Ben at Legoland

Kind of a birthday celebration, Ben has been talking about going to LL for a while now.  We know a number of Avery and Connor's friends that worked there this summer, so Ben has a renewed interest (some of them allow a friend to use their card for free admission)

So Dan and Ben went to Legoland on Sunday (Sep 03, 2017). Mostly focused on the water park, which Dan had not been to.

Got there at 930am (sweep drop off right at the front from Jamie), rush to the next level, where they make you wait at a chain link blockade until 10am, when the "rest of the park" opens.  Rushed to the water park and scored a couple lounge chairs under huge shade umbrella.

Kind of crappy weather, overcast, but still muggy hot, so was nice to be in the water.

Talked Ben into riding the water "log ride" roller coaster, that only goes up, around 180° and down to get extremely wet.  Proud of him for going, I could tell he did not want to do it - famously described as "dicey".  Sucked it up for Daddy.

Fireman trucks - dominated our group with just Ben and Dad.  Back to water park, and to the lazy river. Joked that we are probably setting record for # of laps around the river.

Other activities:

• wave pool
• drive your own boats
• mini town
• blast pods above water spinning around center
• back to lazy river
• driving cars
• Apple Fries (Ben's choice)
• trading lego characters with various workers (they are required to trade with you, regardless of the relative values of each side of the trade)

Left at 715pm - LONG DAY.

Dan's Epic Fun and Sun Labor Day Weekend

Epic lineup for Dan this weekend.  Sep 01 - 04, 2017

Friday

• South Ponto beach at lunch. Sunny, beautiful warm water, clear, fun sized waves. 
• Back to South Ponto beach in the mid afternoon (after Rodney cleared whole company to take off, get an early start to the long weekend.
• Concert - Fitz and the Tantrums and One Republic.  Sleep Train amphitheater.

Saturday

• Long session at the Oceanside condo complex where Julie Swail and family stay each summer.
• Volleyball match: University of Texas (Lexi Sun) @ USD.  Avery, Ben, Dan

Sunday

• All day at Legoland with Ben. Mostly water park, but did the full park.  Dan's first time at water park. Big fan of the lazy river.  930am to 730pm

Monday

• 6 games of beach volleyball at Don Bobertz house. 
• Back to Ocean Beach to see Julie, Greg, and the kids. Kind of gray and crappy weather, kids went in the ocean, rest of us in the jacuzzi / pool.

Connor Civil War Reenactment

Connor went to another reenactment this Labor Day weekend.  Battles on Sat and Sun (Sep 2 & 3, 2017).  Central Park in Huntington Beach - we have seen him do that one in the past.

Purchased his rifle. "63 Springfield" (1863) by way of the captain of his division, who purchased somewhere else.  Saved up money, and combined that with birthday money to buy the rifle for $450. Bayonet attached.

Connor was on "picket" duty (watch / patrol) around their camp on Saturday night. His shift was 12 midnight to 2am.  He and a buddy encountered a homeless man. Their protocol is to shoot a cap (cap only, no gun powder) from their rifle to signal others.  Within 30 seconds they had about 11 of them surrounding the "suspect", each with a rifle (no bullets of course), with bayonet.  If I was the homeless guy, I would get the hell out of there.  He thought the same. They ended up talking to the police about it, who were already there dealing with other homeless.

Successful event.

Connor, Zack Chacone, Bennett Keineast (first timer).
(Gus is now gone at college (Fordham in New York), sad to miss him at these events)