Weekend favorites

This evening was a relaxing respite of finishing Prince Caspian followed by a few games of Uno, after an exciting three-day weekend. We asked the children what they liked best. Two amusement park visits, complete with roller coasters, bumper cars, a train ride, end everything else, didn’t make the top selections. Neither did a wedding with cousins and other relatives to play with, a bonfire at a cabin, a nature walk, air hockey with odd-shaped pucks, foosball, a friendly cat, a hot tub with fancy lighting, all of which they also quite enjoyed at the time.

Eliana’s favorite was the Green Bay Children’s museum. Ethan described his favorite in one word, referring to the visit to Chuck E Cheese, and the rare unlimited opportunity he enjoys there: “Soda!”

Another Ethan first: He braved a roller coaster.

After years of veggie eating and milk drinking, Ethan’s long wait to grow tall enough to ride his first roller coaster was over. The Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach isn’t huge, but it’s a full-size coaster that moves rapidly between sections. In the same breath that he described how scary the ride was and how he screamed the whole way, he told us how excited he was to ride again.

Another Ethan first: He won an archery contest.

Ethan shot five arrows for the best score of all the 7 to 9 year olds at a camp open house. His only practice had been similar visits to the camp over the last couple summers. Now he’ll have plenty of opportunity to practice: he won a week at camp next summer. And since he’ll be old enough to get into the sport if it interests him, who knows where he’ll go from there?

Another Ethan first: He gave Eliana an underduck.

An Eliana first: She built a circuit.

I got this Snap Circuits set with Ethan in mind, but there’s something about trying to use a speaker to power a fan that particularly appeals to the very young at heart.

Later, I helped her hook up to actual batteries; that was fun, too.

Another Ethan first: He devised a cistern.

He also learn the word non-potable.

Another Ethan first: He entered a drawing.

I estimated that since Ethan is old enough to fill out the entry form, he’s old enough not to shoot his eye out. :)

Another Ethan first: He did a suspended double back flip.

Still undaunted

Ethan and Eliana both remain impressed and excited by the huge tractors at the fair. Eliana in particular continues to climb carefully, yet with no hesitation.