 - No matter what we do in the morning that might "tire her out",  there will be no napping today
         Bedtime - She's tired enough, but we might get a call or two for the usual excuses for testing our patience  -  needs.

Day 3 - Lots of yawning at naptime, just enough to tease me, but no nap today.  By dinner time, she is completely in-human, totally irrational.  There is no reasoning, no explaining, and no reality.   Everything is a world ending crisis and we just barely survive until....
         Bedtime - She can't wait to get there and barely keeps her eyes open long enough to get through one book

Day 4 - She naps 1 1/2 to 2 hours......   and the cycle begins again.

I consider myself lucky that she is still in the crib and is (mostly) willing to hang out in there for an hour or so.  I get a bit of a break, and at least I don't have to worry about her bounding back downstairs after 5 minutes to tell me  "Momma, I all done restin' ".  

I'll take what I can get....