Father's Day

Today our whole family visited Valley Fair. Anna and Henrik broke off into a pair, while Anders and I were the other pair. Henrik and Anna did most of the rides in Camp Snoopy (I know that's not exactly the name, but I want to call something Camp Snoopy, and Snoopy is definitely in the title.). Anders and I went off in the other direction.
I had taken Anders to VF last year, with mixed results. It rained just as Anders was overcoming his mortal fear of rides in general. Then we darted around the crowded inside spots for a while before leaving. It did not make a strong positive or negative impression on Anders.
This year Anna and the boys gave me a trip to Valley Fair for Father's Day. I love amusement parks, always have, probably always will. We used to go often when I was Anders age and younger, then when we moved to Iowa those trips dried up. So I realize that I'm making up for something, but today was the best visit since I was a kid. Anders flew the eagle, drove the antique car "giving it a little gas," and rode his first roller coasters. He loved the High Roller, and tolerated without complaint the Renegade. Anders is two years younger than I was before riding my first coaster.
I could not believe how the whole park opened up to Anders this year. Rides he did not notice last year became stops this year. We even took a break from the regular park to go on a couple of laps around the Lazy River.
Ripe Tide, a 720 degree twisting drop through fountains of water, proved the low point for Anders, and he talked about it more than anything else for the remainder of the day.
Henrik had good time too, going on numerous rides. He went on the carousel three times! The one ride, however, I saw Henrik ride he was crying because he bumped his head on Lucy's Swing-set.
Henrik and Anna left for his nap, then came back for us. Anders and I spend nearly seven hours at VF! It was the best day I've had in a long time. It's also so convenient to have such a substantial theme park less than 15 miles from our home.
I think this will become a yearly tradition. I suspect that Henrik will zoom right up to Anders' level in no time.
I'll try to make it less than seven months before I write again.