Gilroy Gardens

Monday we went to Gilroy Gardens with Auntie Theresa, Andrew, Andrew's BFF Skylar, and her mommy.  As soon as we arrived we met up with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Nate, Auntie Meliss, Chaney, Beau, Uncle Ian, Auntie Adie, Claire, Natalie, and Auntie Ann!  We had a wonderful time with the family!

 

As soon as I buckled Gabriela up in this cute little mini-carousel, I realized that I wasn't allowed to stand on it next to her.  I got so nervous and asked what they'd do if she didn't like it. The lady assured me they would stop the ride if needed.  Gabriela was excited and saying "horsie!" But as soon as she started going around, she didn't look as excited. In fact, every time she saw us, she started saying, "no horsie, no horsie!" Poor baby.  We asked them to stop the ride.  We didn't try any other solo rides that day.

 

Andrew and Skylar are such good buddies.  They walked around the park together holding hands and laughing. Skylar has introduced Andrew to her family before as her HUSBAND. She got kind of jealous any time Andrew held hands with Gabriela or his Auntie Elena.

  

Daddy and Gabriela

 

While we were waiting in line for a little kid ride, I used my super paparazzi style skills to snap this photo of Auntie Ann and Uncle Ian on the big-kid Banana Split ride. Grandpa, Chaney and Claire also rode this one, but they are kind of covered by the tree.

 

Beau on the spinning strawberry ride in Uncle Lane's hat.  Gabriela loved this ride.  She got the hang of waving to everyone like a princess during the ride, and when it was over said, "more, more more! more strawberry!"

 

We all hopped on the big carousel.  I was happy that I could ride with Gabriela.  She liked it much better this time around. Lane took this photo of Grandpa and the girls in one of the mirrors of the carousel.

  

Uncle Lane, Claire and Natalie and Gabriela rode on this "mild thrill" hot air balloon ride.  Gabriela was saying "balloon sky!" Lane said she liked it just fine, as long as he had both arms around her.  When he let go with one arm to wave to someone she'd say "no balloon!"

 

When the ride was over, Gabriela said to all her family audience, "balloon sky!" and pointed up into the sky.  She then proceeded to hop onto another cart instead of exiting the ride.  After we pulled her off, she told me "Daddy balloon sky!  Mommy balloon sky?" She loved it.

 

Later on, after a train ride and on the way to lunch, Gabriela asked for Natalie to hold her, "Nah-nee hold you?" Natalie happily obliged

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Gabriela doesn't appear to be too excited in this picture, but I think it was just because she was concentrating on keeping her arms up, which she did through the whole ride, that little thrill seeker.  When we got off she was crying, "more ride, more ride, more ride, WHOA!" She pointed and was totally over the more ride thing when she saw this: 

Gabriela then proceeded to run through the playground going on the slide and going non-stop until she ran into my arms, twirled my hair and requested a "milk-bottle"

 

Gabriela had a total blast at Gilroy Gardens. She was sound asleep after exactly two minutes in the car, before we'd even exited the parking lot. She proceeded to nap for THREE hours.  She was wiped out from all that family fun.