Our annual send-off/Kick-off

Reg'lars know that we take a short trip at the end of each summer, heading north to stay at a Jellystone campground and then to an amusement park the next day (just a half mile from the campground.) It's what we H's call our Send-off/Kick-off, sending summer on its way and kicking off our upcoming homeschool year. We swim in the two pools (did swim), roast hot dogs (did roast them), make S'mores (did make 'em), and the kids love sleeping in the cabin bunks (did love it.) See where I'm going with this?

In keeping with my life theme (If it can go wrong so we can laugh at it later, it definitely will), some things were gonna rock our boat this year. It all started back in July....

Carl got online in early July, as usual, to reserve our amusement park tickets at the homeschool rate (it's a significant discount; normal price is around $36 pp, homeschool rate is $10 pp.) I was in the kitchen when I heard him sigh like an elephant and grumble something unitelligible.

"What, babe? Did you say something?"

In a tone heavily laden with frustration and surprise, he fired, "Yes. I did. I s-a-i-d,...they moved the homeschool week."

Oh.
Okay. So we weren't going to enjoy the last week of August.
Last week.
No crowds.
No lines.
Lots and lots of rides just waiting for us to step right up and enjoy.

But not this time. Because this time, they moved the week.

"Oh," me thinking out loud, "okay,...so,...do we have to go like next week or something?"
"NooOOo, we had to go the first week in June."

Me, suddenly high pitched and with a twitching eyebrow, "JUNE???"
Up-speaking now.
"Ju-u-UNE? Why the heck did they move it to JUNE? I mean, who does that?"
"Gee, honey. I dunno. It's not like they sent out a memo or anything."
Ah, Sarkey in duh house.
(That's what we say when one of us gets so frustrated that sarcasm sets in, which happens easily seeing as we both have a sarcastic sense of humor anyway.)

So now we were both clearly frustrated. The park moved the date from the last week of the summer to the first, without notifying any of its homeschool customers (yes, they may have had our information on file somewhere, as you have to order the tickets in advance each year.) What to do? I'm not a defeatest type of gal. If there's an angle to work, I'm on it.

"Get me their email."
Hubs saw it. I saw that he saw it. (Remember Dodgeball? "You know that I know that you know.")
He saw that "I have an idea" twinkle in my eye.
I saw that "Oh snap, there she goes again" wrinkle in his brow.

And off I went, feverishly tickling the keyboard until I had fully explained myself to the group sales office, asking them point blank to extend the rate to us as a courtesy under the circumstances.

It took nearly three weeks (I was disappointed and apalled that they wouldn't at least respond with a respectful "no way, lady") but finally an email arrived. With an apology for the oversight regarding my request.
They did in fact honor the rate, which we so appreciated.

But the fox pox fau paux was NOT over yet.
The cabin.

We always book a single night at Jellystone. The rate has been between $79-$90 for a cabin that sleeps six. And during those last August weeks, the campground is always nearly empty, with maybe 3 or 4 cabins filled (I think there are 14 of them) and perhaps 10 lots camped on.

"Sir, there is a 2 night minimum and it will be $170 per night."

Sweet mother of crime sprees, they're robbing us BLIND!
For an empty campground, mind you.

Me to hubs, "When did THOSE rates kick in?"
Hubs in frustration, "Gee, I dunno. They didn't send out a memo or anything."

See where I'm going with this?

New management + New rates + New 2-night requirement = empty cabins, lost customers (namely us.) Yep, this was the first time in 4 years that we drove to the amusement park DAY OF, no overnight.
Disappointing? Sure.
Paying $340 for a pool and a marshmallow on a graham cracker?
Shh-yeah, right.

We did have a great time at the park, I'm happy to say. Cierah conquered her fear of upside down coasters (loved it). Olivia squeezed her lanky self into kiddie rides for the sake of her baby brother. Reece was ELATED that we couldn't ride the "scary" pirate ride (denied boarding because there were 3 of us; another policy change from the previous 3 years). And Brandon is already asking me if he'll be big enough to ride the "roasters" next year (my thrill seeker of a toddler, I tell ya.)

I love (LOVE!) being in the midst of truly magical childhood moments, the ones you KNOW are being etched into conscious memory in the "good times" category. The memories that you KNOW they'll resurrect to share with their own children someday.

"Did I ever tell you about the amusement park and campground we always visited at the end of the summer when I was a little kid? Well, 'cept for that one year when we missed the homeschool week and....sit down. Let me tell you about it."

Toni