vacation!

Last weekend we packed the Blazer to the brim and headed to the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells for some indoor waterpark fun. We've been planning this trip with the Steffey family for months but I don't think any of us were prepared for how much fun we would have. The indoor theme park was fun with lots of arcade games (Grammy is a Deal or No Deal addict), an indoor ferris wheel, laser tag (SO FUN!), a small rock climbing wall (Nate and Grammy raced to the top), a ropes course, and much more. Our huge suite style room was awesome and we all had plenty of space to hang out. The restaurants were great and we had lots of tasty meals. But you guys, the indoor waterpark was AMAZING. There were several awesome water rides with little or no lines to ride them, plenty of areas for babies and little ones, the most amazing lazy river ever, hot tubs, smoothie bars, bars with tropical drinks, and towel warmers in the locker room! I'm already nostalgic about this trip and we just got home. We're thinking of making this an annual tradition and we cannot wait for next year!

All packed up and on the road.


We split the drive and stopped a night in Bloomington, IL to see some great friends. I felt so special that everyone could all take a night and come together to catch up. And between us we have 5 kiddos - how did that happen??


I'm always surprised at how fearless my mom is. I know that waterpark rides don't really scare a woman who has jumped out of an airplane several hundred times, but it was so fun to see her enjoy the rides so much. Everywhere we went she made friends and managed to collect an audience of encouraging fans. When she climbed the rock wall she had about 10 strangers turned into friends and supporters instantly. They were all cheering for her and it was so fun to see my mom in her element just having fun!

This is what we called the "flusher." You dropped down a straight tube and got swirled around a few times before you got dumped into the drop zone. It just looked like a big toilet bowl!

Waiting for the big splash...


She made it!!! This picture just cracks me up.



While Grammy got flushed, Vi and I took a long ride on the lazy river. She actually took a couple of naps this way! We both love the water and I was so proud of her for being so fearless about so many new environments.



She loved to kick her legs in the water in the coconut swings.


Water + swings = ultimate baby happy time!!



I love these gals!



And this gal!


One of the neatest parts about this trip was that the waterpark had all glass walls so that we could see right out into the snowy frigid Wisconsin weather. It was pretty awesome to be enclosed in the 84 degree climate controlled waterpark and look out into the snow!




On the way home we stopped in Madison, Wisconsin for lunch. We've always heard that it is a really cool city. It has lots of greenspace, cool breweries and restaurants, walking trails, and an interesting downtown. It was a super snowy day and the roads were pretty bad but we made it to the Great Dane brewpub and had a very tasty lunch before embarking on the long drive home.

Beer sampler!


What a cute baby just drinking her juice sampler


Best vacation ever? YES!