Even though I’m just a tiny toddler, I’ve been down many city blocks. And last weekend, I found myself on the best one ever: Sesame Street! After a short car ride and accompanying nap, I woke up in an instant. I pinched myself to make sure that I wasn’t dreaming. This place was for real!
My stroller wheeled in under the Sesame Place sign and the magic began. I could see familiar places and all sorts of friendly faces coming my way. Just like on the TV show, I was first greeted by Murray. Between you and me, I might have cried a little at our meeting. Murray looks much bigger in person and the excitement was so overwhelming that I did shed a tear…or two or three…but I soon climbed back into my stroller and was ready for my sunny day Sesame style. Next, we saw Rosita and Zoe. I stayed safely tucked inside my stroller while they came by to smile and wave. We are BFFs now. Really! Even though Elmo is still my favorite.
We first stopped at Elmo’s eatery to get some lunch. Everywhere I looked I saw Elmo stuff! I got to eat yummy mac and cheese on an Elmo plate and Mommy had an Elmo cookie. Yum! We got souvenir cups with cool twisty straws. While sipping away, I looked out the window and saw a Sunny Day carousel. GG (that’s my grandma!) and Daddy let me ride and it was so much fun that I kept asking for more and more. We went on again and again. Whee!
We next stopped for a snack at the corner of Sesame Street by Hooper’s store. Cookie Monster must have been hungry because he came to visit…meaning he wanted to share our food. Mommy gave Cookie a high five and a big hug—and it made me jealous. So I ran up and did the same. Cookie said my hug was the best and he wasn’t even upset that I ate off an Elmo plate. Next, Grover walked by and we said say hi and gave high fives, too. I picked the best corner to have lunch. It was celebrity sighting central!
After getting yummy in my tummy, we went to see Elmo Rocks! It was a fanatic show starring my favorite pal Elmo, along with Zoe, Cookie Monster, Bert, and Ernie as they auditioned for a rock band. We all got to rock out to the music. To celebrate, there was colorful confetti everywhere and lots of fantastic dancing. I gave it a big round of applause by clapping over my head. How cool is that? We danced up an appetite just in time for snack time, so we went to Cookie’s Cafe where I shared a cupcake with Mommy. Delish!
Then it was off to the rides. Luckily, we never had to wait in a long line. While Big Bird’s Court was made for the under 5 set, this little daredevil wanted to enjoy some big-girl rides. I flew up in the air like a bird in the trees on Big Bird’s Balloon Race. Tweet tweet! And on Ernie’s Bed Bounce, I ran and jumped stronger and faster than the big kids. I wish my bed was that big and bouncy. Boink! There were so many great rides for kids of all ages that I had to skip my afternoon nap to fit it all in.
After that, we were off to another show, Elmo’s World, where my favorite Sesame Street segment was brought to life. Elmo, Mr. Noodle, and Dorothy taught us all about dancing. I was moving and grooving in my seat and then in the aisles chasing after Elmo. It was a whole new world being on a TV set. I’m such an A-list star now.
To confirm my A-list status, I was escorted into a VIP meet and greet with all of my Sesame Street friends. I mean, anyone who is anyone was there: Elmo, Abby, Cookie, Zoe, Big Bird, Super Grover, Count, Bert, Ernie, Zoe, Telly, and Prairie Dawn! I played it cool and hung out in my stroller and let everyone come say hi to me. But I had to get out of my stroller and squeal when Elmo came over. I totally lost my cool! But he gave me an extra hug and high five. I’m never going to wash that hand again. Well, as long as I can keep it away from Mommy. Before I knew it, they all wanted to take a group picture. It was off the charts special. More special than my recent tea party. During the photo, Elmo hugged me extra tight. His fur tickled! And I’m still seeing red!
But the best was yet to come. My Sesame friends were so jazzed by my visit that they put on a whole Neighborhood Street Party Parade just for me. Everyone in the park stopped to watch the spectacular sight. There were colorful floats, educational songs, and more. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, we went to Dine With Me where I had dinner with Elmo and friends. It was a disco party with singing and dancing. Now I get what happy hour is all about!
After conga lines, spectacular sing-alongs, and ice cream, the dinner hour came to an end (with great hugs and “see you again soon”s). I left the park clutching my new Elmo stuffie and didn’t even resist being plopped into my car seat. Before the car backed out of the parking lot and I could say bye-bye, I was sound asleep with visions of Sesame friends dancing in my head.
(Editors Note: Our youngest blogger, baby Elle Belle, received special press privileges at Sesame Place. For more info about the famed playland for little kids in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, click here.)
Elle Belle is a beautiful baby girl who lives in the Upper East Side of Manhattan with her magnificent mommy, dapper dad, and her five-year-old four-legged brother (who’s adopted). She enjoys reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, trying new foods, doing yoga, taking walks in Central Park, putting things in her mouth, and cruising around NYC in her stroller while making everyone smile wherever she goes. She can be reached [email protected] and found on tugsonmyheartstrings.blogspot.com
