Planning a Day at Carowinds

What a busy summer it's been! There have been many things I'd like to post, but haven't had the time. I decided to break my silence with a topic that might interest other parents: How to plan a day at Carowinds.

I decided to take my two girls and their friend to Carowinds for one daughter's birthday. It had been over twenty-five years since I had been, and of course, I hadn't been the one organizing the expedition back then. It seems like nowadays, a trip to any park involves major planning ahead, with "tricks" to learn. The more advanced society becomes, the more complicated everything seems to be. Can't we just "show up" anywhere anymore?!

We had an overall wonderful time, but it took some research and planning on my part. I'm going to share with you what I learned, and hopefully you'll feel confident planning a day at Carowinds.

When I was a kid, Carowinds was just an amusement park. Now, regular admission includes the Carolina Harbor water park. These two parks are connected; you can go from one into another, or you can go into the main entrance of one or the other. Both parks involve considerable walking, so wear comfortable shoes. I didn't get the "fast pass" that gets you to the front of the lines; this is like what you can purchase for more money at Disney World. But first, let's talk about tickets.

I didn't want to pay for any bells or whistles. By design, I'm a simple creature who just wants the basics. A ticket to the park also gets you in to the water park, so that's what I wanted. Besides, how much can you cram into one day? One ticket will cost you around $45, which is a lot, but after going, I believe it's worth it. However, by the time they add processing fees and taxes, it will be $217 for four people. My advice: Forgo the website and check Groupon first! I was able to get four tickets for $159, but only a few hours later, the deal was sold out. 

Places like Carowinds will get your money however they can (more about how I learned that the hard way in a moment). You will also have to pay for parking. If you pay at the gate, it'll be $20; you can save $3 by doing it online. I also learned that on Thursdays in summer, parking is free. You can opt to park closer to the main entrance, or at the Carolina Harbor entrance. 

The website advertises lockers for rent....at a minimum of $17!!  I carried my backpack around, and it wasn't a problem at all. There's no room for backpacks on rides (and most rides don't allow you to have it with you), but at each ride you can place your bag either in a bin, or set it to the side, inside the ride's gate. No one messes with it, and it wasn't a worry for me. 

At Carolina Harbor, I also didn't get a locker. There are lounge chairs everywhere, and like at any pool, people leave their towels and bags on them, and no one seems to mess with any of it. I had left my wallet hidden in my car at this point, so I wasn't worried about leaving our things at a chair while we enjoyed the attractions there. We simply moved our things to the next attraction as we hopped around, finding a new chair at each place. The only reason to secure your bag in a locker here is if everyone in your group is going to go down any of the water slides. If not, then someone can just guard everyone else's stuff.

As for taking things into Carowinds, they are fine with water bottles. Our friend ended up having some food in her bag when we went into the water park, and the attendant who checked the bag didn't say anything. When you arrive at either entrance, you'll first have to set your bag on a counter for inspection, you'll walk through a metal detector, then you'll proceed to a gate where you show your tickets. If you want to leave the park for re-entry, there's someone at the gate who will stamp your arm. To get back in, you have to go through the baggage check again, but you don't need your ticket (just your arm stamp).

As for eating at Carowinds, I recommend packing a lunch, leaving it in a cooler in your car, and eating it in the parking lot. It's also a good transition from the regular park to the water park. We chose to drive the van from the main parking lot over to the entrance to the water park, to be closer. Carolina Harbor is open from 12-5, so you have time to ride some main park rides, then cool off at the water park. The main park is open till 8pm, so we chose to return there after the water park. We drove back to the main parking lot, and by that time (around 5:30), there were empty spaces much closer to the front gate.

The food at Carowinds is insanely expensive, a complete racket. I knew this going in, which is why we took our lunch. However, when the girls asked to get something to tide us over and eat our lunch later, I thought, that sounds ok. We went to Sweet Frog, and I can only plead ignorance at the fact that I never considered that what's in that cup can weigh close to a pound! We go there at home, and our bill is usually around $23 (which, for frozen yogurt, is already expensive to me). I saw the sign on the door that said "99 cents an ounce," but it obviously went over my head...like I said, I guess I thought we'd each have about 6-8 ounces. 

When the guy rang up our tab, it came to a whopping $46.19, for four frozen yogurts! I gulped and had to ask him to repeat it. There was a moment when I stood there, mouth agape, wanting to reply but no sound came out! I knew that leaving the stuff on the counter and running out wasn't an option, so I paid the bill and we decided to enjoy every bite of the most expensive frozen yogurt we'd ever have (hopefully)!! I had to explain to the kids that they hadn't done wrong in getting what they usually get at home. I was just so shocked, and felt very stupid that I hadn't considered this more carefully.  I still wonder if that guy hadn't put his thumb (or entire hand!) on the scale!  At any rate, I learned a lesson, and will hopefully keep others from making a similar mistake.

Since we had loaded up on the yogurt, we decided to make that be our lunch, and were able to ride a few more rides. We did go back to the car as planned, as we had left our towels and bathing suits in there. It gave us a chance to fuel up on some snacks (which I was glad we had taken) and drive closer to the water park. We changed in the bathroom there; Carowinds does have ample restrooms, and there are showers and changing rooms at Carolina Harbor. Also, there is free water available anywhere that food is sold. Next time, I'm going to leave my wallet secured in my car, and stick to only the snacks and food we take ourselves. Not taking a wallet inside the park keeps you out of food traps and other enticing money pits, and also avoids worry about it being in your bag. If there's a souvenir you can't live without (and, trust me, there isn't), you can always get the money out of your car and go back in.

So, in summary, we got to the main park at ten (when it opens), went over to the water park around 1:30, dried off and changed at 4:30, ate our dinner (which originally was the lunch we'd packed) in the car, then went back into the park a little after five. Carowinds does allow strollers, and also those fold-up wagons you can get at sporting goods stores. It will seem like there are tons of people there if you arrive right at ten, because everyone has to go through the same gate. However, you'll see that the crowd soon disperses as folks go their own way. We went on a Tuesday in mid-August, and the longest we stood in a line was 15-20 minutes. The staff was friendly, and not once did I feel overwhelmed or unsafe. The lifeguards at the wave pool are outstanding. There is one lifeguard for every ten or so yards, and they watch the crowd like hawks.

That's about it, in a nutshell. If I forgot anything, mention it under "comments," and I'll see if I know of an answer. Carowinds is a fantastic place, and well worth the trip, as long as you do your homework and plan ahead. 

June

It's that time of year again, that time I used to commemorate with friends giggling half the night in sleeping bags. June is a happy time for me, with sun, short sleeves, my birthday, and the Stanley Cup...go, Pens! My favorite ways to celebrate my birthday now include simple things that I enjoy. Our culture might label me as boring, but I'm old enough to be okay with it. 

There's the annual espresso cake tradition, begun last year by my husband: 

This cake has come to be a symbol of June for me, as it lasts a long time, and I savor its aroma and flavor sometimes for breakfast, sometimes during the day, and lately I've even indulged myself in a slice at night over an episode of one of my old favorites, "My Three Sons." The cake has become a highlight of my birthday that lasts beyond that one day.

Another tradition is a visit from my mom, who we call "Gaby." This year, we decided to have a girls' afternoon (Gaby, my girls, Abue, and I) downtown. We ate Kilwin's ice cream in the rain, then hopped over to Mast General Store. Before we ventured out, Gaby, who shares my love of old books, had presented me with these: 

I had never heard of these Maida books, first published in 1910 (my editions are a bit newer!). Imagine my surprise when I opened one and saw this inscription: 

I don't have a Grandma and Grandpa Male, but the rest of it sure did fit! Gaby hadn't noticed it when she picked these up at the thrift store, so she had a surprise, too!

Speaking of thrift store shopping, this is a birthday tradition I enjoy on the actual day. Last year, my girls and I went together; what a treat that they're at the age that I can take them along on treasure-hunting adventures! This year, our pal Liz went along. There's no one more adept at bargains and thrift stores than Liz. She buys something at each place we visit! Here we are, about to embark on the journey: 

And here she is, with a fabulous find:

The girls were good sports. They were dragged around to look at stuff from other people's attics from 10am until 4pm, and survived! We hit a few places in town, including a huge antiques place that's going out of business. Look at this funny book I found for a dollar: 

In looking through this work from 1963, it occurred to me that my parents were the "Teen-Agers" mentioned in the title. Maybe I should let them read it! You may think, Does she actually read all these books she talks about, or is she just an old-book hoarder?! The answer is yes, and...um...well, I wouldn't exactly say, hoarder...! I find space where I can keep these works of literature neatly displayed and organized. Yes, I do read them, several at a time, in bits and pieces; I find time to read at the kitchen table over a sandwich, in bed at night, at my kids' tennis clinics, and outside in the sun after my housework is done. 

June is also a time for selling books at an annual homeschool book sale. This year was my second year (all of these traditions...cake, thrift stores, book sale, started last year!), and it's so much fun! My friend Eliza and I shared a table and attempted to get rid of some curriculum and books we no longer needed. Our motto was, "May we earn more than we spend," because sellers are able to shop at the sale before it opens to the public!

The crowd was thinner than last year, but I did make a little cash, found a few interesting finds, and had a great time seeing old and new friends. Aside from the pristine copy of d'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths I got for a mere $2, this was my purchase of the day: 

"How much are your Hardy Boys?" I asked the couple. "Five dollars..." began the lady, "...for the box." To which I exclaimed, "The whole box?!" And she even threw in those two Charlie Browns, which one daughter has already read! My husband and girls have enjoyed reading several books from The Hardy Boys series together at night, and we've started a small collection. Miraculously, we only owned one of the volumes in this one: a much crisper copy of the one you see with no spine! Notice there's even an Authentic Detective Methods for Solving Mysteries. I'd never seen this, but I imagine it's rare. The girls and their dad can read Hardy Boys to their hearts' content!

There are two things unique to this June, different from last year:

Our fourth summer in this house, the hydrangeas finally burst into full bloom! I believe I wasn't cutting this bush down enough in the winter. I still didn't cut it completely, but did some, and this was the result! Our vases in the house are full of them. 

Also, I just had the privilege of finishing this study: 

The ladies in our community group have spent over ten weeks examining our hearts, tearing down strongholds, rebuking the enemy, sharpening each other, and growing in Christ. I highly recommend this powerful work by Beth Moore. Thank you, dear Amanda, for initiating this in our group, and to all the ladies who shared their hearts with me during this time.

Here's to June!

September So Far

Starting off with this: 

...Because I just can't have enough candles or flowers! What joy such small things can bring!

Well, I can't speak of September without first mentioning that my daughter and Mom had their birthdays at the end of August...on the same day! Eight years ago when baby number two was born, "Gaby" (as they now call my mom) said she just couldn't understand why I wouldn't let her take "her present" home!

We celebrated with "Cookie Monster" ice cream (so easy, you can't believe it), and tried and true cupcakes. The birthday girls had fun getting together that Saturday with family and neighbor friends.

The massive news of September is that Abue, age 96 and a half, has moved in with us. If you see her, please don't tell her I told you her age...she says when people know her age, they treat her like an old person. And those of us who know Abue can attest that she definitely does not "act her age"!

She arrived on Saturday, September 3, around 3pm: 

"Hey! Ya llegué!" 

We bought our house with the idea that the downstairs bedroom would be perfect for guests, or someday for older relatives who are ready to no longer live alone. After praying and discussing Abue's living situation for six months, it was hard to believe the time for her to move in had finally arrived. The wonderful part is that she decided herself to come...no one forced her to make this transition. Even better, she still has her home of over fifty years in Spartanburg, so she hasn't been faced with the sadness of seeing it sold. Hers is the ideal situation.

Abue's room is her own space, a type of small "apartment" within our home:

To the left of this television is where her private bathroom is located. The window in this photo overlooks the front yard and pond.

Here is Abue by her other window. We placed the recliner where she would have a nice view of the TV. Cable has been hooked up into her room, where never misses Wheel and Jeopardy, and can watch Telemundo to her heart's content. One thing I love is that both the bed and dresser belonged to Jeremy's grandmother...how special that now my grandmother gets to use them!

We even found the perfect photo of Papi for the other side of the bed, right by the window, next to God's Word. I think he would love this space of Abue's!

Just a little artistic posing...Abue looking into the mirror on her dresser. That's her mother in the photograph on the left, and some photos of young Abue and her sister on the right. 

Abue is independent, for the most part. She gets up late, fixes her oatmeal and café cubano, does Sudoku, reads Spanish books, and watches her shows. She also loves to sit outside and take short walks throughout the yard. Abue sometimes will go with me on errands, but is fine staying home, too. We still eat lunch in the kitchen, but now that there are five of us at dinnertime instead of four, our family eats together at the dining room table. Abue and I have a glass of wine some nights, but without fail, she's in her room by seven for her game shows. On Sunday, I introduced her to the preaching of John Piper as we watched a sermon during which he had an interpreter. Abue leads a simple, enjoyable life, and her being here is being used by God in different ways for all of us.

In the wee, dark hours of Sunday morning, I should've been sleeping. Instead, I was tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable, and rolling thoughts over in my mind...things I had to "work out." God keeps showing me that it's up to Him, not me, to do this working out of items I try to organize just so. After I finally fell asleep and thankfully woke up refreshed, the Lord showed me that day that I had no need to worry about anything; He worked it all out in His own way, with grace and love. Why should I be surprised? It only allows me to recall His goodness the next time I'm tempted to do His job. 

Here's something that I had to take a photo of, of course, "for the blog":

The fantastic part is that, while I was searching for a type of soup in Aldi, my daughter noticed this open door and pointed out the sign: "Look, Mom! Isn't that funny?" I'm definitely training her up to appreciate silly little things that make us smile. They're all around if you try to notice them. I loved telling her that I got a kick out of it, and all of us laughed together.

One last thing...Does your local library have a shelf near the entrance/exit with discarded books for sale? All of our branches do, and most of the time, the books are only a quarter apiece. You surely know that I'm crazy about books, especially ones that I get for barely nothing. I darted into the library the other day to grab a video on hold that had arrived, and quickly perused the sale shelf on my way out. These were mine when I stepped out the door:

What a way to spend seventy-five cents! It truly is the little things that are big.

Until next time!

A Bird, A Book & A Dog

A few days ago, I wrote about how God sees. In light of such thoughts filling my head, it's no surprise that Chippy started coming around. He showed up earlier in the week, jumping around our empty bird feeder, as if reminding us that it's time for him and his friends to make use of it.

In thinking about God's omniscience and omnipresence, this passage came to mind the other day: "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31)

It took a while to correctly identify this bird. Our interest has been piqued this year by The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess, and although my kids and I are no experts, we can say we do know more than we once did. We decided this morning that he is a chipping sparrow, called "Chippy" in the book. Why should I be surprised that God would send him to our window?

This guy has fought for our attention all day for several days now. His "chip-chip-chip" sounds constantly from the butterfly bush outside the kitchen. He dances around the perimeter of the feeder, pecking away at bits of seed. He even comes to the windows, perches on the sills, looks in, and calls to us. It's as if he's trying to tell us something.

I like to think it's God telling us something. He loves us! He sees us; He cares about the sparrows, and He cares about us. Didn't I end the last post that way? And along comes Chippy. Thanks, Lord, for the reminder; I hope he's here for a long stay.

A Re-Read From the Past

Does any female out there remember this book? I re-read it in two days, and it meant much more to me as an adult than when I first read it in 1988. Aside from where we live and the fact that I don't have a brother, Stephanie Hirsch's pre-teen story is a close resemblance to my own. It's amazing that I can read this book so many years and see things with adult eyes that I never considered the first time around.

The adult-me does not advocate Judy Blume books for children. Although her topics are relevant, she goes into details that can be inappropriate. I am a huge fan of this book, but I recommend it for gals who are now ages 37-45, those of us who remember being pre-teens in the days before cellphones and Internet. This book takes me back to that awkward time of hitting puberty, changing classes, having crushes, attending school dances, all bathed in total embarrassment. It's like going back and watching "The Wonder Years;" it's fun to watch now, but I realize I had no business being encouraged in such topics back then.

As in most of her books, Blume adequately captures the essence of pre-teen thinking, and in this particular volume, adds the confusion that Stephanie feels because of her parents' separation. Her unweaving of Stephanie's feelings of anger and frustration are spot on, and I love the overall idea that this young girl knows that God's design is off, even if she has trouble expressing it. 

Yes, there are some parts that leave even an adult reader shocked. I turned several pages thinking, I'm glad I'm re-reading this as a grown woman, and will remember to save it until my daughter is way older. But I admit, it's nothing I personally didn't experience as a pre-teen...I'm just attempting to keep my own girls innocent a little longer. Overall, though, I delighted in remembering the adventures of Stephanie and her friends, and enjoyed this book much more with adult eyes and experience.

Happy Birthday, Cookie!

From the time I was two until age fifteen, my grandparents had a mutt named Cookie (pronounced "Koo-ky," as latinos would say it). Because much of my childhood was spent at that house on Brookside Road, Cookie and I were pals. She was small, stout, with smelly, shabby fur...the kind of dog you think about from the past. 

Cookie's nails clicked as she walked the hardwood floor, and her bark sounded like, "Bah!" She would scratch her hind end on a wooden piece that jutted from an antique chair, and she liked to sit with me under the dining table. When Papi took a shower, Cookie would plant herself in front of the bathroom door and wait for him. She liked to sit out on the walkway in the sunshine, "cogiendo sol," as Abue called it. 

When Papi would bathe her in the tub, she looked like a black drowned rat. He would firmly command, "Sacude!" and she knew he was telling her to shake the water off. Papi would wrap her in the same towel every time, a flowered, peacock blue one. He had written "Cuqui" on it in permanent black marker. I love that.

Once, I ate her dog food. No one was on the porch, so in an act of daring, I decided to give it a try. It was hard, crunchy, brown balls. Yep, it was dog food, all right. 

Abue always said that Cookie's birthday was March 10. We marked it a few years by having parties for her. These are pleasant times that I recall when adults went to trouble over something small for my sake. I'm overcome that Abue and Papi, and their friends Dora and Chini indulged me in this. Abue would decorate the table with anything that had a picture of a dog: old greeting cards, little figurines, and the like. Papi would make a cake, and Dora and Chini would bring other treats. We would put Cookie on the table, sing "Happy Birthday" to her, and eat the desserts that she wasn't allowed to have. She probably got to eat the hard dog food balls.

Probably March 10, 1984. My Dad, Dora, Chini, and me with my two
friends and Cookie. Notice the dog cards, bundt cake, hat on Cookie,
and the look of putting-up-with-it-for-the-kids on Dad's face.

What a blessing to remember all of this. I had marvelous times at my grandparents' house, surrounded by wonderful adults, and that sweet, loving, ball of matted fur. Happy birthday to my ole Pal!

How I miss her!