A few weeks ago I found a fun Groupon deal and planned a short family get away to Kansas City. But we kept it a surprise from the kids. The plan was to leave here on Sunday and come back on Tuesday.
About a week before we left, we found out Dakota's grandma was going to have a 90th birthday party the day before our trip. Since we didn't really have any big plans for that Saturday, and her birthday party would be on the way down to Kansas City, we decided to leave for our mini vacation a day early.
We told the kids about great grandma's birthday party, and told them we'd make a fun weekend trip of it, staying in a hotel Saturday night so they could go swimming in the hotel pool Sunday morning. But we didn't tell them any of our other plans for the trip.
There were more people at the party, but this is just the family: Grandma, her four kids, her grand kids, and great-grand kids.
Sunday, after spending the morning in the pool and grabbing some lunch, we headed out. The girls, thinking we were headed for home, told us how fun the short trip had been and how they wished it could have been longer.
An hour and a half later, we pulled off the interstate and the girls wondered where we were. We drove up to the Great Wolf Lodge, which Ashlyn quickly recognized from our stay there two years ago. With longing in her voice, she said, "I wish we could stay at this place again someday." So I asked her, "How about now?" She only repeated what she had said before, wishing we could stay here again--someday.
Meanwhile, and with wide eyes, Emma caught on to what I was saying. Once the girls both realized we were not going home, but we were indeed staying at the Great Wolf Lodge, there was much rejoicing!
Our Groupon put us in one of the bigger suites, and included free passes to the water park and a free wand for the MagiQuest game spread throughout the hotel. Instead of hitting the water park that first night, we opted to bring some dinner back to our room, try out the MagiQuest game, and watch a movie.
The girls loved the MagiQuest game, which let them use their magic wand to open treasure chests and light up paintings and other things along the walls. The game took them on several quests, searching through two different floors for hidden objects.
Later in the evening, there was a big group story time in the lobby, where all of the kids were invited to watch a show and listen to a story. After that, we finished watching our movie and headed for bed.
Monday morning, a good friend of mine and her son, joined us for a day at the water park.
The kids loved it! There was a kiddie pool, a larger pool, a giant climbing/tree house thing, several water slides and a lazy river.
Josiah was so brave, trying the kiddie water slides by himself. The silly boy was hooked instantly and kept running back to the top to do it again!
We took a break for lunch, and put Josiah down for a nap. Then Dakota took the girls out to do some more MagiQuest, since they strongly insisted they were NOT tired. A short time later he brought them back, in tears and bickering. I knew exactly what they needed. See how not-tired they were?? : )
After naps, we headed back to the water park until it was time for dinner. We met a good friend of Dakota's for dinner, and then brought him back to the hotel so the girls could show him the magic wand game.
Tuesday morning we packed up again and headed out. The girls knew we had something else planned, but didn't know what. We went to a bounce house place and met up with more friends and their kids.
In addition to the obstacle courses and bounce houses, they also had a small zip line that the girls were now brave enough to try.
After lunch, we said good bye to our friends and headed for one more surprise--lunch at Fritz's. It's a fun restaurant, where you order your food by phone, and trains running along tracks near the ceiling deliver your order. Thomas didn't deliver our order, but we did catch glimpses of him making other deliveries.
After that it really was time to go home. It felt like a long drive home. And the kids clearly needed early bed times--we all did. The next morning (Wednesday) Josiah woke up with a fever and no energy. He slept for a big chunk of the day. But Thursday morning he was the picture of perfect health again--full of energy and back to his ornery ways. Guess we must have just worn him out too much on the trip.
Jumping back into our weekly routines mid-week proved to be a challenge. But tomorrow is Friday, so I think we'll make it. And I think we'll make it to spring now, too. ; )
2 comments:
Sounds like a great weekend. The Great Wolf Lodge must be a paradise for kids!
Emma asked Dakota last night if we could go there again. He said he wouldn't make any promises. Then she told him that she would DEFINITELY take her kids there someday. I guess we've started something.
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