The Vacation!

Many of you have been asking about the recent trip we took down to the Kansas City area. And now, I am finally caught up on all my other blogging, so I can get to posting about the trip!

We hemmed and hawed about this trip for quite a while. Originally we were thinking this would be a good time to make another trip down to San Antonio to see my dad. We did that the winter I was pregnant with Ashlyn, and we really enjoyed our time there. But when I started hearing about all the hassles with airline travel around the holidays, I started second guessing heading south this year.

First of all, with being pregnant, I didn't really want to have to go through one of those full-body scan machines. But they're safe, right?? Well, if that's true, then why are the airlines telling their employees to opt out of the scans? So then, what's my other option--an invasive pat down that borders on molestation. Um, no thanks. And subject my young girls to the same things? Again, no thanks.

Then in early January I heard about airline fares rising yet again. More confirmation that this was not the right time for us to fly. Ashlyn is no longer free to fly, like she was last year at this time. And with a baby on the way, and us facing other related expenses in the coming months, it seemed the door to Texas was closing. I began to wonder if we'd take a trip anywhere this year.

Then I happened to see something posted on facebook about the Great Wolf Lodge in KC offering some really good winter deals. And with the help of many friends who live in that area or have visited there before, we soon had a long list of kid-friendly things to do and see in Kansas City. The decision was made, the room was booked, and we prayed the weather would cooperate!! (Lucky for us the big blizzard that paralyzed KC hit the week before we planned to go!)

We left last Sunday after church. The first thing we did once we arrived was check out our room. The girls were so excited to find a bunk bed in the room, with walls that separated their little cabin area from the rest of the room.

Side note: we did end up having some minor issues with the room on the first night, though. So the next day they switched us to a room with a slight upgrade. We spent the next two days in the new room and were much happier.

Monday we spent most of the day at the Great Wolf water park. After stepping into the water park I didn't mind not going to TX. Sometimes artificial warmth is just as good as the real thing! Even the water was warm!

The girls loved everything there--the kiddie wading pool, the bigger swimming pool, the big water slides, and the lazy river. And me, I loved the bigger swimming pool, where my back and sciatic nerve got to forget about being pregnant for a brief time. Emma was a fearless fish, but Ashlyn started out a bit more timid. Most of the time she clung to us in the pool, and walked around with her hands over her ears in fear that the giant bucket full of water would splash down every 5 seconds instead of every 5 minutes. But by the last day, she was happily and bravely swimming on her own in the big pool (with a life vest).

On Tuesday we spent most of the day at the children's museum. They had all sorts of fun things to play with! Some of the highlights were the arts & crafts room, the ball room, the toddler play room (for Ashlyn), the Lego room, and the big blue blocks.




We left the children's museum to get some lunch at a diner that had been recommended by several people. Fritz's Railroad Restaurant was unlike any dinner I've ever been to. You have very little contact with the wait staff there. When you are ready to order, you pick up the phone at your booth and place your order. And when your food is ready, it's delivered to your table by a train. Every time we heard a train whistle sound, the girls got so excited because it meant another train was coming around to deliver someone's food. Our food was delivered by none other than the little blue engine, Thomas.


After lunch, we headed back to the children's museum until it was clear naps were needed. After a nice nap back at the hotel, we played at the water park again and then had a late dinner. Since that was our last night, we wanted to make it out to the lobby for their nightly 8pm show and bed time story. The girls sat nicely with their arms around each other, listening to the story and watching the characters under the clock.


Wednesday morning we checked out of our room and went to meet up with a college friend and her boys at Jumping Jax. Our kids bounced and climbed and bounced some more. By lunch time they were exhausted and hungry--that was easy to tell, because they were so quiet the whole time we were at lunch, and Ashlyn ate more pizza than I've ever seen her eat--ever! After lunch and a nice time of visiting with Rachel, we loaded back into the van and headed home.

Ashlyn now thinks we need to go on vacation again as soon and as often as possible. And I'm inclined to agree. :) Three days away wasn't a very long trip, but it was still a fun get away.