Friday, April 2, 2010

Overall I'd Give It A B+

It seems we've started a tradition.

Last year for spring break we took the boys to Tundra Lodge and Resort in Green Bay to play in the indoor waterpark and shake some of the winter gloom. It was so much fun we decided to one-up ourselves this year and take the kids to Wilderness Territory in Wisconsin Dells. We thought we had a lot of chaos last year with the three boys, but throw a fourth little one in there and it was chaos personified.

Much of the trip drove me crazy. The boys were way too sassy and whiny. Grace was way too tired. I was way too grouchy and harpy. Todd was way too moody. And yet we somehow managed to have a pretty great time.
Grace loved her very first swim suit.
Tommy loved following his daddy around,
and copying every thing that daddy did.
See how happy he is?
Ben was still very wary of the big bucket that dumped out water (especially after it dumped all over him, Grace, and myself and shocked us all, poor Grace) and didn't want to do much playing anywhere near it. Joey was off in a flash and I could barely get him to hold still long enough to catch a picture of him.
Here we are taking a breather to calm little Gracie down after she just got dumped on.
When she had calmed down we decided to head over to the wave pool. Todd stayed with Grace while I managed the boys in the waves. The waves were HUGE and I was surprised by how brave the boys were. We laughed so hard as the waves pounded us, one after another, that I could barely hold onto the raft. At one point one of the huge waves knocked the raft over and all three of the boys tumbled under the water. Luckily, I was able to grab all three in one fell swoop and get them back on the raft before the next wave hit. Whew! It was fairly impressive, if I do say so myself.
Here we are during one of the much needed rest periods.
All that swimming and playing wore us all out. After about 5 hours of playing in the water we were too tuckered to go out to eat. We decided to have dinner in our hotel room that night and then the kiddos all crashed.
Grace had fun waking them up the next morning. The boys loved their room so much that they didn't even want to get out of bed.
But, after their bowls of cereal the boys were ready for round 2. And so it started all over again.
The ride home went much better than the ride there. All the kiddos crashed and slept for a good portion of the 2 and a half hour drive.
Now we are back at home. Thankfully.
Though the trip did not start out the greatest, thanks to a lot of grouchy, whiny, sassy people (most especially me), it really did end well. And it showed us that we can probably take more trips and do more than we had anticipated. It is work. And it is exhausting. But in the end it is definitely worth it.

34 comments:

Robyn said...

Glad to hear things got much better. We've never stayed at the wilderness, But we've done the Kalahari and great wolf.

Hattie said...

Sounds like y'all had a blast anyways! All of our family trips sounds like this too, but in the end we always have a good time! Hope y'all have a great Easter weekend!

Anonymous said...

Looks like a great weekend for the family, Kat! We used to take our kids to places like that when they were smaller like your children, and they loved it! You have a beautiful family!

Mom24 said...

Many of our vacations start out with the whiny crabbies. Just a fact of life I guess. Glad you had a good time anyway though. Good for you. :)

Karen Deborah said...

I know I sound like a broken record but your such a great mom! You look fabolous in your swim suit too!!
You really are brave posting pictures of your half nekid hunky husband!!! Ya'll are a beautiful family and the kids will be talking about this trip for years!
Happy Easter!

Tonya said...

We did that last year and was going to do it again but we need to save the money to buy a house. I think you guys might like Timber Ridge in Lake Geneva the rooms are really nice and they have a kitchenette in them!

ewe are here said...

They look like they had a fantastic time ... and Grace is beyond adorable in her first swim suit.

We'll be taking the trio to Norway this summer ... I suspect it will be a lot of work, but, at the same time, it will be worth it.

dawn klinge said...

What a fun tradition! There's a place near my house, called Wolf Lodge, that looks very similar. I really would love to take the family there sometime.

Emily said...

Wow...that certainly looks like an adventure! I'm glad y'all had a good time. Poor Grace getting the water dumped on her...bless her heart.

Rima said...

Grace looks SO happy with herself in that swimsuit! And so stinkin' cute!

lime said...

i'm glad it all worked out in the end. and gracie is just too cute for words in her swimsuit.

Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings said...

I love the photos and it sounds like you all had fun...even with the challenges at hand!

Unknown said...

It's so hard on the way to the place because of the excitement for the kiddos. But yep, when it's over they are tired and happy!

Looks like you did have some fun for sure. Grace is so cute in her swim suit!!

Laura@OutnumberedMom said...

Looks like so much fun! And I'm sure it was a great memory for your kids.

You had three boys and then a GIRL? I have four sons!

Come on over for some mom inspiration and encouragement.

Jill said...

Wow - that looks like an uber cool place and a super fun trip!!

dianna said...

Sounds like it was quite an ADVENTURE! What a nice little get away : ) Sounds like that vacation requires...well, a vacation*!*

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

FUNFUNFUNFUN!!! The kids are so cute! Love Grace's suit. You look AMAZING, Kat! And (don't let your hubby read this) your husband is a hottie! ;)

imbeingheldhostage said...

Sounds like a great trip and a much needed break. Since Tracy broke the ice...wow, that Todd has it going on, huh? ;-)

Happy Easter Kat!

sitting on the mood swing at the playground said...

Looks like a great time!

Anonymous said...

That Wildnerness is always a good time! But those splash buckets--yeah, I'm careful around those too for the SAME reason!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

Looks like a great time! I love that pic of Grace, she is adorable!

Unknown said...

I really wanted to go there over Spring break. Well, to the one that is near us in Pennsylvania. I called for room rates and it was INSANE! I think that is what you get for waiting till the last minute. We didn't go! : ( I am glad you had a sort of good time. I LOVE her suit. Your family is beautiful!

Dani said...

Look like a ton of fun!!! I give you a lot of credit. I get extremely grouchy and I only have one... I don't know how you do it?

Lisa said...

Looks like lots of fun! We were supposed to go to an indoor water park in February but we got sick & have yet to reschedule it......need to soon though :)

Lindsay said...

Awwww - looks like they had a ball! We did that back in Feb with the three of them and I know what you mean by EXHAUSTING! Seriously. Especially when one adult has to stay back with the baby and the other one has to handle watching the others. What we parents do for our kiddos. :-)

And is that Gracie SITTING UP in the bed?! I'm jealous...

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Sounds like a fabulous mini vacation! The beds in their room.... who'd want to leave? Very cool!

Stephanie said...

That place looks so fun! You guys are such a pretty family :)

tweetey30 said...

Happy Belated Easter. I have been busy the last week trying to keep busy with the girls gone and now they are home thankfully. i missed them so much...

Not Your Aunt B said...

Just now catching up! Looks like so much fun! But now you need a break from your break, right? Such great photos too! You look mahvelous!

Rebecca Ramsey said...

How fun!
Family trips are never perfect, and they take so much energy that sometimes hardly seem worth it...but they always are! What great memories you're creating!
And look at you! Looking great in a swimsuit!
Happy weekend!

Tam said...

That place looks amazing!

imbeingheldhostage said...

Ok. I said Todd was hawt. I'm sorry! Come back, we miss you! I promise not to lust after your husband. I promise. You look hawt too-- I would've said that, but you are so far away (and being covered by children) and my eye sight is awful.
<3

scrappysue said...

those night-time shots are gorgeous. is it ok to say your hubby is buff!!?!?!?!!

kanishk said...

Sounds like y'all had a blast anyways!
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