Since visiting Dutch Wonderland for the first time nearly two years ago, Mio has been continuing to rave about how much fun she had and how much she wants to go again. They say kids have such a short-term memory, but I was impressed that the theme park had made such a huge impression on Mio that she was still talking about it two years later! We couldn’t go last year because Mirei had just been born and required so much attention, but we really wanted to take both of them this summer! Mio’s wish came true when we took a day trip up to Lancaster, Pennsylvania on Sunday, July 19th to revisit Dutch Wonderland!
Mirei’s first time at Dutch Wonderland!
In line for the Turtle Whirl ride with Daddy
Mio & Mirei on the Sky Fighter ride together
Mio and I are astronauts!
Dan and Mio as astronauts!
M&M on the Wonder Whip together. They loved it!
You can hear Mio screaming in delight in the video below!
Cooling down at Duke’s Lagoon water park at Dutch Wonderland
Mio loves the water park!
Our little princess in the castle tower!
Enjoying Rita’s Italian ice
On the Dragon’s Lair log boat – one of Mio’s favorites!
Mio and I in line for the Sky Ride. Mirei couldn’t go on because she was too small.
Mio and I riding the Sky Ride
Mio and I on the Joust Family Coaster. Mio is such a thrillseeker – she loved it, while I was more scared! lol
Riding the rollercoaster with Daddy this time
Leapin’ Frogs ride
The girls on the Duke’s Dozers ride
Mio on the Balloon Chase ride with me
Knight and Princess!
Mio was so brave, she wanted to ride this Kite Flight ride with me.
Mio’s absolute favorite ride is the merry-go-round!
Going for round two with Daddy
Look at that content smile! I think her bucket is filled!
Sweet 18 month old Mirei
Mirei waving at the camera
For our last ride, we went on the Wonderland Special train ride!
Saying goodbye to Dutch Wonderland
Thanks for another wonderful time, Dutch Wonderland! We’ll be back next year!
Cuties Gianna and Mio were born only 20 days apart! They met for the first time the other day for a playdate in Columbia, Maryland. Here are some photos…
Mio giving Gianna a present for her and 2 week old Abram. We met up at Lake Elkhorn Park.
Gianna giving Mio a hug. So sweet!
We later moved to a play area within The Mall at Columbia, due to the cold. Gianna was so active!
2 year old cuties! Both April babies.
Nan Young said that Mio reminds her of a panda… lol. I can definitely see it!
They played well together!
Riding the carousel within the mall. Mio, who still thinks horses are the same as cows, wouldn’t stop “moo”-ing!
So glad we could meet up! Thank you for the fun playdate.
Afterwards, we went to eat some delicious authentic Italian-style pizza at Facci Ristorante in Laurel. It was so nice seeing Gamay and Nan Young again, and meeting their sweet kids Gianna and Abram. We’re looking forward to more playdates with them in the future! 🙂
We spent Sunday afternoon at Oktoberfest in Reston Town Center! Dan’s new office building is right in Reston Town Center, so it was a nice opportunity to go see the area he works in and also enjoy the good eats/drinks and carnival rides that the festival had to offer! It was pretty cold and misty, but we still had a great time! 😀
We were cracking up at how big Mio was smiling when she got there, with her hands folded in her lap. It looks almost like she’s a villain (think Dr. Burns from The Simpsons)!
What is Oktoberfest without a cup of overpriced (but apparently delicious) beer?
Delicious steamed mussels from McCormick & Schmick’s
My sister and I don’t like nor drink beer, so our main focus was the food!
Amazing chicken kabobs from Midtown Kabob
…complete with samosa, also yummy!
Enjoying the meal while Mio looks on.
Peruvian chicken from Pollo Peru. So. Effing. Good.
Mio reaching for some while we chow down.
She grabbed a french fry!
Mio’s learned how to do “cheers!” and clink her cup against another person’s, but she’s so into it that she’ll do it with every type of food she happens to share with you, and multiple times (as in every five seconds). So when she and I both had Peruvian french fries in hand, she insisted on toasting and bumping them together… over and over. Here it is on video!
We just couldn’t get enough of that chicken, so we went and got a second plate to share!
Mio kept whipping her head back and forth to look at all the people passing by. She was so curious about everything that was going on around her.
A Daddy’s girl moment.
Enjoying the view from Auntie Miwa’s shoulders.
Buying tickets for the carnival rides.
There was a train ride that we could all ride together.
Our little family on the train.
Mio kept saying “ppo ppo” (Japanese equivalent of “choo choo,” the sound of a train puffing out smoke) while riding.
After the ride was done, she was eager for more carnival fun!
Mio kept saying “ba~ ba~” when she saw the Jamaican banana.
A carnival isn’t complete without funnel cake! So of course, we had to get one.
Miwa and Dan wanted to go on one of the scarier/intense rides. Here they are before taking flight.
Mio was really scared for them! When the ride lifted up into the air and started flying around, she started screaming and clung onto my legs. Poor girl was scared for her Daddy and auntie…
Dan and Miwa flying in the air! It looked terrifying, but they seemed to enjoy it.
As a finale, we took Mio on the carousel. She doesn’t really understand the difference between horses and cows yet, so she kept mooing and making cow noises while waiting in line and riding on the carousel. I corrected her the first couple times, but it was pretty cute so I just let her moo the whole ride through.
Mio getting on the carousel.
She had a very grave expression on her face the entire time.
Clenching her teeth! Mio’s been on carousels and merry-go-rounds a few times before, but she seemed more uptight this time – maybe because it was cold?
Of course, when the ride ended, she started getting upset and wanted to go on again… (On a separate note, isn’t the heart-shaped elbow patch on her jacket adorable? My mom got this jacket for her.)
Like with the Marin County Fair, there were a lot of rides Mio couldn’t go on because she wasn’t 36 inches tall, so that was kind of a bummer. Maybe in a year or two, she’ll get to enjoy more of the rides! 🙂
The weather was gorgeous last weekend, so on Saturday we went on an impromptu picnic in Tilden Park over in Berkeley. We just laid a blanket out on the grass, sprawled out and snacked on fruits and veggies, and simply relaxed. It’s moments like these when I feel like life couldn’t be more perfect… and I’m certain they are the memories I’ll look back on and cherish decades later, when our sweet little girl is grown and gone.
Mio taking away my phone, as if to say, "Get off of that for once and enjoy the moment!"
Smiles in the sun.
Mio way up high! She's getting heavy...
Daddy can give her more air! It looks like it's raining babies and Dan's catching them.
"I put my hands up in the air sometimes..."
A happy Mio.
I picked some flowers in the field to make a flower crown for Mio.
Clover flowers adorning her head...
I used to make these all the time as a little girl. I love how life brings us full circle, back to childhood memories...
Cutiepie
Can never get enough of those smiles!
After the picnic, we strolled over to the Tilden Merry-Go-Round. I love this antique carousel with hand-carved and beautifully painted wooden animals — it looks like something from a movie, a gorgeous reminder of another era. We’d come to the merry-go-round a couple times in the past, but this was Mio’s first time riding it!
Mio and I on the merry-go-round.
Mio is securely strapped onto her ride!
Round and round we go!
Daddy wanted to ride with Mio, too, so she went for a second round.
Hooray for weekend relaxation and fun! We can’t wait to do it again. 😀
