The Price You Pay For a Perfect Day

So yesterday was Salem Day at Canobie Lake Park. Most cannot believe it when we tell them but even thought we live less than 2 miles from the park our children at 8, 6, and 2 had never been. Our thought on the park was $32 was a lot of bucks to pay for kids who were not tall enough to go on most of the rides, so we didn't take them. 

We also have always made yearly trips to Old Orchard Beach, Story Land, and Santa's Village and that pretty much took care of the ride issue. But Lindsay is 52 inches and Zackary is over 48 so we figured for $12 this was the time to start the yearly Salem Day tradition. 

We also made an executive decision to not bring Lauren because at 2, either David or I would have to wait with her while the other waited in line for the rides....and Lauren thinks she is 12 and would be angry she wasn't riding. 

We got to Canobie about 11:30 and had what you could only call a great day.  There was minimal fighting (for Lindsay and Zackary) and David and I got to relax and ride the rides and spend good quality time with them. They both surprised us by not being afraid to ride any of the "big" rides and we even rode the Corkscrew rollercoaster as a family! 

We stayed nearly till the park closed and did not get home until 10. This is a big deal for Lindsay and Zack since their normal school bedtime is 7:30 and we try not to push it back later than 8 even in summer.

Fast forward to this morning...everyone sleeps late and we skip the morning of summer camp. I decide it is nice out so the three kids and I will go to Griffin Park. We load up Mommy's Bus and Lindsay falls asleep, we get there and Lindsay lays on a bench with her head in my lap and falls asleep! 

Zack plays for a short time and wanders aimlessly then wants to go home and swim...Lauren doesn't want to go home and whines....such sets the tone for the afternoon of tired, whiny children and endless, endless fighting. The big fight this afternoon was over a five-pack of swimming goggles from Big Lots...you would have thought there was a new car at stake! 

Every time David and I let the kids stay up late to go out somewhere fun, or to watch a movie the next afternoon we are kicking ourselves and each other for the decision. My children cannot go out of routine...it just turns into "the day after disaster."  So for now our day of disaster has ended. The kids crashed out like lightening tonight and Mommy treated herself to a pedicure and wax at the spa, while Daddy treated himself to his nightly dose of bad man movies, Star Trek 6....Really?