Family Vacation!

We took a little mini-family vacation over the 4th of July a couple of weeks ago and I honestly didn't know we could have such a blast with two kiddos. I thought it'd be fun, but I wasn't expecting it to be that fun. So glad we decided the effort of packing (who's with me on that?!) and traveling with a two year old and a newborn was worth it! 

We had some friends who had just gone to a Holiday Inn water park a few hours further north so they were our inspiration. Tom found a similar one only about an hour away so we booked! We had a two room suite, which was great for when Gwendolyn needed to nap and because she went to bed earlier than the rest of us. We took our own stuff to make sandwiches in our room for lunch, hit up the ever so popular McDonald's for dinner, and enjoyed their breakfast buffet (kids eat free!) There's just something about staying in a hotel that I love...I think it's the fact that it's just away from laundry, the computer, work, editing, dishes, etc that allows me to relax and just sit and chill. At home there seems to always be something looming over me that I should be doing, so I love a good excuse to really honestly truly get away from it all. We were "forced" to nap when the kids were napping (a loud sound machine will put anyone to sleep) and I secretly love that McDonald's was a close and cheap option for dinner *smile.

Gwendolyn LOVED the swimming area and has been regularly asking to go swimming ever since we got home. The three water slides for adults were crazy fast and fun and Tom and I took turns staying with the kiddos so we could both take advantage of them. Conrad literally slept the entire time we went to the water park area - I think because the loud sound of the water made him very, very sleepy. It all worked out perfectly and we've decided to make it a yearly tradition. I mean, does it get better than watching cable TV in a bed you don't have to make or relaxing on the lazy river or watching your two year old go down a water slide all by herself for the first time or cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven for breakfast?! 

I think you all should come next year!

Happy 4th of July!

Getting her to the top of this ramp took some encouragement...

Taking a break while daddy hits up the slides.

Watching cartoons in bed - best day of her life!

See what I mean...sleepy, sleepy boy!

For a little girl who doesn't like to get her face wet, this picture is impressive!

Who needs tan legs!? 

Happy to be here!

Trip home...I think she had a great time!

"I did it!"