Busch Gardens on Labor Day

During August Charles was very busy on the ship and had very little time off. We did not see him much. Over the Labor Day weekend he finally had some time off...4 days off!!! On Labor Day, before the kids went back to school, we decided o take them to Busch Gardens again. The great thing about having passes is that we don't have to feel obligated to stay until they close the park down. Somehow Nate ended up in almost every picture I took that day!

This is a picture of the kids not long after we arrived at the park.

We were all able to go on the bumper cars. Nate was so small in the car with Charles that his head barely was visible from the front of the car and Julianne had trouble getting her car to move at all.

I realized as we were about to leave the park that we did not have a family picture taken. I found a gracious person to take our picture, but I know by this point I was worn out and ready to head home.

This is Nate's first real roller coaster ride. He was barely tall enough to get on. It really was a stretch! He is going to be right by our side as he reached the height requirements for each of the roller coasters. He had a blast!

Nate and Charles waiting in line for the bumper cars. The Big Bad Wolf track is off in the background.

Jacob and Nate sat down next to each other as we were walking out of the park and asked if I would take their picture. What a precious moment. Taking the kids places, especially four of them, can get a little nuts. Jacob has many weaknesses, but he has so many strengths as well. I am encouraged by the genuine love he showers upon his brother.

Taking Jacob to an amusement park has huge advantages. Most amusement parks (Disney, Busch Gardens, Universal, etc.) have programs for children (and adults) with special needs enabling them to bypass the main lines. With Jacob we are usually able to move to the front of the line relatively quickly without a wait. This is definitely a positive thing because lines and crowded spaces can be too much for Jacob to handle.

While Charles was taking Jacob and Victoria on the new roller coaster, The Griffin, I took Nate and Julianne to a few other rides that appealed to them. Julianne is not interested in roller coasters at all at this point in her life. That makes her an oddball in our family...of course we are all oddballs in some fashion or another!