Great Wolf Lodge Mini Vacation 2011

Last year, we went to Great Wolf Lodge, courtesy of gift cards from Grandma Dawn, and Grandma and Grandpa Rudy & Tootie.  When we went there, the Triple Twist Slide was "out of commission," so they gave us 4 free day passes to come back and enjoy on this random super hot summer Tuesday!

Our girls were not the daredevil go down every slide as many times as you can kinda kids here.  They liked the safe staples...the 1000 gallon bucket (Caitlin stood almost completely under it...a safe distance away),

the water contraption that they played with for hours last time, and again, raced to start and stop the water in this intriguing, safe stationary toy,

and the spouting fountains that mezmorized Macy...

We did convince Macy to go down a small Frog slide outside, and we forced Caitlin to go down one of the large fast major slides of Great Wolf Lodge.  In fact, I took Caitlin up, she started crying, and I told her there was no other way down except to go down the slide.  Then, Jon took her up, crying all the way, and he said a lady behind gave him an "Awww," look, and he said, "It's okay, she cries each time and we just keep on forcing her to go down," and supposedly the lady said, "Good for you."  It's possible we are damaging her fear level, but we just KNEW she'd love it!  (those were the only 2 times she went down any slide today, by the way)...

We played from 9:30am-4:00pm, and had a great time.  After missing the Triple Twist Slide the first time, Jon was able to brave it with a 7 year old kid who had been ditched by his tube buddy, too, so he finally got to ride it.  Not worth it, he said.  In fact, the funny thing is, the slide we forced Caitlin to go on was probably the fastest and scariest.  No wonder she denied us the rest of the day!

After Macy fell asleep on the way home, and after Jon and the kids watched a movie together, the kids talked about their favorite parts of the day.  They listed every activity and moment and prayed at the end of the night their thanks for a day with family - what it's all about.