A Pictoral Essay, aka, Pictures to Satisfy the Relatives

Last summer, we took Nate to Playland at the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition). It's a fairgrounds which has a kiddie section just for people Nate's size. The kid has a memory like an elephant because up to a eight months later, he was still asking to go back to that "special park" and he could list all the rides he went on.

So on Friday, we picked David up early from work and hit the amusement park.

Last year, Nate barely made the height requirement to go on any of the rides. This year he wasn't quite tall enough to make the 42" requirement for the more "advanced" kiddie rides. However, that didn't stop him from going on every single ride he could, some of them twice. He chose the roller coaster and the Scrambler as his repeat rides (the most "daring" of the mix) and I think he would have ridden them again and again if Jake hadn't started to melt down by 7pm.

Here is our afternoon in pictures. You'll note that Nate, who was not feeling well most of the afternoon, looks not a little sweaty with dark under-eye circles. And it took a while for him to crack a smile. But by the end of the trip, he was grinning ear to ear, ill health all but forgotten.

The same boat he road last year... my own little Humphrey Bogart.

Nate's first "casino" type game. He actually caught two balls on his own...

and won a prize. I kept trying to get David to win me a giant stuffed animal, but he declined.

If it's a car and involves driving, Nate's into it.

This was a scary "adventure" for Nate... the Raiders of the Lost Ark structure.

"Scary, schmary. I could do it. If I wanted to."

Learning the fine art of killing time while waiting in line.

By far Nate's favourite ride in the park.

Last year, you couldn't see Nate's head as it was in line with the bar.

Jake wants in.

"Hey, how do you get through this thing?!"

"Okay, I see, one arm at a time."

"C'mon, dad, Nate. Seriously, let me in!"

"Okay, maybe under..."

My friend Flicka.

Every guy needs his own helicopter.

My boy's got wings.

And he's got a scooter... just like daddy's. Okay, not really like daddy's but close enough.

Pop a wheelie. (Do people still say that or am I dating myself here?)

The first ride on the coaster...

The only ride I went on, the bumblebees, and it was tame enough for me. And one of the only rides that didn't ban pregnant women.

Another prize game... note the sign, "Kids Prize Every Time". They weren't kidding.

Nate concentrating hard on "shooting his fish in a barrel".

Probably not the father-son fishing trip David has envisioned in their future.

The last ride of the evening... a great way to end a summer's day.