12/6-8 - Great Wolf Lodge

Everyone knows we love the Great Wolf Lodge, so with the homeschool group going at a discounted rate, there wasn't any doubt we'd be on this trip! Plus, we've never been at Christmas time, and we learned that a one or two night trip will be all we'll probably ever take in the month of December again. December is just a very busy month, and the packing and preparations necessary to get a family of 5 away for even a short time takes a few days of work, not to mention all the laundry you come home too right in the middle of everyone's busiest time of year when the festivities must continue, as well as school. We had a lot of fun though, and it was fun getting away together!

When we left our house Sunday morning, Moe was sitting up in the Christmas tree. The kids told him goodbye (totally clueless about where we were going). After we took the exit off I-64 and found our way to the road that leads to the Great Wolf Lodge, you could tell by Mykenzi's face that she knew exactly where we were going, and she was thrilled.

Later they were both suprised when they found Moe in our hotel room. Camden spotted him first, sitting up above the sliding glass doors to the balcony.

After dinner, we went down to Newport News to see the Celebration in Lights.

Monday morning Moe was found here where he could get a better view of the kids.

Cohen did great on his first vacation! He slept well, wasn't fussy during the day, and he even enjoyed the waterpark.

After a trip to the waterpark, Camden took a nap (water play really wears him out), so Mykenzi and I decided to get out of the room for a while and just walk around the hotel. First, I took her down to Bear Paw Cafe for a special ice cream treat. Then we walked around looking at the Christmas decorations, and ended up in the gift shop where I intended to buy a special GWL ornament for the family Christmas tree, but she talked me into buying a little, more durable ornament for their tree as well.

When we came back, our favorite boys were sleeping. Daddy just woke up while I was trying to get a picture of them.

That night when we came back to our room after the bedtime story (where it snowed in the lobby) and some time in the arcade (Mykenzi says the arcave), we found two plates of cookies, two candy canes, and some chocolate milk along with this note.

This is where we found Moe on Tuesday morning before we left.

On our way out of Williamsburg we had to visit the Yankee Candle Village. Camden found these two reindeer and started moving them around this room. I couldn't get him to leave them alone, so before we left the room, I asked him if he wanted a picture with the reindeer, and he was happy to stop for that.

Enjoying the snow falling down in this room.

Camden wanted to dye a candle like Mykenzi did when we first went there 2 years ago, and he chose a choo choo train.

Mykenzi was sad that she couldn't do one too. Seriously, my kids know how to work me. So, she did made a rainbow snowflake, and she was more thrilled than this picture shows.