Steph is back home with the twins, I am here in Pittsburgh with Faith, Mari, and my dad. Long story, this was the best way to do things. We all miss each other but are also enjoying the reduction in workload.
So, today, another early rise, on the road by 6:10 - so that we could make it for a full day at Kennywood Park. For those who don't know, Kennywood is Pittsburgh's amusement park. Now, I've sort of fallen in love with the charm and friendliness found at some of the smaller-scale amusement parks we've found throughout the country. Centerville on Toronto Island, Lake Winnepesaukah in Chattanooga, Wonderland in Amarillo, our own Coney Island in Cincinnati...which by the way, is way way underperforming its potential. But I can talk about that another day. My point is this - Kennywood is really too big to be considered one of those 'smaller' amusmement parks...but it FEELS like one. And it's just really an amazing place. Coaster afficianadoes know all about Kennywood's unique coasters that nearly all 1) use the natural mountainside setting for dramatic and hidden drops (often right out of the station), and 2) do not place the biggest hill first... But what amazes me about this place is the number of historic and 'last left of its kind' rides which are housed here. The Kangaroo, the Turtles, the Auto Race, all are accompanied by historical notes explaning the significance of the rides. This is a cool place. And the kids' area has more stuff dedicated to the smallest riders than King's Island, and in a much more compact setting. We all had a great time. And when the video comes out (in 2012 at the current rate of progress) a big thank you will go to Uncle Barry for doing so much videography. Nice to have an expert assistant.
Now. Point needs to be made about something here. Explanation given. This is Rumpelstiltskin:
He came from a McDonald's happy meal and has become a bit of a cult figure in our household. He joined us on our trip to Hilton Head and is with us now in Pittsburgh. Sort of decided that he would become our own "roaming gnome" and we'd snap photos of him wherever we went. So. Here he is at Kennywood, and then at Mineo's, my dad's childhood pizza haunt:
Oh, and a couple pics of the girls too. Most of what we got today was video, but there are a few good pics:
