Summer O Fun Continues

We have been aiming for the best summer ever over here at Casa Vogel.  The Summer O Fun is what we've coined it.  Thus far we have been oh so successful.  A couple weeks back, after our Texas friends departed, we hopped in our trusty Pilot and headed south to Colorado Springs for the weekend.  First stop, The North Pole at the base of Pikes Peak.  This little treasure is a theme park nestled in the forest of an incredibly beautiful mountain area.  I'm going to make a statement about our experience at Santa's Village that might be a bit alarming, so prepare yourselves.  Other than not having Grandma and Grandpa Marc with us, Santas Village was better than our Disney World experience.  Why the blasphemy?  

1.  It was $44 with our coupons
2. There were NO lines.  Not one.
3. Santa HIMSELF was there.  And there was no line to hang out with him.  And he talked about his dogs with our kids.  
4. Once you're in you don't have to pay for anything.  Not even the train ride. 
5. It was 75 degrees.  Not 101.
6. There are no parades.
7. The park is walkable.  No strollers required.  And you can't get lost.
8. There is a magic show.
9. You're surrounded by mountains and tons of shade.
10. There are no lines.
11. They play Christmas music on the speakers, minus the snow.
12. It was 75 degrees.
13. Ice cream cost $2.75
14. There are places to sit down and take a load off.  Disney doesn't believe in allowing you to sit down.
15. The parking lot is 25 steps from the front door.
16. The kids could run freely and not tackle 25 people in the process.  We didn't fear losing them forever.
17. Our kids laughed for 4 hours straight.  It was the happiest place on earth to them.  They had moments of laughter at Disney but a lot of miserable whining and confusion about what we were doing to them and why to go along with it.

photo evidence of the blasphemy...

 The view from "the world's highest ferris wheel"

 

 

I will say, there's an age limit to the joy of The North Pole.  Once they get to be 8-10 ish they're too big and too mature for the rides.  But for now, we inhaled the joy it brought to our littles.  We stayed at a hotel that night, swam in the less than impressive pool, and partied at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo the next day.  I don't know why we haven't made a trip there before now, but we're so glad we added it to our Summer O Fun.  It's an awesome, scenic zoo. Totally walkable and tons of unique exhibits to see.  The giraffes are the highlight and what they're known best for.      

That long black thing is Mr. Giraffe's tongue.  Dude told everyone around us that the black is sunblock for their tongues.  I smiled and patted his cute little head.  Turns out the little bugger is right.  

 What you're viewing is fake pee coming from the fake butt of a fake hippopotamus.  He pees on you to mark his territory as you walk by.  It was the highlight of the zoo for our children.  And many other children I'm sure.  

They put all their snakes in these beautiful glass cages with colorful glass rocks.  The purpose is to take away the creepy stereotype many people have surrounding the evil serpents and make them appear soft and pretty.  Stellar attempt, no cigar people.  They're still Beelzebub.  

After arriving home that afternoon we had some good old fashioned sprinkler fun.  Never gets old. Currently, Dude is in Chi-town with his Nana and Papa.  He got on a plane, BY HIMSELF, last Saturday and has been living the good life all week.  As has his sister.  Happy to report he did awesome on the plane.  No tears (he told me he was going to "sleep and cry on the plane.")  He's a champ.  We've enjoyed the week of no fighting, taunting, crying, sticking out tongues, locking doors and invading personal space,  but we're excited to hug our little man again on Saturday when we arrive in Chicago, Enzo in tow.  Pray for us as we drive our little princess and a puppy across the plains tomorrow.  1,000 miles baby!  Ready, set.....