Monday, September 14, 2009

What kind of parents are we?

We spent Saturday (in a soaking rain) enjoying a company-sponsored outing at Canobie Lake Park, in Salem New Hampshire. It's a great place--one of the old-time amusement parks with an old rickety wooden roller coaster, a grand Merry-go-Round and lots of fabulous and family-friendly old amusements. We look forward to this day each September, and this year was no exception. We missed our college boy, but enjoyed the fact that our youngest is now big enough to enjoy some of the more adventurous rides with us. As the afternoon wore on, we decided on the Flume. This is a log ride in a fabricated river of water that culminates in a very fast drop from a height-y peak. Mr. Morning climbed in with me for the first ride, and although I remember him gripping me rather seriously on the drop, he seemed to enjoy it, and quickly asked if we could do it again.
One of the fun parts of riding the Flume is that you get your picture taken from a stationary camera at the dropping point, and the kids love to run to the picture booth to look at themselves on the ride. When we saw the little man's expression on the first run, we pledged to come back and consider purchasing it for a keepsake. Have a look:(you may be able to click on the image to make it bigger) The second time through, he decided to ride with dad. He was SO excited to be going again, although his facial expression might convince you otherwise:

I laughed so hard, I cried. Then I wanted to cry for real, because I thought "What kind of parents subject their four-year old son to this kind of terror while the rest of us are whooping with adrenaline and joy?" It's hard not to feel torn. And it's hard not to laugh at the poor little guy. We dropped the axe on the request for a third trip down the river... and after looking at his images long enough, he heartily agreed that two times was enough.

17 comments:

Sarah said...

I love my brother!

Smilin' sunshine said...

LOVE the look on his face! He must have enjoyed it to want to go again!

LL said...

I AM LAUGHING SO HARD!
Way to be brave.

Christy said...

He will cherish it in the future and brag to all his preschool friends when bringing it in for show and tell! (of course, the teachers may bring you in for a private conf)
I can't stop laughing myself...

mckell.b.p.55 said...

Oh my gosh! He looks SO terrified! It made me laugh and cringe at the same time... Mostly because I've been on that ride and I'm pretty sure my face probably looked the same way... :)

Janssen said...

Okay, THAT is awesome!

LL said...

i had to come back and look at them AGAIN!
laughing.

Swimmingmom said...

Oh that is classic! Totally made my day!

rebecca said...

These photos are Hilarious! Could definitely be used against you by your little guy in the future:)

Jane said...

That is the best!! I can't stop laughing...I love that little man of yours. You are awesome parents, and now you have the pictures to prove it!!
You seriously made my night!!

Char @ Crap I've Made said...

Jane sent me over here to laugh at your kid, and I was not disappointed!

Jo Jo said...

LAUGHING. Again. and again. So glad you caught that one on film. Can't believe he wanted to go again.

Anonymous said...

Watch out for DDS...they might come for you for abuse.
But he had his binkis with him.
Hang on tight, Mason.
Love
mimi

smart mama said...

love the look of death!

Emily said...

That is just classic! I love looking at it! Really makes me laugh! Poor Mason, but glad he did have fun!! Too funny!

Becky said...

I'm peeing my pants...FUNNY!

Sister Parsons said...

That's so funny! Poor Mason!

Cherstin