FRIGHTMARES 2017 BOO

It is always great when after a full year of Lagoon fun, you get to fit in a few more fun-filled days for Frightmares. Last year most of the times we went to Frightmares it was a busy disaster, but this year didn't seem as bad. We had a few busy times, but enjoyed every visit.

Our first visit was Saturday, October 7th. It was Vivi's first experience with anything Halloween-related, and I think she liked it. It was pretty busy, but we focused on doing the kid trick-or-treat walks and just enjoyed a nice day at the park. It got busier and busier as the day progressed. I'm sure we went on a few rides, but I don't really remember now. Vivi loved getting treats, except that she did not want the scary skeleton key chain the pirate lady was offering her. But other than that, she was pretty into it.

We planned to go back later in the night with Lindsey and Asher. But with how crazy it was in the day, I wasn't sure if it would be any fun. We kept going back and forth deciding if we should go. We hadn't gone to Lagoon nearly enough with these guys this year, so we decided to just give it a try and go with like an hour to hang out. I forgot how scared Stella gets of Lagoon at night. She was scared of basically the tiniest chance that a person dressed up could give her a fright. The lines were long, but we did wait for the Rocket and it was really fun. We were also able to enjoy all of the spooky mist around the park. Both kiddos were knocked out by the end of the night.

On Friday October 13th we went with the Douglas clan. It was sort of last minute. Stella and I were planning to go and Christy wasn't sure until that day. But she had to go to Lagoon to get her family's annual historical portrait taken. She gets them every year and
 I loathe them! I think they are so silly, and the idea of wearing a hat that thousands of other people have been wearing for years grosses me all the way out. So basically, they are the scariest thing at the park! Christy asked nice though if Stella could be in a friend picture with the kids and I agreed. Not happily, but I agreed. Admittedly Stella looked adorable in her outfit, but since we had just gotten rid of her lice, I was sure to check her hat thoroughly for those pesky bugs first.

We had a fun night, but it was COLD. It was really only like 50 degrees, but it felt like -10 by the time we were done. Because of the cold we didn't stay as long as I would have liked. The park was desolate at the end and the lines were so short, but it didn't seem worth it. The kids had had fun together and that was all that mattered.

We went the next morning on the 14th with Ashley and the crew. We had already learned that you had to get there right at the beginning before it got too busy, so we got there first thing. Of course I could still feel the chill from the night before in my bones so when Ava and Finn showed up dressed for a day at the beach I was insistent that they borrow some warm clothes. But in all the hubbub, I forgot MY coat. I was pretty annoyed about it. However, even though it was the same temperature as the night before, it was sunny and in the sun it was warm enough to survive. Vivi had a great time, but she got scared on the carousel again. I don't know why she doesn't like that ride, and I thought she had come around to it, but no. I kept trying to tell her how historical it was, but she was having none of it. We left as soon as the park got too crazy.

We had already had our annual Florida trip and a wonderful time at Disney. However, I still felt very determined to make it to the very last day Lagoon was open. It was open the night before Halloween and since it was a Monday night I figured it would not be busy. I was right. It was pretty chilly, but we dressed for it. The lines were a little long, but we did get one last ride on Cannibal and then Stella chose the bouncy jeep kids' ride as our last ride. It was just me and her on the ride and it was delightful. I made her pose on the electric chair and she was SO freaked out that a worker was going to jump out and scare her, so the look of fear and panic on that picture is 100% genuine.

So that was it. I wonder if we are the only people that were at both the opening and closing day at Lagoon. Either way, we did it and it was very satisfying to me. It is good that I make such fun and reachable goals for myself in life.

What an amazing 2017 season at Lagoon. We used our passes 21 times! I can't imagine us beating that number ever again, but I think we will try in 2018.