Since we had no major plans for a vacation this summer, I planned a dream week of being a stay at home mom packed with fun activities for the kids. I had 9 days to spend with them and we made the most of every minute. And this is the very long post to recap the week.
We started off the weekend just me and the boys since Mark went fishing. Aunt Kerrie came over Friday night and spent the night. Saturday we went to the library and saw a comedian/magic show. He was awesome with the kids and shared a lot of fun facts about inventors. (Did you know a woman invented the scissors? and many more fun things!) Sunday after church we took Gage to the neighborhood Splashpad since he would not be joining us the next day at SPLASHTOWN.
Splashtown was AWESOME! It was our first time to go, except Mark who went as a teenager. I wasn't able to take pictures for obvious reasons, I couldn't carry around the camera in the water. I had hoped to take some once we checked out of our locker and were walking out of the park, but I forgot. I must have been too tired by then. We ran into Mark's cousin, Erin, and her family and spent the day with them. I think we rode every ride except two, but the best was the Tornado. We rode it first when there was not a line. It was super scary!!! The look on Keaton's face was priceless. I thought he was about to cry. I was totally impressed that once we got to the bottom he agreed to ride it again. The second time around, just a scary! After that Keaton was a little more cautious. Next we rode some kind of toilet bowl slide. You go round and round in the big bowl and then drop out of the bottom. By this time, Keaton didn't want to ride anymore rides, he just wanted to go to the wave pool. It was a struggle at times, but somehow we managed to ride all the rides except the two (The RipQurl and the Texas Freefall). Cort thought most things were AWESOME! He was brave and ready to try new things. There was a incident in which Cort got stuck in the slide on Space Rapids. Luckily I was the one that went after him. You can imagine my surprise to find him still in the tunnel as I came speeding down on my tube. He had fallen out of his. I grabbed him and tried to pull him up so he wouldn't get stuck under me. Even after all that, he was ready to keep going. I was a little ticked the lifeguard at the bottom gave us at the top the go ahead when Cort had not come out of his slide. This was even a ride smaller kids could ride. You only had to be 42" versus 48". In regards to height, Cort lucked out. He is exactly 48" and was able to ride everything. He had to be measured a few times to get the okay from the lifeguard. The favorite ride of the day, Stingray Racer. We rode it 3 times.
We spent the later part of the day hanging in the wave pool, lazy river, and lagoon area. By this time the lines were long for the rides. I am glad we planned our day accordingly and rode everything in the morning. What a great day. I can't wait to go back next summer!
Since Gage missed out on all the fun Monday, we took him to the Play Center Tuesday morning. And I took pictures!
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| In the vet center |
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| Taking care of all the animals |
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| Now in the art center |
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| Are you going to make mommy a picture? |
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| Do you want to read a book? |
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| Following Cort through the maze |
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| Not so much interested in dress up yet, but I almost got him to wear the fireman hat. |
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| He had to taste all the produce. Oh well, it builds immunity, right? |
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| In the moon sandpit |
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| Help me build something, mommy. |
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| The play center had a science class that day. Keaton and Cort made their own play dough from scratch. Seems pretty easy. |
Tuesday afternoon we picked up Kevin and Louis from daycare and had an afternoon playdate. Randy, their dad, joined us for a homemade lasagna dinner. (I even found time to cook a few homemade meals this week.)
Wednesday morning after dropping Gage off at daycare, the boys and I headed to Memorial City Mall. I had originally planned to go to Herman Park this day. I wanted to ride the paddle boats and the train along with a little exploring, but it was hot and I was tired this day. A cool trip to the mall and a movie sounded better. We played for a few minutes in the wonderful castle area. You are not supposed to play in the area if you are over 48" and as I already told you, both of my kids are. Oh well, I was the rebel mom and I risked being kicked out. Both of my kids played very nicely and are well aware they have to be careful around smaller children since they have a baby brother. We had lunch in the food court, Subway was their pick, and we attempted to ride the double decker carousel, but it closed for a lunch break just as we were getting in line. (After I already took 20.00 out of the ATM machine with a 5.00 fee no mind you, uggh!)
We saw Cars 2 at the theatre which was very cute. Then headed home to pick up Gage for an afternoon backyard cookout. Mark grilled up some steaks for dinner while Gage played in the pool and then we were invaded by ninjas.
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| This is a scene I saw often my week at home. |
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And this is the gang of ninjas I spoke of before.
Keaton, Luke, Kate, and Cort |
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| They played the ninja game. You can only move one step at a time and you are trying to 'hit' the other person to be out. Kind of cute watching them, it is like they are in slow motion. |
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| And Gage had a blast in the pool. I have so many fond memories of Keaton and Cort playing in the backyard baby pools. |
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| Speaking of, this is Keaton in July 2004 |
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| And Cort and Keaton in May 2006 |
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| Back to Gage splashing in the pool! |
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| I love this one! |
Thursday morning we had a family breakfast at IHOP. It was a first. We have never been to IHOP (or Denny's, etc) before. It was fun and the kids really enjoyed their breakfast. Cort enjoyed the bacon the most and Keaton enjoyed the hash browns and pancakes.
I took Keaton and Cort to the pool that afternoon to just relax and let them swim. Swimming is their favorite thing to do in the summer. They swam a lot this summer and have the tans to prove it. I feel really good about their swimming skills now too. This is the first summer I feel comfortable with them swimming on their own and even in the deep end. Of course, I am still always close by and in the water. This is good because next year they will pretty much be on their own with all of my attention on Gage (unless Mark is there too). Gage on the other hand is not very much fun at the real pool. That's why I prefer for him to play in the backyard pool. Ankle deep is deep enough for him. The baby pool at the park is chest high and he just keeps going under. If you put him in the big pool with you he fights you and wants you to let go. I didn't buy him arm floaties this summer, but that may have helped. Maybe next year.
Friday morning we met Nana and cousins at the Children's Museum. This was Gage's and my first time to go. K & C had been before with Nana and on field trips. I didn't get to see it all and I split from the group for most of the time. Nana took the big kids and I took Gage to the Tot Spot.
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| Kayla, Gage, Keaton, Cort, Ryan |
The Tot Spot was awesome! It was for 3 and under. No siblings over 3 were even allowed in. I love the little play center by our house, but this put it to shame. I would go back with Gage just to play here for hours. (And the price of admission is the same as the play center by our house--go figure)
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| In the little house |
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| Moving on to more boy things, cars and ramps. |
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| This little ramp was fun. Gage ran back and forth several times. |
It was funny. Instead of running from thing to thing exploring it all, he stayed and played at each thing for a long time. Sometimes I would encourage him to move to a different area. Otherwise we would never see it all.
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| Playing in the ball pits |
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| Too funny, lounging with a new friend. |
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| This was an awesome little set up. Two doors with lights, doorbell, latches, the works. When you opened it there was a mirror. Gage had so much fun! |
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| Crawling through the tunnel. |
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| These cars were super cute! |
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| Feeling the pain at the pump. This gas pump even counted as you pumped if you held it in the tank. |
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| The mirrored slide |
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| This slide was so slippery, but my little monkey man made it all the way to the top without even holding on. |
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| We caught up with the older kids outside in Water Works |
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| Gage had fun on the slide in the outside park. I would put him at the top thinking he would sit down and slide, but caught him sliding down head first. |
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| In Little Mexico, Cort and Ryan trying to take off in the taxi. |
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| At this point it was getting close to lunch and Gage was ready for a nap. |
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One last stop in the science station with Cort on the pulley seat.
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I want to go back to the museum with the older kids and explore with them, but maybe on a less crowded day. I was kind of glad I got to hang out with the babies in the Tot Spot for so long, it was surprisingly relaxing.
And now that I have waited so long to write this post, I have forgotten what we did the following weekend, but I am sure we just relaxed at home. Monday morning Cort found me getting ready for work and look surprised. He said, "It has already been 9 days?" And when I told him yes that I was going back to work he started crying. I take it they enjoyed mommy being around, makes a momma feel good.
