Day Four-Springfield, MA & Connecticut

We actually got up about 8:45 this morning! We packed up and loaded the car and headed out to Six Flags New England. On the way we tried to stop at the National Firearms Museum at Smith & Wesson headquarters. But, no luck. It closed last week for renovations and doesn't reopen until September. Scott felt the need to share with the unfortunate security guard who gave us the news, that Plymouth Rock was also closed for renovations, failing to mention that was back in 2008! So, Thomas had to settle for just having his picture made at the front gate.

 The weather was great for most of our day at Six Flags. It was sunny and about 73 degrees. Slight cool breeze...perfect theme park weather.

Just as with our Six Flags, there were many interesting fashion choices. This park includes a water park, so there were various stages of dress and lots of tattoo's as Mandy likes to point out.  Makes for some great teachable moments.  For instance, when we were waiting in line for the tram from the parking lot to the gate, Thomas had a lesson being a gentleman.  There were two kids who made it on the tram in front of us, but there were no seats for their parents.  The dad asked the very tattooed and multiply pierced young man seated behind his two children if he would mind taking the next tram so his wife could ride with their two kids.  He refused!  I was floored.  Made me proud to be from the South.  Now, we certainly have our misfits and crazies, but even the most redneck Bubba would give up his seat so a mom could ride with her kids.  So, Scott seized the moment to point out to Thomas that if he was ever witness to that situation, he shouldn't wait to be asked, but volunteer to give up his seat.  And then, rather loudly, pointed at the rude young man and said, "Not like that jerk!"

We rode several roller coasters and did some snacking.  Its hard to do a theme park with just your own kids and no friends.  The difference in height makes it hard for them to all ride together.  Not sure if it was hardest being the youngest or the oldest today.  And heaven help you if one isn't exactly the right height because the power-hungry teenager with the yard stick WILL get you...

We ended up putting napkins in Mandy's shoes to make her a 1/4 inch taller so she could ride the bumper cars!

Thomas & Mandy headed up, Grace is in there
too, just facing the other way.

                                    Everyone's favorite snack of the day was the BBQ waffle fries....

Main Street through Agawam, MA, where Six Flags is, was lined with flags on every telephone poll.  We've seen this on several of our road trips in this area.  Wish we did this in Rockwall!

Besides Six Flags, we spent most of the day in the car.  Rain rolled in about 4:00 and since no one wanted to walk around in the rain, we decided to leave and continue on to our stop for the night.  Along the way we drove through Hartford and took a picture of the Connecticut State Capitol...

We are in Danbury, CT for the night.  We checked in and then went to a nice little local diner for dinner.  Mandy was sooo excited because the kids meals were named and just look at what they called the chicken tenders & french fries combo...

They named it after her! :)

Tomorrow morning we are getting up early and driving to West Point, NY and are going to try and tour the military academy.  Also hoping to hit the Thomas Paine museum in New Rochelle.  We are spending the night tomorrow night in Brooklyn!  We've been to NYC a million times, but always stay in Manhattan.  We've gotten good enough with the subway that we decided to venture out a bit and just ride the train in.

Blessings From Connecticut,
Leslie