Polar Express

Last weekend we drove to Grapevine for a mini-vacation. We went on the Polar Express Train, stayed at a hotel and the next morning went to the aquarium.

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad grounds were decorated beautifully and there was so much to see.

Landon taking it all in

It felt so fun. The atmosphere, PJ clad riders, etc felt so festive.

The boys were 100 percent immersed in the magic.

The train was so beautifully decorated with lights, garlands, ornaments and a Christmas Tree.

Mrs. Claus got on the train at our first stop and passed out "We believe" Christmas Bells to all the children. They also got to mail letters to Santa and we sang Christmas Carols.

Our next stop was the North Pole and Santa's Workshop

Ethan said that Magic North Pole Snow tastes like soap!

Next we had a show and afterwards everyone got frosty Chocolate Milk in souvenir cups

Then they met Santa! Ethan declared it the NEW best day of his entire life! Landon enjoyed himself too but was a bit less poetic about it. ;-) It was a pretty magical night.

Oh and a little proof from my phone that I was there too ;-)

Vacation! Great Wolf Lodge 2017

For Mother's Day, we went to Great Wolf Lodge! It was a lot of fun going back with older kids and getting to go as a group and enjoy the experience with my parents and Astrid. 

 Landon and Grammy in the lazy river. It wasn't a very lazy river with Landon to keep up with!

Dumping buckets of water on the people in the lazy river.

Ethan, Grammy and Grand Daddy

Ethan on the water slide

Landon on the little slide. After going down once he was ready to do the big slides with Ethan.

When the noise from inside got to be a little much it was nice getting to go outside to the outdoor pool. Ethan tried the Leap Frog Lilly pads and made it across on his second try.

Astrid and I

Me and my boys on Mother's Day

 Landon playing "keep away from Mom" in the wave pool.

After a couple hours of swimming, we were ready to go back to our room to change for dinner at the lodge.

After dinner it was time for PJ's and the animatronic story-time down in the Lobby. 

My parents and Astrid were only able to stay for the day so we said our goodbyes and then headed downstairs to play the game Magi Quest.

We ended up with a really neat room. The single beds were inside a "cabin".

Landon and Ethan in the Kids Cabin aka "Lincoln Log House"

The next morning we did a little more swimming (and Magi Quest) before heading home.

Garrett on the water slide

Can't wait to go back again another year!

Vacation! River Family Reunion: Day 5

Rowdy 14, Irelyn 12, Wyatt 10, Sydney 9, Ethan 5, Adalyn 4, Reagan 4, Landon 2, Boone 10 months. 

River trip 2015 is a wrap! We had fun being unplugged, visiting with family, relaxing, eating good food, swimming, and making memories!

Vacation! River Family Reunion: Day 2, 3, &4

Sunday we made matching Tie-Dye shirts as our craft while a lot of the guys went to play golf. We also went swimming and Garrett and Ethan floated down the Frio River. That evening we had a family-wide potluck dinner and watched a movie out on the lawn on a projector.

Monday evening we had a big family campfire with songs, stargazing, and a story about pirates to get the kids ready for a pirate treasure hunt in the morning. We ended the night with a round of games.

Tuesday morning the kids went hunting for pirate treasure! We also swimming and then later went for a swim in the River. That night we had our own campfire to roast marshmallows and ended the evening with a round of games.

Ethan and Reagan writing secret messages to each other.