Azoosment Park

a.k.a.  Santa's Village

Stats:
Monday - Friday  10AM to 6PM
Saturday and Sunday 11AM to 7PM
Cost
2 and Under = FREE
3 and Up = $16.50  (there is a printable $2 off coupon on the website)

Things to think about = a family of 4 who might go twice should buy the season pass ($132).

Rides
I was VERY impressed by the rides.  Very much carnival style, but the rides were short which is good for little attention spans and tummies, and thus the lines moved quickly.  Also, many of the rides had adjoining shaded areas for parents to wait.

The girls went on all but two rides.  The swings are for kids UNDER 36", and the Tilt-A-Whirl requires 48" or with an adult (And Momma don't play that game).  But that left the Planes, Trucks, Cars, Balloons, Santa Sled, Pony Ride, and Mini-Whipper.  They rode each at LEAST 3 times, if not more. 

Petting Zoo
I am spoiled by petting zoos due to Brookfield and Goeberts, but this one was OK.  The kids liked it, and that's really all that matters.  They got a KICK out of the sheep that were running around.  And, it was really really clean.  In fact, the whole park was really really clean.  Thumbs up there.  Anti-bacterial stations were everywhere.

Food
PICNIC CENTRAL!  Coolers are allowed, so of course we brought a lunch.  The picnic areas are spread through-out the park, and all were in nice shade.  You could purchase food and beverages, but bring Cash.  There is an ATM in the main gift shop.  We did stop in the ice cream shop early in the day when we realized we forgot water, but this, I was told, was the only place that accepted credit cards.  I saw pretzels, popcorn, hot dogs, brats, fries, sodas, and juices. 

Entertainment
There was some.  The girls don't have the attention span for it, but there were 4 shows planned for the day.

Other Goods
Face-painting!  Obviously, I said yes to this!  It's in a little (air-conditioned) hut, and you can get temporary tattoos as well.  Face painting is $5 for a cheek, or $8 for face.  Tattoos ranged from $1-$7 (cash only), and we were told they last about 4 days unless you really scrub it off.  The girls LOVED it!  I would do this again right away so they could enjoy it longer.

There is also the traditional games for $3 that you will never really win.  We did the $2 Duck Game where everyone gets a prize.

There were several other little shops that we didn't peek in frankly because I didn't want to spend the money and didn't want to hear the whining about it.  They are obviously working on expanding.

Overall
4 stars out of 5.  And I would certainly go back. (Which is good because I bought 2 Groupons earlier in the year and still have one left.)


PS.  Show up at 10AM.  We did, and the park was almost empty the first hour.  There were several rides that the girls didn't even have to get off to ride again because there was no one in line.  The camps seem to show up at 11AM and then all bets were off.

We pause your locally scheduled programming....

I love my kids.

A lot. 

A WHOLE lot. 

I get upset when I have to put them in the corner because a little part of me thinks that I could have handled the situation different so they won't be upset. 

I worry when they ride their bikes too fast because they might fall and get hurt.

I am careful about closing the basement doors so Austin won't go for a tumble.

I think I have spanked them twice.  And that's not each, that's between the three.

They make me mad. 

They make me want to tear my hair out.

There are nights that I want to go out and party and get drunk and be like I was in college.

There are mornings that I don't want to get up and put on Fresh Beat Band or Chuggintown and make frozen waffles and sippy cups with half juice half water.

There are days when I have more laundry dirty then clean and I know at 11PM if I don't go switch the loads that no one will have clean underwear and we will all stink.

But no matter what, NO MATTER WHAT, they are mine and they are the BEST THINGS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

So, I don't live in Florida, I don't have pull in government or the judicial systems.  I don't have any say in the severe injustice that I feel was served this week.

But......

I can love my children.

I can love and hug and kiss ten more times then I can correct them.

I can keep them as safe as possible.

I can be there with Bactine and Hello, Kitty! band aids when they have scrapes, even the imaginary ones.

I can tuck them in at night and give them one last kiss and whisper to them one more time that I love them.

I can be the best Mom I can be..and then do better the next day.

The End.

Poem

There was a little girl (Lilli)
Who had a little curl pin straight hair
Right in the middle of her forhead(Or parted on the side)
And when she was good,
She was very VERY good (and cute and snuggly and loveable)
But when she was bad (aka Opinionated, Sassy, Over-Tired)
She was horrid (snappy, moody, and she throws a WICKED temper tantrum)


The End