Make A Wish Reunion @ Carowinds

Every year, we are invited to Carowinds for a Make A Wish family reunion.  MAW sends us a parking ticket and has our admission tickets available for us at the door.  This year, Scott could not go because he was a vendor at the Black Walnut Festival.  Since Scott couldn't go, I asked Mary if she could go.  When she said yes, I asked Ethan's friend, Gracie, if she wanted to go to (really, I asked Gracie's parents).  Gracie excitedly responded while jumping up and down, YES!  Once I told Ethan that Gracie was going to get to go, he just smiled.  He loves his Gracie!!!

Well, with Mary getting the flu earlier in the week, she wasn't able to go with us today so it ended up just being me, Ethan, and Gracie.  It worked out that we also met up with our friends, and fellow MAW family, The Barnes'.  Gracie was able to go on some of the bigger rides that Ethan couldn't because she could ride with The Barnes'.  Perfect.

The weather was less than perfect when we got there, it poured rain actually, but it only did that for about 15-20 minutes, THANK GOD!

Ethan had a fair sensory day.  He basically freaked out on the rides, but still smiled and never cried, but he was fine with the other people and the noise.  He was so sweet- while Gracie rode a ride with The Barnes family, Ethan and I waited on the exit ramp.  I had him in an area that didn't get in anyone's way.  He was such a sweet greeter to all the exiting passengers, but kept his leg out for space distance...all while trying to give high five's to everyone that walked by!  Sweet boy...


What else?  Gracie got her face painted a Fancy Butterfly and the young gentleman that painted her face saved the day when he came running after me with my camera!  I had left it after paying!  OMG- that would have sucked! 
 
(insert frustration here.  Blogger is not my friend this evening!  I just lost half of this post.  Grrrrr....)



The forecast for today was not the greatest, but not too bad either:  Rain in the morning and sunny skies after.  We could deal with that.  I figured it would rain on the drive down to Charlotte- which it did- and then we would be free of rain.  Nope.  But, it wasn't that bad.  It poured on and off for about 15-20 minutes after we got there.   It was not cold though, so the rain just made it humid and sticky.


So, we rode rides, had lunch, rode more rides, and before leaving we HAD to get a funnel cake.  It's like amusement park law that you must have funnel cake!  LOL.  We shared...Ethan even got the really soft pieces. 

I am so happy that Gracie got to go with us today!  She is the most loving, kind-hearted, accepting, God-loving, sweet, innocent, gracious girl.  We are so blessed that she loves Ethan so much!  And, he loves her back!  You should see how Ethan lights up as soon as he sees Gracie.  But, she also gives him tough love when he needs it.  I hope that she is in our lives forever because she and Ethan have a very special bond.

Ethan was exhausted by the end of the day (so was I!!!) and he zonked out within five minutes out of the parking lot.  But, he woke up after we dropped Gracie off with her Aunt in Concord and he never went back to sleep.  He is now sleeping like a log.  

To sum up, I will quote Gracie as we were about to leave..."Today has been the BEST day!".  ☺

(I gotta say, I don't know what is going on with Blogger coding and stuff, but it's getting on my nerves! My page is all messed up and this post has hit a bad nerve as far as how it is looking. Ok, maybe I am a tad tired and cranky...)