Summer Vacation, Part One: From French Lick Resort and Casino to Holiday World

At long last, here's the conclusion to that cliffhanger posted back in June...the summer vacation posts! I know, I know, the relief and excitement you feel after all these long months can hardly be described. It's OK, you can finally let go of that breath you've been holding - and, hopefully, start to recover from that nasty death thing you encountered from holding it for 4 long months. Ha ha ha...anyway, this is the start of our vacation - we spent a week travelling through southern Indiana and northern Kentucky hitting a bunch of little touristy attractions along the way. First stop, French Lick Springs Resort and Casino in French Lick, IN. We stayed there 2 nights, did a bunch of swimming, got some massages, rode some horses, and Laura and her step-mother did some gambling.

Remember the part, earlier, about recurrent patterns? Here ya go. This was my turn at the pony rides while Laura enjoyed a full-package massage and spa treatment back at the resort.

Kian says his goodbyes to his trusted mount.

After the pony rides, the boys were given cups full of goat feed, and we were allowed to go over and visit the pen of goats kept at the stables. This was one of my first experiences with goats in a more natural setting than the IN state fair, and I have to admit to something that freaked me out - WHY DID NO ONE WARN ME THAT GOATS HAVE HORIZONTAL PUPILS!?!?!?!?!? Argh, it was a bright day, so their pupils were constricted to their smallest, and, again, not having been around goats in any other setting than in the pens at the state fair, I'd not seen them in full light where their eyes were constricted. FRRREEEEEAAAAAKKKKKYYY! I'd fully thought these were some damned alien goats at first. I almost held the boys back from them! Those dudes went to town on that feed, though. Kian had to straight-up wrestle his cup from the goats' mouths on several occasions.

The pictures above were taken during Laura's turn at the horse stables. I also enjoyed a massage that day, and gave her the time to enjoy a blazing June day in the company of farm animals, cowboys, cowgirls, and our kids. Aren't I a sweetheart? It's all about reciprocity, isn't it?

Here's where we start our day on our annual trip to Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN. This really is a great park, and a terrific investment for a family of our composure - with a couple of younger boys who enjoy a wide-range of experiences. Holiday World will likely be an on-going destination of ours until the boys just completely outgrow it.

One point of note here: it was HOT throughout this vacation. I mean, like 94-95 degrees everyday, I think. In fact, later this day, I'd suffer from a heat stroke or something, I think. I couldn't walk anymore, and had to sit under a misting fan in the water park to sleep for a good 90 minutes. The boys were total troopers, though, and I think that's in large part to another outstanding feature of Holiday World - the free drinks. Keeping hydrated is tremendously easier when you're not being gouged for bottles of water or Gatorade.

Kian handled those bumper boats like a pro! He was so jazzed to get to ride big kid rides this year!

Jack was also amped to get to ride some bigger rides this year, and this was his favorite - the drop ride. He rode this thing, no joke, like 8 times in a row!

As is probably obvious, we were WIPED after this day. We shut the park down, though, because we were all just having so much fun, and the boys were so well-behaved!

(K)