What's vacation, Momma?

A shot of the wet play area.

Last November, the Steeler football team that the boys play for decided to sponsor a trip to Kalahari Water Park over mid-winter break in February. Chris and I looked at the price the team was offering and knew that we couldn't pass it up. Our family has not been on any sort of "real" vacation since 2005. That's a REALLY long time! So we took the plunge and made a reservation. Because of our great deal, we saved over 60% of what the cost would have been without it and we took all our own food to save money.

Tuesday, Grammy came and picked up Lizzie. Poor Liz didn't get to go but we decided it would be really hard with her and she wouldn't really care anyway. We headed out and arrived at Kalahari, in Sandusky, Ohio, that evening. Even after just going through the front door, I knew it was going to be amazing. There was African safari music playing and tons of African art and animal statues. My words can't do it justice. It was super cool. We had a great bell-hop who helped the kids and I make our way to our room while Chris parked the car. On the way to the room, he stopped at a giant window where we could look out over the water park facilities. Again, my words can't do it justice. Incredible...Amazing...Totally Cool! 180,000 square feet of water park fun. We unloaded at the room, threw our suits on and headed out.

It was upon the heading out that my water park virginity came into play. I learned a lot about what to do next time.

Tip #1. Bring a cover up so you don't have to walk through the crowded hotel lobby in your swimsuit.

Aside note: Even though I am fat, it doesn't really bother me that much. I am like a reverse anorexic. So it didn't really bug me to be in public in my swimsuit. But it was cold.

Me in wave pool

Tip #2. Make sure everyone brings sandals.
Tip #3. You don't need your own towels.
Tip #4. Don't go to a water park when you are pregnant.
Tip #5. Don't go to a water park if you want to relax.
Tip #6. When you enter the park, your kids lose all ability to listen to a word you say.


So that night we played in the wave pool, the wet play area, water slides, hot tub and the little baby area. We went to bed so excited about the next full day at the water park! I fell asleep to the sounds of Chris and the kids playing Chopsticks and I am A Child of God on his iPhone fart piano.

Spence overlooking wave pool from right outside our cabanaEm in wave pool

Our room had two queen beds and a pull out couch. Definitely enough sleeping room. We had a small fridge and microwave. In the morning we ate cereal and Poptarts and headed to the park. We played all day. The only bummer was that the lazy river was closed. I was really looking forward to the lazy river since I couldn't go on any of the water slides. The Steelers had rented a cabana where we could keep our stuff and hang out and relax. It was great!

Tip #6. Give your kids some kind of a watch so they can meet you at designated times.

After we spent a long time looking for our kids, we went back to our room and ate sandwiches and snacks for lunch. Then, you guessed it, we headed back to the park. We took a small detour and played a few arcade games and did a round of mini golf.

Tip #7. Get some kind of waterproof bag that you can keep your camera in so it's available for pictures all the time. Also, see Tip #1. Tip #1 very important.

Tip #8. If you aren't careful, your wallet will open up and drain itself of money.
Aside note: Someday, I would really love to be able to buy all the food from the expensive snack vendors and drinks in cool shaped glasses and get everyone a t-shirt. I feel guilty that I want to but I really do want to. Someday. Just once.

Cam helping me enjoy my smoothie.

We decided not to purchase any of the yummy looking snacks from the snack stands all over but I did convince Chris to get me a fruit smoothie. A $4.50 smoothie. It was really good though. We laughed our selves silly at all the people losing their swimsuits in the surf board area. One of the football coaches did a really great job. A picture of him is below. Christopher got on too and kept his suit on the whole time! We didn't get any pictures of him, though.

We exhausted ourselves and headed back to our room after another round of "Hunt down your children in a building the size of over 3 football fields in a mob of people." It was like real live "Where's Waldo."

Calvin fell asleep at the foot of the bed immediately. We ate more sandwiches and decided to get a little treat of some loaded french fries and chicken wings. That was fun. Everyone went to bed early. Except Cameron. I woke up at 3am to the sound of him ripping open the Poptarts and helping himself to a nice glass of pop. Got him back in bed and then we slept in.

We had to check out by 11 but we could still use the park until 3. We checked out and went back to the park. The lazy river was open, hooray! I could have spent all day in there if Cameron would have cooperated. He didn't really love it. We played another game of "Where's Waldo," got everyone dressed and were on the road around 2pm.

It was serious fun and I really can't wait to do it again. I think that by following the tips of what I've learned, it will be an even better trip next time.

We picked up Lizzie as soon as we got home and she gave me the biggest, nicest hug. Totally rewarding! Nala was thrilled we were home too. She didn't have any accidents in the house while we were gone, thankfully!

I am so glad we were able to do take this trip! I give it 4 out of 5 stars. We are definitely going back!

Don't make us go home!!

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

This week has been mid-winter break for my kids and they have been home all week from school. I love it so much when they are home. I love being with them and talking with them and doing stuff with them. I love eating lunch together and watching movies and playing Webkinz. This week we had a fun time doing lots of various things together and apart. On Monday, we did some house cleaning that they weren't very excited about but needed to be done. On Tuesday, we did some more house cleaning that they weren't very excited about again. On Tuesday night we got to babysit for baby Lucy and that was really fun. We also watched the DVD, "North Avenue Irregulars," that Grammy gave us. This is one of my very favorite movies from my childhood and I was thrilled that she found it on DVD and gave it to us. To my delight, the children loved it too! Our favorite parts are when the ladies have to sing, "Roll out the Barrel" at the hot dog stand and when Cloris Leachman comes out of the hair salon in her frosting cap and wet fingernails. It is a riot! On Wednesday, Emily, Christopher and Calvin slept over at the Heiners. They had a maximum of fun on a minimum of sleep. Spencer slept over at Grammy and Grandpas, so Cameron got to be an only child for a night. On Thursday, we went with Heiners again to see the Bee Movie for $1 at the Briarwood Theater. I didn't really like the movie, but it was fun to be with Jodi and to watch Cameron eat all of her Junior Mints. Jodi has been making me the greatest desserts lately. I guess she doesn't care how fat I get. :) Today she gave me a pan of what my aunts call: Waist Expander Bars. They are peanut butter rice crispy treats topped in chocolate. Yummy!! Grammy and Grandpa took us out for a late lunch to Dos Pesos and in all our fun, I forgot Emily's piano lesson. (Sorry Melissa! :( We'll be there next week, I promise!!) Today, thanks to Angel Tedesco at WNIC, I got my hair colored and my eyebrows waxed at Visions Salon in Novi. It was a very fancy salon and I felt sloppy there but my hair looks great and my eyebrows no longer look like the eyebrows of Shannon O'Neill's stepdad from highschool. I always thought his might take flight at any moment. We are going to have a quiet rest of the afternoon playing DS or watching a movie. I might even take a nap if I can con the kids into washing the lunch dishes for me. It might sound like we live a very unexciting life here, but I am so happy and content with my family. I couldn't want for anything more. I can't wait for summer vacation!

This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest. It's a quest for fun. I'm gonna have fun and you're gonna have fun.

On Tuesday, our family was treated to the most fun thing we have done in a really long time. Looking back, I can't remember having so much fun almost ever. We haven't had a vacation in years, we've been so stressed about finances and jobs lately and we just haven't taken the time to have fun. Growing up, I went on several vacations. They were few and far between due to my parent's health and finances. One year we went to Mackinaw Island. That was fun but I really wanted to see Skull Cave. (Or is it rock?) We couldn't afford the money to take the little carriage ride up to it and no one was healthy enough to walk me up there. Oh, the disappointment! One year we went to Florida. We spent two weeks in my grandmother's trailer. We actually did some fun things like go putt-putting and swimming in the ocean. I really wanted to go to Disney World but, again, no money. My second choice was to go to Miami. We didn't go there because my grandma said there were too many Mexicans. Or maybe Cubans. Too many of some ethnic group that she didn't like. As a consolation, we got to go to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers. It didn't quite measure up.

My friends growing up went to exotic places like Cancun, on cruises, to Germany, Disney World, etc... I don't feel deprived or ungrateful. I just know that there is a whole world out there having fun vacations and I haven't really tasted of it yet. I've had a few bites but I want to eat the whole apple. I'm waiting my turn...I know it will happen someday.

Anyway, on Tuesday, we were treated to an afternoon at an indoor water park called Splash Universe in Dundee, Michigan. I had never been to a water park before and this was exactly the kind of fun I needed. The only drawback was that I had to be in public in a swimsuit, but oh well. I endured for the fun. There were super tall water slides that were completely dark and took my breath away when I went down. There were medium water slides that were twisty and turny and so completely exhilarating. There was a lazy river and a wave pool. There was a complete pirate ship-like climbing structure that dumped water on you constantly. It was so fun. I really have overused the word "fun" but that's exactly what it was. We got to eat pizza and play in the arcade too. All compliments of Chris' uncle, whom I just can't thank enough. It was such a wonderful day. I highly recommend it to any family looking for a day of uninhibited fun.

The kids with the Splash Universe beaver mascot

Pretending they are Zac and Cody and having a "Suite" life!

The whole gang, sans me: Back row: Jay, Brette, John, Keili, Kristie, Uncle John, Aunt Barbara Front Row: Aiden, Maya, Conner, Spencer, Calvin, Christopher and Emily

Spencer in some goofy glasses he won at the arcade.

Top Five 11/5/2007

I have really been wishing I could go on vacation. It's really been a while and it doesn't look like there is a vacation on the horizon. Here's the top five vacations I've ever been on.

1. 2004 Trip to Boyne Highlands Resort and Mackinaw Island. The very first vacation we ever had as a family. It was relaxing and exciting and perfect in every way.

2. 1994 Trip to Chicago with Chris' family. The first time I ever had filet mignon and creme brulee. This was such a fun trip.

3. 1984 Trip to Mackinaw Island with my family. One of the only vacations I had as a child. We stayed in a hotel in Mackinaw City and I got to sleep with Anna in my bed. She was only 1. I stayed up late and watched "Mr. Mom" on HBO.

4. 2005 Trip to Mackinaw Island with Anna and Tony. This was nearly as perfect as a vacation as you can get.

5. 2005 Trip to Chicago with Chris' parents. We flew in a plane with the kids for the first time. Stayed in the Park Hyatt. Shopped and ate yummy food. Paradise.

Obviously, I don't get too far from home. My 5 favorite trips have been to only 2 places. And that's fine with me.