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Great Times at Great Wolf Lodge: The Waterpark

June 26, 2012 By 2 Comments

Yesterday, I told you a little about our trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City last weekend.

So. Much. Fun.

You can read about the hotel and fun activities in yesterday’s post, but in it, I didn’t even get to the best part…

Oh yes – the waterpark! Lots and lots of water! And this family of “fish” could not have been happier!

Above is a picture of a giant climbing structure in the middle of the indoor park. So many fun things to do in this section – slides and buckets and water guns and much more! And that is just one part!

See that giant bucket in the background, just beginning to pour water?

Well, it dumps one THOUSAND gallons of water every FIVE minutes! People stand underneath it to get drenched and this was totally fascinating to the boys! Of course, The Hubby had to show them that he could handle the deluge…

Double J and I decided to pass on that and stay dry…

There is also a zero-entry indoor pool…

With smaller slides that Big J loved…

And a lazy river! The Hubby and I love those lazy rivers and now the boys do as well!

There are slides of all sizes for thrill-seekers of different ages and temperaments. The Hubby took the boys down some of the bigger ones that require inflatables and they loved it!

 

They were just too fast for me to catch them on camera!

Little J’s favorite part was the outdoor pool and the weather was just right to enjoy it!

See that life jacket? The outdoor pool is zero-entry, but it also gets deeper and the boys are still learning to swim. Great Wolf Lodge has plenty of life jackets in all different sizes for your family to use for FREE! I was grateful for that extra bit of safety for my kiddos!

And while I’m on the topic of safety, we were extremely impressed with the lifeguard staff at the waterpark. They were the most alert and focused lifeguards I have ever seen, continually walking back and forth, scanning the water for any problems. We also saw several drills done with lifeguards while we were there that I assume were part of ongoing training. I applaud Great Wolf Lodge on such excellence in this area!

Now back to the fun…

I think he went down this frog slide twenty times or more!

Look at these water lovers! I can’t stand the cuteness.

Double J seemed to enjoy his time in an outdoor pool – no surprise in this family!

My feet enjoyed their time in the water as well :)

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, this was an awesome family vacation and I can imagine going back many more times because there is something for kids and adults of all ages!

We made so many great memories while we there and didn’t have to leave the hotel for much of anything!

The minute we got home, Big J asked, “When can we go back?!”

Thank you, Great Wolf Lodge, for a wonderful vacation!

Want to learn more about Great Wolf Lodge? Follow them on Twitter or connect with them on Facebook!

*****

Disclosure: We received a reduced room rate for our stay at Great Wolf Lodge as a member of the media. I was not compensated in any way for this post and all opinions are 100% my own!

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Filed Under: family, vacation

Great Times at Great Wolf Lodge: The Hotel

June 25, 2012 By 4 Comments

When The Hubby started medical school, we made a plan to take a fun vacation to celebrate when he graduated. At the time, that plan included just the two of us and Hawaii.

Then we had another baby just two months before he graduated. It was time for a new plan!

This new plan involved a family-friendly location and we knew just where we wanted to visit…

The Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, Kansas!

Great Wolf Lodge has eleven locations across the United States and Kansas City was the closest to us, so we picked a weekend in June, packed up, and headed out for some family fun!

Talk about your ultimate family vacation! Actually, our three days and two nights there were so jam-packed with fun that I had to break it up into two posts to tell you about it all!

Tomorrow we’ll talk about the water park, but today it’s all about the hotel!

We arrived on a Friday and, despite the line, we didn’t have too wait long to get checked in! Our room was a family suite, with two queen beds for us to relax on…

A sofa sleeper separated from the beds by a half-wall…

And a balcony where we enjoyed some fresh air and games…

The family suite also has a microwave and fridge which was very helpful in keeping our crew fed and happy!

Of course we didn’t spend all of our time in the room, although the beds were SUPER comfy! The lodge has loads of fun for the whole family to enjoy!

Friday night, the big boys and I explored the lobby…

and watched the daily Clock Tower Show, a cute production of talking forest animals telling a story about the building of the clock tower.

I think the boys enjoyed it!

This was a great pre-bedtime activity and lots of other families were there to enjoy it with us!

The next morning, we visited the lobby again for a little animal education…

During the Wolf Walk, Great Wolf Lodge staff guided us around the lobby, teaching us fun facts about woodland creatures such as the wolf, caribou, and bear!

And to end the walk, we all made origami wolves to take home!

Since we were only there two nights and spent the majority of our time in the water, we didn’t have the chance to experience any more of the fun activities inside the hotel.

Should you visit a Great Wolf Lodge yourself, you’ll have to try your hand at crafts in the Cub Club and get some yummy food, like the coffee and sweets found at Bear Paw!

Doesn’t this look like a fun place to stay?!

The activities I touched on were perfect for our younger children, but there are activities throughout the hotel for older children as well, such as Bingo, hula hoop and limbo contests, arcade games, MagiQuest, and more! You can visit the Great Wolf Lodge site for more on the fun to be had at a lodge near you!

A few other highlights of the hotel from my adult perspective:

*Free wifi- And by free, I mean a totally free and easy connection! I’ve been at many hotels that claim free wifi, only to end up with hidden fees or lots of hoops to jump through to get connected. Not at Great Wolf Lodge! I really appreciated this!

*A fitness room – The Hubby and I make it a priority to work out every day {almost every day for me}, so we were very happy about this feature. The room was small, but the three treadmills and few weight machines were enough to get us through those few days!

*Lots of luggage carts – Hallelujah!

Oh yeah, and then there was the waterpark…

You better come back tomorrow to read all about the highlight of our trip – lots of time in the water!

{Or subscribe to have these posts sent right to your inbox for FREE!}

Want to learn more about Great Wolf Lodge? Follow them on Twitter or connect with them on Facebook!

*****

Disclosure: We received a reduced room rate for our stay at Great Wolf Lodge as a member of the media. I was not compensated in any way for this post and all opinions are 100% my own!

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Filed Under: family, vacation

Where We’ve Been Wednesday

November 30, 2011 By 9 Comments

It’s been a little silent around here this week because we’ve been on a little adventure!

The hubby had a couple of residency interviews in Iowa this week, so we headed out with him!

The trip was quick and packed full, but the boys were thrilled by the littlest things…

Obviously, there was swimming. These boys are a couple of fish.

We don’t do hotels much – can you tell?!

Bedtime story with Daddy…

and a little homeschool in the hotel. Apparently, everything seems new when you’re at a hotel!

While the hubby was interviewing one day, the boys and I were able to visit his grandparents!

Such fun for the boys to see them! {Little J had never met them and Big J wasn’t even two the last time he saw them!} They were fascinated with Great-Grandpa’s marble collection and wood carvings!

And there was one more thing that put big smiles on ALL of our faces…

Oh yes, we did.

We ate {chicken nuggets}, drank {lemonade & a peppermint chocolate chip shake} and were very merry…

Chick-fil-A is the key to happiness. Yes it is.

Interviews went well, we had lots of family time and the trip was a success!

We also had a fabulous Thanksgiving and day after, but those pics can wait for tomorrow!

For now, I’m going to get back into the swing of things at home – and help Little J get better from an eye infection, ear infection and strep throat! He is one tough guy!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

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Filed Under: random, vacation

HOW to Take an Annual Kid-Free Vacation

July 21, 2011 By 4 Comments

The hubby did an amazing job sharing WHY you should take a getaway with your spouse every year, so my two cents are HOW you can make it happen! If you haven’t read his post yet, do that first and then come back for some helpful tips!

This is what has worked for us…

1. Find a time and set it in stone!

Don’t let anything get in the way! Find a time period that works for both of you AND for someone to watch the kiddos and go with it! Block off time from work, volunteer commitments, everything, so you don’t let anything get in the way! If an overnight is all you can make happen, make it happen! Something is better than nothing!

2. Budget the money.

Make this yearly commitment and put it in your budget. This helps you avoid using “We don’t have enough money!” as an excuse to cancel. And budget what YOU can do, not what others can do. You can have a great getaway on any budget – just make it a priority!

3. Search for deals.

We have had great success finding vacation deals with travel sites such as Expedia and Travelocity. This last time we found a great deal through an airline. Plan far enough ahead of time that you have time to look and compare.

4. Get the kids settled and then DON’T WORRY about them!

Do what you can to make sure the kids are all set with grandma and grandpa or a babysitter and then ENJOY YOURSELF! Worrying about how the kids are doing does not make for a spouse-centered getaway! We called to check on them once a day or every other day and they were always just fine! If there is an emergency, someone will get a hold of you!

5. Follow the Three Rs.

Some of this was mentioned in the hubby’s post, but here is a rundown of the three Rs we follow on vacation…

*Reconnect – Do things you enjoy together! We played tennis, swam, floated on the lazy river and went shopping – things that are not quite as easy to do with children. Even eating dinner and watching movies alone counts.

Remember why you like spending time together!

*Relax – Don’t plan TOO much! You don’t want to come away from your vacation exhausted! The hubby mentioned that we like resorts because we don’t have to leave to do anything. THAT is relaxing to us.

Sleep late. Eat brunch.

Laugh, take naps, eat slowly – just RELAX!

*Revisit family goals – This getaway is your chance to talk – without interruption – about where your family is headed. Sit out on your porch or beautiful balcony and just talk!

Maybe you’ve never done that before, and in that case, I can’t recommend it highly enough! Figure out what you want to happen in the next year, write ideas down, brainstorm, plan, and so on.

Here is how we did it this year {GREAT idea from the hubby}:

-Individually, think of your three family goals for the next year.

-Take turns sharing your goals and WRITE THEM DOWN.

-Take turns commenting on each other’s goals and asking questions to understand better.

-Combine any goals that are similar and make a final list.

-Write down any ideas for making these goals a reality – an action plan, if you will.

-Pray over your list and commit it to the Lord.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. ~Proverbs 16:3

I loved loved LOVED doing this with the hubs and we learned alot about each other through it! Very eye-opening and beautiful to connect in that way. And that’s what the whole vacation is all about!

*****

And that is our humble “How-To” on taking a annual getaway sans kids, but I have one final note:

You don’t have to go some place fancy to make this a reality. You don’t even have to leave your hometown or your home to make it work. BUT, you do need to make it a time free of other distractions. {Again, something the hubby stressed as well.}

If you’re sending the kids away and doing a staycation at home, finish up all household chores and such BEFORE they leave. You are not allowed to do laundry during your “getaway” time. Trust me, it ruins the mood.

*****

Let’s inspire and encourage one another to make this happen, in one way or another, every year!

So – let’s hear it! What has been YOUR favorite “getaway” with your spouse? What would be your dream vacation? How do you save money on trips so you don’t break the bank?

*****

Pictures used above are all from the Westin Kierland Resort, Scottsdale, AZ. Awesome place. {Not a sponsored post!}

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Filed Under: family, marriage, vacation

WHY You Should Take a Vacation {The Hubby’s Take}

July 19, 2011 By 7 Comments

The hubby and I were SO blessed to take a little getaway at the beginning of July and he is here today to share just WHY we do these vacations every year… {Love you honey!}

*****

Each year, the lovely wife and I take a vacation.

Yes, even though we have nearly no money and live pretty much entirely on student loans.

The location is not terribly important, but what is important is that it is a place without distractions, and preferably without kids.

In the past three years, we went to Las Vegas, Kansas City, and now Phoenix. Each time I scoured the internet for the best deal, and even though we only usually stay for 3 nights, it is well worth it.

I actually started this tradition several years ago based on advice that I got from two couples with children who are slightly older than ours. I said we were thinking of going on vacation, and this dear friend’s husband said GO WITHOUT THE KIDS. Emphatically. So we asked our parents if they would watch the kids, to which of course they said yes.

Now everyone has slightly different priorities on vacation – some people like camping in the great outdoors, some like to golf together, others prefer the beach, etc.

For us, we like to go to a resort so we don’t have to leave. And yes, I admit, I like to see my wife in a swimsuit. {Sorry, mother and father-in-law.}

And the lovely wife and I are big fans of resorts that have a lazy river.

There really is nothing like sipping on a fruit smoothie while floating along a lazy river.

If you haven’t taken your spouse on a vacation recently without the kids, let me be the first to say it. It is time.

In the crazy business of raising kids, there is little time to look back and reflect. Sure, there are those quiet moments after the children are finally asleep and you look at their beautiful faces and smile. But usually that is right before you fall asleep yourself and prepare for the next day’s challenge.

But when was the last time that you talked to your spouse about goals for your family?

I know, this sounds like it might not be fun. But it is, when you are away from distractions of work, kids, cleaning, cooking, etc. It is a chance to re-discover your spouse, and talk about what is important.

When we last did this, I was able to tell the lovely wife about what I see for our marriage, our family, and for her in the next year. And conversely, it was a chance for her to talk about the same for me. It’s a chance to talk about what we feel like God is doing in our family.

Further, it’s a chance to re-connect with your spouse. Have a romantic dinner…

go for a walk, go shopping, play tennis…

…just watch a movie or tv. All without interruption.

Sure, you’ll want to make the obligatory phone calls back home to check in on the kids.

But when was the last time you had 3 days with just you and your soulmate?

Even waiting in the airport for your delayed flight to depart – there is no one I’d rather wait with than you, sweetheart.

*****

Right back atcha, babe! These little getaways without kids strengthen our marriage AND help us be better parents!

So HOW do you make this happen? Join me on Thursday when I share a few tips on HOW to take a meaningful, restful vacation with your spouse!

****

Pictures used above are all from the Westin Kierland Resort, Scottsdale, AZ. Awesome place. And no, this is not a sponsored post :)


 

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Filed Under: guest post, marriage, priorities, the hubby, vacation

What I Wore Wednesday: Arizona!

July 6, 2011 By 8 Comments

pleated poppySome people thought we were crazy to take a vacation to Arizona in July, but we LOVE the dry heat so it was just perfect! And for the record, on Thursday, it felt hotter in Nebraska than it did in Arizona!

We had a fab time and I’ll be sharing more next week about WHY we do a getaway, just the two of us, every year!

So here is what I wore while on vacay as I link up with the lovely Lindsey today…

Magenta tank: GAP Outlet; black skirt: Banana Republic {$1 at Goodwill!}

Gold gladiator sandals: 50 cents at a garage sale a few years back! I love how they sparkle!

Tennis time! New pink workout top from Target!

Yellow tank dress: Target; bronze flip flops: Old Navy; sea blue earrings: Kohl’s

*****

AND while we were there, I went shopping at H&M for the very first time! I love it! I’ll share the dresses I bought on a WIWW post soon!

I adore wearing dresses on vacation – what is your favorite vacation wear?

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Filed Under: travel, vacation, what i wore

It’s Been Fun…

January 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thanks for playing with us for the past two weeks Daddy! We’ve loved every second of having you home! We knew school would have to start again sometime, but we know you’ll play with us every night, so it’s all good! You’re the best!

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!

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Filed Under: kiddos, the hubby, vacation

A Weekend Without the Boys: Day 1

July 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This past weekend we left the boys with grandparents and headed out for a weekend at the lake with some friends from church. Believe me, we were all ready for a break!

And this is where we got to stay…

No, those are not pictures from a magazine. That is actually the place we stayed. Gorgeous, isn’t it?! And I didn’t even take pictures of the second floor!

And by the way, it was free! A relative of one of the couples let us stay there for the weekend – amazing!
We got in late Friday night, made a midnight Wal-Mart run (always fun) and then prepared for Day 1.

And that was a full day.

What I didn’t get pictures of was starting our day with three hours of tennis. THREE HOURS. I was in heaven. I love tennis so much and have missed playing. It’s time to start playing on a regular basis. Any takers?!

Next we headed down to the dock to check out the water. It was beautiful.

The guys found lots of big fish swimming around the dock. They were fascinated.

And as if three hours of tennis wasn’t enough physical activity for the day, we all golfed nine holes next. And put sunscreen on this time. A little late for most of us.

The guys…

and the girls…

Just for the record, D (in the yellow) had the low round for the day. Out of ALL six of us :) She rocks.

This was my third time EVER golfing. I took seven strokes off my score. I was happy.

And we had fun.
And it was good we had the van for all those clubs.


Jerry’s Pizza for supper…yummy…yes, that’s my half without the cheese.

Bless that pizza, J!


There is a lot going on down by the lake in the summer so we went to check it out after supper.

There is the amusement park.


I went there once many years ago. See that roller coaster in the foreground? That is the reason I do not ride roller coasters. I think it may be the oldest, shakiest loudest roller coaster around. Just sitting near it and listening to it go by brought horrible memories rushing back to mind. Ugh.

But then a very pleasant surprise…

And that was just a fraction of the finale. It was an amazing show – one of the best I have ever seen in person. And we just stumbled upon it.

And we finished the night with this.

I was a very happy camper.

And that was just day one!

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Filed Under: friends, the hubby, vacation

A Weekend Without the Boys: Day 1

July 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This past weekend we left the boys with grandparents and headed out for a weekend at the lake with some friends from church. Believe me, we were all ready for a break!

And this is where we got to stay…

No, those are not pictures from a magazine. That is actually the place we stayed. Gorgeous, isn’t it?! And I didn’t even take pictures of the second floor!

And by the way, it was free! A relative of one of the couples let us stay there for the weekend – amazing!
We got in late Friday night, made a midnight Wal-Mart run (always fun) and then prepared for Day 1.

And that was a full day.

What I didn’t get pictures of was starting our day with three hours of tennis. THREE HOURS. I was in heaven. I love tennis so much and have missed playing. It’s time to start playing on a regular basis. Any takers?!

Next we headed down to the dock to check out the water. It was beautiful.

The guys found lots of big fish swimming around the dock. They were fascinated.

And as if three hours of tennis wasn’t enough physical activity for the day, we all golfed nine holes next. And put sunscreen on this time. A little late for most of us.

The guys…

and the girls…

Just for the record, D (in the yellow) had the low round for the day. Out of ALL six of us :) She rocks.

This was my third time EVER golfing. I took seven strokes off my score. I was happy.

And we had fun.
And it was good we had the van for all those clubs.


Jerry’s Pizza for supper…yummy…yes, that’s my half without the cheese.

Bless that pizza, J!


There is a lot going on down by the lake in the summer so we went to check it out after supper.

There is the amusement park.


I went there once many years ago. See that roller coaster in the foreground? That is the reason I do not ride roller coasters. I think it may be the oldest, shakiest loudest roller coaster around. Just sitting near it and listening to it go by brought horrible memories rushing back to mind. Ugh.

But then a very pleasant surprise…

And that was just a fraction of the finale. It was an amazing show – one of the best I have ever seen in person. And we just stumbled upon it.

And we finished the night with this.

I was a very happy camper.

And that was just day one!

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Filed Under: friends, the hubby, vacation

A Weekend Without the Boys: Day 1

July 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This past weekend we left the boys with grandparents and headed out for a weekend at the lake with some friends from church. Believe me, we were all ready for a break!

And this is where we got to stay…

No, those are not pictures from a magazine. That is actually the place we stayed. Gorgeous, isn’t it?! And I didn’t even take pictures of the second floor!

And by the way, it was free! A relative of one of the couples let us stay there for the weekend – amazing!
We got in late Friday night, made a midnight Wal-Mart run (always fun) and then prepared for Day 1.

And that was a full day.

What I didn’t get pictures of was starting our day with three hours of tennis. THREE HOURS. I was in heaven. I love tennis so much and have missed playing. It’s time to start playing on a regular basis. Any takers?!

Next we headed down to the dock to check out the water. It was beautiful.

The guys found lots of big fish swimming around the dock. They were fascinated.

And as if three hours of tennis wasn’t enough physical activity for the day, we all golfed nine holes next. And put sunscreen on this time. A little late for most of us.

The guys…

and the girls…

Just for the record, D (in the yellow) had the low round for the day. Out of ALL six of us :) She rocks.

This was my third time EVER golfing. I took seven strokes off my score. I was happy.

And we had fun.
And it was good we had the van for all those clubs.


Jerry’s Pizza for supper…yummy…yes, that’s my half without the cheese.

Bless that pizza, J!


There is a lot going on down by the lake in the summer so we went to check it out after supper.

There is the amusement park.


I went there once many years ago. See that roller coaster in the foreground? That is the reason I do not ride roller coasters. I think it may be the oldest, shakiest loudest roller coaster around. Just sitting near it and listening to it go by brought horrible memories rushing back to mind. Ugh.

But then a very pleasant surprise…

And that was just a fraction of the finale. It was an amazing show – one of the best I have ever seen in person. And we just stumbled upon it.

And we finished the night with this.

I was a very happy camper.

And that was just day one!

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Filed Under: friends, the hubby, vacation