sesame place, part deux

So, we have a season pass to Sesame Place and we intend to use it. We went again last weekend.

He was extremely happy to be there, as evidenced by the dancing:

We went to a show first and that was great.

Wes thinks this picture is hysterical in that I look more excited than Beck to see Abby. Hmph. I am just happy for my happy boy. That is all.

And then he had a screaming, flailing tantrum when the show was over, having received a high five from Elmo and not understanding why he wasn't getting more of the good Elmo loving right then and there. We promised him we would find more friends and he was better. But not great.

We ate French fries and Elmo cupcakes and that was fun. But after that, Beck seemed sort of sullen. He was not into the rides. He was not into the water. He played on the boring playground that one could easily find in Brooklyn and that was about it. We were starting to think that Jennifer was right about it not being so perfect after all.

He kept saying, "MO FFF" and doing that adorable and pathetic little sign for "more" with his hands. I insisted this must mean he wanted more French fries. Wes says that perhaps this reflects more about me than anything else. Nonsense.

We decided he was exhausted and we put him in the stroller and walked over to the impossible-to-walk-to B&N bookstore across the way. Only a New Yorker would attempt this walk, which is not at all pedestrian friendly. It was the principal of the damn thing. No way were we getting in a car to go 1/4 mile. Here you see my displeasure:

We had a lovely couple of hours in B&N while he slept. We read grown-up books (no, not porn, you assholes) in the cafe and chatted. It was delightful, even if it was the same cafe in the same store that we have 10 blocks from our house. Sometimes you have to drive 90 miles to find the time to just sit together. Especially if you are married to Wes.

Then Beck woke up and we headed back over. And it was then that we figured out what he was saying:
"MORE FRIENDS!"
 and our hearts broke just a little. Poor boy hadn't been having any fun because all he wanted to do was be with his Sesame Friends. So we made that our mission and found more friends and more friends until the MORE FRIENDS Extravaganza that is the overpriced Sesame dinner with lots of friends. Which is like a giant blissfest for our boy.

He had such a good time and even ate a few bites of food this time. We strongly believe that the Cookie Monster this time was the same one who loved him last time.

(I think I never mentioned that story – last time we went to dinner, had this amazing Cookie Monster experience where he held Beck like a baby for an extended, blissed-out period. Then the next morning, this kind-looking redhead woman employee stopped us on the way into character breakfast and said, "I WAS YOUR COOKIE!" She recognized Beck from the night before and deeply loved him. This time, the Cookie Monster seemed highly demonstrative and lovey and pointed to Beck and then to his heart as though he loved him particularly. I think it was the same amazing woman inside.)

Beck and cake (please note Wes' extreme dismay – it goes without saying that this was my idea, right?):

He was much perkier after dinner (thanks, cake!) and climbed the giant rope structure with Dada.

The most amazing thing that happened for Beck was that we went, at the very end of the night, into the place where Elmo is permanently waiting for kids to take pictures and there was no one there waiting. We had Elmo to ourselves. Beck was so in love with him and Elmo played tag with him. It was seriously dream-like.

The most amazing thing that happened to ME was this: Beck and I were holding our spot for the parade. Wes was returning to us from the bathroom when someone said to him, "Tell your wife that I love her blog!"

Oh yes, people. TWICE now I have been famous. And this time someone who has read enough to recognize not just me or Beck but WES! Who are you, person whom I adore? Who was at Sesame Place last weekend and saw Wes? Big thank you for saying something and TOTALLY making my day.