Lyra, Jake, Sammi

Between last night and this morning, Robert will have been delivered to the airport for his return flight to Montana. We brought him with us to Colonial Williamsburg, as he’s a fan of those good ol’ days, but he wasn’t up for a return trip to the area, this time to visit Busch Gardens. This amusement park covers over 400 acres and requires a one-hour drive each way. Caleb and Kris, the active-duty sailors, receive complimentary admission, along with three dependents (spouse and children).

Jake and Tristan Sammi and Lyra Jordan

The parents came prepared to deal with their 11 and 9-year-olds, Sammi and Lyra, and 6 and 3-year-olds, Tristan and Jordan, as snacks were readily available after Prince Elmo’s Spire. We take turns between kid-friendly and adult thrill rides. It’s a warm 90°F day, and we are staying hydrated, getting sweaty, refueling with ice cream, and cooling off in front of the park’s large misting fans. Lunch is had at the Brauhaus, located inside the Das Festhaus, where a decision is made, and Kris will wait for us in his car.

Lyra and Sammi

Jake runs around the Land of the Dragons with the kids, keeping an eye on the youngest, who is ready for a stroller ride and another snack. As the other children tire, too, we board the steam-powered train for a 20-minute ride through a few villages. Vicki, Jake, and I ride the Griffon, the first steel roller coaster with a 90-degree drop. We take the Aeronaut Skyride from France to England to experience the view of the “World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park” from 80 feet in the air, and as a shortcut to our last ride.

Jessica, Vicki, Jake — in the middle

No theme park visit is complete without a mind-swirling spin on the teacups, named Turkish Delight here. Caleb takes over the wheel and brings pure joy to Jessi and her kids as we lean, laugh, and watch the world blur by. We stop by the Highland cows on the way out, and I watch the sky change colors as we drive back to Kris’s house for grilled cheese sandwiches. We stay long after pajamas are on, but it’s not every day you can get siblings from three states in the same house, so the kids stay up a bit later.

Caleb and Lyra Sammi and Jessi