It all started back in January, we planned to take Marc's parents with us to help with the difficulty that Legoland poses to families of large size. Unlike Disneyland, just about every single ride has height restrictions. In addition to the height restrictions, they have age restrictions as well. So even though Liliana is the same height as me, she can't ride any of the rides as the "adult rider" with any of the other kids (except Dillon who is finally over 48inches allowing him to ride everything). Each child must ride with an adult. Let me do the math for you...that means 4 of our 6 kids need an adult. Majority of the rides don't allow Maia on so 1 of the 2 of us adults must always sit sidelines. Leaving 1 adult and 4 kids! Thanks Legoland. Way to make us crazy! Ok so back to January, Marc's mom had time off approved but late and the hotel was booked so we pushed the trip to February. Well that date had issues so we decided March during spring break might work better. Well for the 3rd time there was scheduling conflicts and the inlaws couldn't go. We decided to just attempt Legoland yet again a couple adults short!
At that moment, Marc and I were confident all would be fine. Spring break arrived and the kids were there naughty selves. That should have been sign #2 but we like to think positively! Thursday morning came and the kids weren't evil but they certainly weren't angels! We wanted to leave by 8:30am and ended up not on the road until 9:30am. Leaving late didn't bother me but Marc likes to be on time. Our goal was to detour to the Viejas Outlets for some school clothes shopping. Another opportunity for the kids to show us how ungrateful they can be. Marc wanted to sleep for a bit while I took the kids shopping. Garrison and Rosalia wanted to stay with him. Apparently as soon as I left the van, Garrison had to go potty. He took almost 20 minutes going not once but twice. According to Marc he went pee, got back to the van, and then had to go again. That would irritate any parent but a parent cranky and tired....! When we finally got on the road again we had cranky kids anxious to arrive at Legoland. Too bad for them we were about 1 1/2 hours away. The entire ride was talking and mumbling from Rosalia and Maia, "Are we there yets" then from Dillon, Ava, and Garrison "Mommy these kids are annoying can't they be quiet".
These were all bolder signs we were headed in the wrong direction.
Finally we pulled into the Legoland Hotel. After getting checked in and spending what seemed like an hour walking from the lobby down half a hallway with independent slow-walking Maia, we were at our destination. Once the kids completed their combination clues to the safe in our hotel room, they were interested in seeing the beach. Embarrassing to admit, more than half our children had never seen a beach until that evening. As soon as our feet hit the sand, Liliana insisted she needed to put her feet in the ocean water. She put her sneakers and socks down on the sand, not but 2 seconds later a wave came in and almost washed her sneakers away. About 5 minutes later, Rosalia AND Garrison found themselves standing where another wave came in and got their sneakers and pant bottoms wet! Looking for more punishment, we ventured over to the local outlets to buy 3 new pairs of sneakers knowing the children would complain if they had to put wet shoes on their feet in the morning. We ate a late lunch which turned into a late dinner. While on the mission for new sneakers we had half the crew whining every time we saw or smelled food! We bought overpriced sneakers and food, rushed the cranky beings into the van, and drove as fast as legally possible back to the hotel in hopes bedtime would be a breeze. Yes, at this point we knew this trip was not meant to be. Well maybe it was meant to be but our sanity would be non-existent before it ever began.
Bedtime was a joke (but in the kids defense everything about the day was not routine and our kids are pretty routine). The last child fell asleep at 9:30pm which was awesome. Marc fell asleep around the same time. I stayed up filling out paperwork for the new house we will be moving into this coming month. That will be another post.
The night went pretty well. Dillon was loud around 5 am to use the bathroom, which woke me up. Once I'm up, I'm up. The kids slept until 7:45am which isn't too bad considering it wasn't home! They all got ready and minus Maia getting into things while we all tried to get ready the morning went fairly smooth!
Marc and I started thinking yesterday's miserable events were just a fluke. Again, wanting to be positive we focused on a day filled with excitement.
It was short lived...
We went to the van to put our overnight items in the van and to get the stroller. Maia refused to go in the stroller. Garrison had a couple mysterious meltdowns (mysterious meltdowns often occur when the child nor parent know why the meltdown is occurring) before we even reached the front entrance of Legoland! We pushed forward to that exciting day we planned to have. We went on our first ride...all 8 of us. Maia loved it. Everyone was all smiles. We headed to the second ride. Marc was left behind with Maia. While in line, I broke up too many fights to count between Rosalia and Garrison. I also did my math and adults to kids ratio wasn't working out right. At least 1 kid needed to stay behind. I convinced Rosalia to stay with Marc. Success, though small, I smiled!! After exiting that ride, we continued on. Our path was simple, walk the park hitting all the rides in order we saw them. Ava sort of melted down, she really wanted to go on a ride that was on the other side of the park. She got over the idea once she realized the park wasn't near as busy as it was back in the summer when we were here last. Every ride we went on took 20 minutes or less to get on. Every ride we went on, Garrison and Rosalia found a reason to fight! Before we knew it, it was lunchtime. The kids weren't hungry so we fed them snacks. I knew this would come back and bite us later...
Every time we stopped for a bathroom break, or snack break, or whatever the reason be, Maia would want out of the stroller. Once she was out she didn't want back in. Thankfully she didn't want to run off but when you have 6 kids to watch the more buckled on a stroller the better. Rosalia was a space cadet. She was left wandering a couple times. Luckily she doesn't panic when she doesn't see us. She just stands there confused wondering where we went. While in line for 1 ride, Rosalia decides while in line she's scared. I start texting Marc that she might exit and come out to him. While I am texting she starts walking away. Before I could react, the guy behind me smartly points out that she's walking away. The tone of voice and choice of words were just not nice. He didn't care about Rosalia's safety he cared more about pointing out that my kid was walking away because I was on my phone. Little did he know I was communicating with Marc that she was headed for him. Yes, I gave this concerned bystander a few choice words.
As we exited the park, the kids picked out their purchases from the main Lego store. After taking a quick group picture of the kids, Rosalia insisted on 1 final ride. While in line for said ride, her and Garrison were on a half wall messing around. I asked/told them to get down but why would they listen! Rosalia finally got down. Garrison jumped down shortly after hitting his chin on Rosalia's head and ended up biting his cheek. Tears and loud crying followed. Everyone stared. I had some parents that looked sympathetic and others that gave me the "I'm judging you" looks. Garrison's cheek on the inside was a bit bloody but nothing he couldn't swallow and call a day. I gave him my "suck it up its your fault you didn't listen speech" along with 2 choices ...1) go out of line, miss the ride, and get a napkin. Or 2) stay in line and stop the crying. He chose the later but had a small meltdown just before the ride began. I should be a saint after this mini vacation! My patience levels were at an all time high.
Finally we exited Legoland! We get to the van, tell the kids to get in so we can get on the road and hopefully beat some traffic. Sure enough we hit the highway and there was traffic! The "I'm hungry" starts. In their defense they didn't really eat lunch. I start passing out healthy snacks. Maia is on such a sugar high she doesn't stop talking. Rosalia and Garrison begin to fall asleep. We make it 3 1/2 hours in and out of traffic and finally stop for dinner. 30 minutes later we are back on the road. Garrison starts yelling "I'm gonna throw up". Maia starts crying she wants out of her car seat. My exact thoughts at that very moment were "just somebody put me out of my misery I don't want to do this the rest of the 4 hours home"! Garrison throws up, makes the van stink so we detour to throw away the puke. Back on the road again, Maia is again screaming. Rosalia at this point doesn't stop talking. Talking about what...everything and anything. Garrison is complaining his belly hurts. Liliana and Ava bickering back and forth like sisters do. Marc complaining his face hurts. Oh and don't forget about me...blogging this post in between catching barf in bags, consoling a crying almost 2 yr old, hushing Rosalia so we don't go insane, breaking up sister fights, and getting car sick from not being able to sit still this entire ride.
Family Vacations are S.O. M.U.C.H. F.U.N!
Finally we exited Legoland! We get to the van, tell the kids to get in so we can get on the road and hopefully beat some traffic. Sure enough we hit the highway and there was traffic! The "I'm hungry" starts. In their defense they didn't really eat lunch. I start passing out healthy snacks. Maia is on such a sugar high she doesn't stop talking. Rosalia and Garrison begin to fall asleep. We make it 3 1/2 hours in and out of traffic and finally stop for dinner. 30 minutes later we are back on the road. Garrison starts yelling "I'm gonna throw up". Maia starts crying she wants out of her car seat. My exact thoughts at that very moment were "just somebody put me out of my misery I don't want to do this the rest of the 4 hours home"! Garrison throws up, makes the van stink so we detour to throw away the puke. Back on the road again, Maia is again screaming. Rosalia at this point doesn't stop talking. Talking about what...everything and anything. Garrison is complaining his belly hurts. Liliana and Ava bickering back and forth like sisters do. Marc complaining his face hurts. Oh and don't forget about me...blogging this post in between catching barf in bags, consoling a crying almost 2 yr old, hushing Rosalia so we don't go insane, breaking up sister fights, and getting car sick from not being able to sit still this entire ride.
Family Vacations are S.O. M.U.C.H. F.U.N!
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