We all went to Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant for the birthday party but we drove separately.
It was my first time there, to Jenkinson's, but Jeff had taken the older boys for the first time late last year, on October 1st, on their final open weekend. And Kenny's January field trip took him to Jenkinson's Aquarium. I am familiar with the area because I took a bible study at the Franciscan parish of St. Peter's. I love shore towns.
Both boys received a packet of twelve tickets, each one good for a ride.
Kenny fell in with a friend, a classmate, and Timmy went around with Daddy. We rode carnival type rides for about an hour until pizza and cake were served at Little Mac's at 1 PM. Then, at two, we walked down the boardwalk to the Aquarium. The boardwalk is packed with carnival type games and prizes and shops selling ice cream and other carnival type food. It's like Atlantic City without the casinos!
The Aquarium is absolutely wonderful!
Not too big, just a big room downstairs and a big room upstairs. But, what a selection of animals! Big, clear tanks and a comfortable atmosphere. The dock-like decorations reminded me of the Gulf, of Cedar Key in Florida. The tank's windows were at the right level for the (nearly 3' tall) baby to peer in without straining. He backed away a little when a shark swam right towards him! Maybe he thought it was just a big TV!
There were touch tanks upstairs but I don't know whether my kids touched anything. Tim got separated from us at one point while we were upstairs. I looked over the railing into the lower level and saw him with another family, talking to them and pointing at a tank. I called over to him, telling him to come back upstairs, but I only confused him because he couldn't locate me. And then I saw Jeff reach him. My kids don't have that natural fear of the world. That's how I like it ... but it makes ME crazy!
After an hour in the Aquarium, we walked back to the carnival rides.
There was some disappointment over the bumper cars because neither boy was tall enough. And lots of crying. But then Jeff spotted a kiddie version of bumper cars and both kids rode. Kenny rode three times! Tim did alright, driving and controlling his car. He enjoyed bumping people. The cars were themed "cat" and "mouse", very cute. Then, I took Tim and the baby home and Kenny and Jeff stayed for another hour to use up all of the tickets. Some party guests left after pizza and cake without seeing the Aquarium. It had been a field trip for this class of friends, so that may be why some people skipped, thinking their children had already seen it. But, imagine the expense for the hosting parents for the tickets not to be used!
Jeff said that he and Kenny were the last ones from the party to leave. He even saw the birthday girl go home!
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