Just
about a week late but it’s been busy for me this week. This past
weekend, July 18 & 19, we made the journey to Jefferson, NH for our
annual trip to Santa’s Village. Once again Mom &
Irving came along, once again we stayed at the Roger’s Family
Campground & Motel, but for the first time Wesley came with us.
After all it was his first opportunity to go and he wasn’t going to miss
it for anything, that and he didn’t have a choice in the
matter.
We
went this same weekend last year, although unlike last year when we
tented out, this year under threat of thundershowers we stayed in the
motel. The hotel was a bit old, but it was clean
and featured two double beds. In our room stayed Kate, Wesley, Canaan,
and myself, Addison and Mom & Irving stayed in the other room.
Addison was pleased to have her own bed while Canaan slept on an air
mattress on the floor.
I had worked the night before and got out at 7am
and needed to sleep a bit first. Unlike last year we would not have
the room for all to fit in Vanna so Mom came and picked up the big kids
for them to ride with them as they were leaving earlier than we were. I
awoke at 11am
and we were on the road by 1220pm. It was a wonder drive over and
Wesley slept most of the way. We stopped in Gorham, NH at the Circle K
to feed the boy. Gorham is quite
a beautiful town sitting between the mountains like it does with Skiers
and Appalachian Trail hikers frequenting the area.
The
one thing about Gorham that I have found peculiar since going through
last year is the closed Kentucky Fried Chicken. I have only ever seen a
closed Fast Food Restaurant in one other
place and that was a McDonalds in Greenville.
By
the time we arrived Mom had already checked us in and the kids were at
the pool. They came back shortly after our arrival but went right back
with us. Water was chilly but we had a great
time. For dinner we got pizza and Irving a sandwich at the Old Corner
Store a few miles up the road. They tout themselves as being known
throughout New England as a “Favorite stop for Pizza.” I must say it
was very good pizza indeed!
Ordering
Irving’s sandwich was a bit comical. He wanted a Bacon Italian and
that’s what I tried to order, however not being in Maine they call their
Italian sandwiches grinders, but on their
menu they have sandwich called Italian which has pepperoni, ham, &
salami. It took some doing but we finally worked it out and he got what
he called a delicious sandwich.
After
dinner we hit the arcade, which featured fewer games and more crane
machines than last year. It had 5 crane games, 4 driving games and 2
shooting games. We played pool with Canaan
& Irving vs. Mom & I and we won 2 games to 1. Canaan did quite
well and Addison helped me shoot in the last game. It rained on an off
for a bit and produced varying degrees of rainbows, sadly none that
were all that impressive.
I slept rather restlessly that night, as did Kate, even sitting outside from 4 to 5am listening to a podcast before catching a nap for about an hour and a half. We brought the toaster and
toasted up English muffins for breakfast, mom had bought some cakes along the way as well.
We got to Santa’s Village just after 9am
to get inline as the park opened at 930. The kids, all 3, got an elf
university card to punch. We tried to bring Wesley on the Carousel but
the attendant
wouldn’t let us, we weren’t going to put him on a horse but sit on the
bench. A bit before 10am
the sky opened up and it started to rain, quite heavy at times for the
next 30 minutes. The park gives out free rain ponchos. Mom, Irving,
& the big kids went
on the ride Humbug while we hid in the post office. It sprinkled one
more time after that and after lunch the sun came out giving us a
beautiful and quite warm afternoon.
We
went to the Skyway Sleigh and I asked the attendant if Wesley could ride
explaining the issue on the carousel. She said we could ride the
sleigh and she felt we should have been able to
ride the carousel with him, her cohort agreed. Canaan rode with us and
Addison with Mom & Irving, at the end of the ride they take your
photo and I had said for us to make faces, but no one wanted to so we
smiled and it came out very well. So well in fact
that we bought an ornament, it’s too bad that Addison wasn’t with us.
At
the end of the ride the attendant told us that it bothered her that we
were told we couldn’t ride on the carousel. We saw her again twice
later and the second time she said she checked
with a manger who confirmed to her that Wesley should have been allowed
and that they would make sure all staff knew.
The
kids spent the day riding on several rides having a grand time! We ate
lunch in the picnic area bringing in peanut butter and jelly chips,
pickles, and maple cookies for desert.
Wesley
had fallen asleep by the time we got to the train, I volunteered to not
go on and stay with Wesley. At the train station is located Polar
Expresso to which Canaan had said earlier that Kate would like that
place. I went in and asked the clerk how much and
Ice Coffee was, she told me just as I was going to ask for one Kate
stuck her head in with “I wouldn’t be upset at all if you got me an Ice
Coffee.” I turned “Ma’am what did I just ask you?” It was quite funny
actually. Wesley awoke about then so I quickly
put together the ice coffee and joined them on the train.
After
the ride I quickly dashed to Santa Claus’ house for the one thing that I
wanted was a picture of Wesley with Santa Claus. Just prior to
entering into the room Santa was in Wesley became
fussy, Kate found it hilarious. It was our turn and Addison was quite
excited and nervous but went right in and sat on his lap. As Wesley was
being fussy I wasn’t going to have one of those Santa holding a crying
baby. However, Santa insisted and as soon
as Wesley was in his hands he stopped crying and was excellent the
entire time.
I
got a good picture with Addison and Wesley with Santa but mine with
Canaan didn’t come out at all. However, they took a group photo of them
that was fantastic! So for the second time ever,
and on the same day no less, I bought a photo from the park, time a
magnet with mom also got. When it was time to retrieve Wesley from
Santa somehow he made it so that Kate got him and was forced to interact
with him. Like he could tell how she felt about
the jolly old elf it was quite funny.
The
kids rode a few more rides and then we headed home. We stopped at the
Crossroads Diner in Bethel for dinner on the way home. We had eaten
their last year as well and my burger was delicious!
This year though it wasn’t as good, it was good, just not as good.
It rained on and off on the ride home, which was a bit rough with no air conditioning, but not unbearable.
