"Lego" your money - (aka "Legoland")

I can't take credit for the title - Merl's brother Bryan is the one who renamed Legoland......but it was true for sure!  Lego your money was Day 2 of our San Diego adventure and boy did we get our money's worth!  We arrived at 9:30am (opens at 10am) because after 15 years of marriage Merl has learned that one way to reduce stress is to get Tracy to where we are going EARLY.  We were meeting Merl's much older (just kidding) brother Bryan and his family from LA there.  Surprisingly (sorry B&K but its true!) -  Bryan, Karen, Sydney, and Mackenzie got there when we did!   By the time we unloaded all six of us, 3 bags, 2 towels, 6 extra pairs of water shoes, snacks, water bottles and put the double jogger together - oh and slathered with sunscreen - it was 10am - time to go in!  Madison and Ryan had spent many hours researching Legoland and studying the park map online so they knew just where they wanted to go first - and so it began....rollercoasters, driving cars, flying helicopters, getting wet in the water rides, playing in the fun play areas, fun with cousins, and lots of walking and standing in line.  Oh I also forgot the Granny's apple fries, ice cream, and pizza - not to mention the at least 20 trips to the bathroom (6 people multiplied by 3 times each and add in an extra few).  

I feel compelled to describe some of the pictures (If you click on the pictures your computer should enlarge them):  (1) Uncle Bryan, Sydney, and Madison on the log ride (2) Beautiful woman in the lovely beach hat (oh - just Tracy) - realizing that her water "cannon" is spraying the photographer (her handsome husband) AND the camera with water at the same moment that he is snapping the picture! (3) Two exhausted sweeties who have no problem sleeping where needed - they slept almost 2 hours in the stroller.  (4) Do you see that little head sticking up at the top of the roller coaster? - that is Merl and Ryan is next to him.....the drop on this was more than it seems.  While waiting for them I practiced getting a close up action shot of the car halfway down the drop.  I got a beautiful clear picture of complete strangers - but when it came time for Merl and Ryan's car - couldn't get it zoomed in time.  I was furious I missed the shot.  Of course "Lego your money" didn't miss the shot and had a hilarious picture of them screaming for their lives - $$$$$ please.  We ALMOST bought that picture but of course just couldn't "lego" of our money.  I fumed about the missed picture all the way until the next day when Bryan and Karen surprised us with the photo - very sweet - thanks guys again.  (5) On our way out of the park at 8pm - still smiling! (6) Allie and Mackenzie (7) Merl and Allie (8) Madison and Sydney pulling themselves to the top of the ride (9) Race car Ryan (10) Two brothers having fun.  

We rode rides until 8pm when they closed all the rides - but then if was off to the giant gift shop at the entrance.  Madison, Ryan, and Allison had been saving their allowance and even worked extra jobs to accrue a large sum of money so they could "lego" of it here.  At 9:15  (1 hour later) we emerged from the gift shop (the very last patrons) with their prized purchases......Ryan with a mug and keychain, Madison a mug, and Allison a necklace and lego shaped ice cube tray (makes lego ice cubes).  I was actually pleased watching them carefully view all the items, add up the amounts, and exercise self control.  Overall they were completely appalled at the high prices and refused to pay them!  All of them walked out with much more money than they spent.  Nice job guys!  So.....after changing out of our wet clothes and going to the bathroom one last time......we were literally the LAST people out of the park gates - and the last 2 cars in the parking lot.  We pulled out at 9:30 pm - exactly 12 hours after arriving.  Goodbye Legoland.......we got our money's worth.