Small Stuff

Yay for Spring Break!

Since Erin was 9 months old she's been on her own, teeny-tiny growth curve.  She's petite, and definitely short for her class.  Many of the friends she hangs with are a good head (sometimes head/shoulders) taller than she is.  They can carry her around on their backs like she was a doll.  

Erin and one of her best friends from school.

Her brother on the other hand is at the opposite end of the growth curve.  He's one of the tallest in his class and it seems he will soon be taller than his mommy.  Being the tall kid is kinda cool, but no one throws you around like a doll.  He's been taller than her for a good 2 years.  Remember, she is 2 years older.

Erin has always been much more the thrill seeker than Jeff has.  She LOVES amusement parks and roller coasters.  The higher and faster the better.  And toss in a loop, and she's golden.  Unfortunately most of those rides have height requirements. 

Poofy hair pushed him into orange

Each summer we buy passes to a "nearby" (1.5 hours, but it's worth it) amusement park for the summer. They always open as a preview over spring break.  We took our first visit there today.  Upon arriving at the park, generally we wait in line for our wrist band.  The coveted band is orange in color and lets you ride anything you want.  The required height -- 54".  Last year her brother was close, but never close enough to garner himself an orange.  Today we approached the measuring marker and her brother proudly walked up to the color bar kiosk and stood well within the "orange" range.  Erin looked at me sadly, walked to the kiosk and was nowhere near that orange range.  Still solidly in purple.  For the third year in a row.  

Now you can ride some pretty awesome rides in purple.  You can rise up 272 feet into the air and then free fall at a speed of 72 MPH back to earth.  There is one steel coaster with loops, and another that blasts you off through a spiral incline.  Still, those really cool rides, the one that drops at a nearly 90 degree angle after climbing 300 feet, are restricted to the "orange" kids.  And those are the ones that she really wants to ride.  

I saw her face crumble, and held her against my chest while she cried. "It's not fair, it's just not fair.  I'm never going to be tall enough to ride the fun rides."  She sobbed for several minutes while park goers looked askew at me, "It's hard when baby brother gets into orange and she's still in purple," I tried to explain.  Especially when he takes one look at the Volcano and runs in terror.  

Riding Rebel Yell with a good friend

We met up with some friends a little bit later (after riding the flipping ship ride that holds you upside down) and her spirits lifted.  Her brother did get his first "orange" ride in later this afternoon (an inside-launch-flipping-spiraling-inthedark coaster) and loved it.  

Here's hoping that my sweet girl hits a growth spurt in the next few months so she might get a chance at some of these rides by the end of the season.  Otherwise, I'll have to continue to remind her that genes are not on her side (I'm only 5'1") but eventually she'll be able to sit next to me on Intimidator and scream with the best of them.  

Worn Out