Our annual crusade to make summer memorable led to season passes to Carowinds (a mini Cedar Point about 40 miles south of us) and season tickets to the Charlotte Knights (the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the Chicago White Sox). Both moves were big hits.

The kids never tired of Carowinds, running from ride to ride, blazing sun be damned. Finally tall enough to blow past security, they braved the big-kid rides, spent hours in the water park getting drenched, and saw the park lit up at night from the highest seats in the house. By the end of summer they were seasoned pros, knowing how to find the shortest lines for the best rides, and often riding a coaster more than once without getting off.

Nate even rode The Intimidator, the scariest ride in the place and comparable to Cedar Point’s Magnum. Nate was with family friends the day he rode the Intimidator. We’re told he was firmly against riding it early in the day, but a nudge from an older girl helped him change his tune. Whatever the inspiration, he scored big hugs from mom and dad and seemed to walk a little taller.

Knights games were a treat all summer. We were there for opening day, for the last game of the season, and a handful of games in between. The Knights played for years in South Carolina while stadium plans stalled in Charlotte. The new park finally opened in April, and Charlotte did it right. Fireworks against the city’s skyline are a sight to behold, and the place was packed all season.

Nate’s season-long mission to score a ball — a foul ball, one lobbed into the stands from a passing coach — any ball really, will have to wait another season. At the last game of the season, as Rachel and the kids were walking to their seats, a foul ball landed near them on the concourse. Nathan got a glove on it after the first bounce (his glove has been retrieved from two lost and founds, but doesn’t come off during the game) but the ball rolled away and was retrieved by Vivian. A final reminder of how cruel the baseball gods can be.

Nate handled the situation like a champ — at least while within earshot of mom.

Maybe next summer.

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