The Great Wolf Lodge

The reason we chose the Great Wolf Lodge is because...
well...
they still had vacancy two weeks prior to Spring Break.

We arrived very weary...
(I had gotten us lost...we ended up in Oklahoma.  Don't ask.  Especially around Tim.  I'm not really sure how it happened.  I'm blaming it on Texas.)
We arrived tired...
and
We arrived late in the evening.

The minute we got to our room though....
that all changed!

The first thing my boys ALWAYS do is head out to the balcony.

It must be a guy thing.

They want to know what is outside their door.

Here, they discovered they could see the indoor water park.

Oh boy!

Tyler was so thrilled.

They would have their own room with bunkbeds and all!

Aiden found a window!

"Ummm....Mom.  Is it going to be scarey sleeping up here?"

Tyler is my worrier.

He looks like he is trying to order take out!

My Three Sons!

Their "cabin" was decorated really cute!

Our room...

I prefer a little more separation between the couch and bed, but at least the boys were in their own room.

Cute little gas fireplace...

Isaiah was planning to sleep in front of the "camp fire".

...but not before a bedtime snack!

Tomorrow...

THE WATERPARK!!!!

Spring Break Baby!

And we are off...
Tim and I, along with the three boys, are heading to Kansas City, KS to The Great Wolf Lodge.  (Don't ask why...we aren't sure.)
After planning our route, we decided that Amarrillo, TX would be the best place to spend the first night.  That meant only about 8 hours of driving.  Perfect.  We would  leave around lunch time so the boys would nap, take a quick break, and then they could watch movies the rest of the way.

Did you seriously think that I we would EVER stick to a plan?  A time?  or Even a route? 

Well, let's just say...we left.
Nope.  I hadn't fueled up.
Nope.  I didn't go to the office and yes, we would need stop by so I could pick stuff up.
Nope.  Tim didn't want to travel the route I had planned.
Nope.  We didn't wait until lunch.

But we were off!

This only looks like a small vehicle...

in it, we have...

clothes for 5 for a week,

swimsuits/towels for 3 days,

3 car seats - 3 pillows - 5 blankets

computer - basket filled with "work stuff"

(yep, I still have to work when I'm gone!)

toys for 3 boys (that took up one suitcase!)

ice chest,

car activity chest (dvds, books, video games, crayons, white boards, coloring books),

ipod, books on cd, car charges, ipod charger, gps...(you get the idea?)

and because Tim doesn't like to eat out and our hotel room doesn't have a full kitchen...

we have A LOT of my electric appliances as well!

and COFFEE!  I didn't forget the COFFEE!!!

(but I did forget the filters...good thing we are near a Walmart!)

Thank goodness Isaiah had a map of Texas.  We might need it when we get through AZ and NM!

Tyler found the video games before we even pulled out of the driveway!

We had games...

This kid!  I have no words...

We had silliness...

We had movies...

and we had sleeping!

My plan was to stop every 2-3 hours, get out of the vehicle, run a few laps at a rest area, grab a healthy snack, then jump back in the car fully revived.

Nope.

It happened once.  Because a child had to go potty.  Along the side of the highway.

We didn't need fuel so Tim didn't see any reason to stop.

The end.

Before we left the hotel the next morning to head into Kansas City...I had the boys do some exercising...

Yes.  I condone jumping from one bed to the other.

Yes.  There is often a referee involved to determine "height of jump".

There are full body landings.

and there is yelling.

Hotels are usually VERY happy to see this family with 3 loud, rowdy boys leave.

They actually smile!

Pie Kisses...or Kiss Pies...

Do you ever get bored and find that you just need to bake?

Well, that was me.  I was checking out a favorite site of mine, Frugal Girls, and came across this recipe.

It looked good.

It looked easy.

I had all the ingredients.

Let's give it a try.

Roll out the pie dough and cut circles.

(Big enough to cover a Hershey Kiss.)

Although I'm not afraid to employ child labor...

I'm not a fan of kids cooking in the kitchen with me.

Don't ask me why.

I don't like it.

BUT...

I do it.

Tyler was very helpful - and precise - when topping the pie crusts with candy.

Then along came the Littles...

just in time to do the egg white brushing...

... and the sprinkling of sugar...

I even cut out little letters for each of their names from the pie crust.

Susie Homemaker...

NOT!

Baked and sprinkled with powdered sugar...

The boys getting ready to eat their letters!

My opinion on the Kiss Pies...

they were a little to dry for my liking.  Maybe it was the crust - who knows.

It was a fun project, but we won't be making them again.

Smiles and Laughter!

Bell Rock

Once upon a time there was a bored princess...

(Oh how I wish I were bored...the princess part? - oh yeah, baby!  I love being a princess.)

She woke up one morning and said to the minions...

"Behold!  I have packed us a lunch, the Excursion is running, come forth, we are going hiking!"

(Basically, I had been working every weekend and needed a break away from the house with my family.)

"Yes!  You too teenager!  Get Out of Bed!"

On our way out the door we made a quick call to Grandma Goof and Larry to invite them, and they said, "Hurrah!"

Here's the group...getting ready to hit the trail...

Please note Tyler's helmet...safety first.  You never know when you are going to literally "hit the trail"!

The Roth 6 !

Charting the course...

The teenager and Isaiah...

he wasn't going to let her out of his sight!

And we are off...

of course Tyler had to turn back for a quick smile at the camera!

The thing about hiking in Sedona...

the backdrop is so beautiful that you hardly notice the child's shirt is hanging down from his sweatshirt!

...hardly...

So here is the thing about pictures...

I know exactly what just happened...

but the innocent viewer doesn't.

I could totally make up something, but I won't.

I will tell you the truth.

It is a good thing that Tyler was wearing protective head gear because he just

took a big ol' digger! 

Ashley is laughing because...

well...

we think she tripped him!

Two boys running...

but who cares?

The view is amazing!

Aiden has been obsessed with bears since he found out we would be hiking.

Here - he thinks he heard a bear in the bushes.

Which trail boys?

Why is Isaiah pointing back to the truck?

We decided on our trail and onward we went...

except Tyler...

he heard a bear growl and he took off to the trailhead.

He said, "I'm not taking that trail ~ I'm going to Cottonwood!"

That kid and the things he says absolutely kills me!

He is hilarious!

"Pop"

Pop said that he finally hit rock bottom...he's a funny guy.

aka: Poppy

...but your name better be Aiden if you call him that...

otherwise...

I'm not sure what would happen to you!

The teenager...

contemplating her college choice perhaps?

Off on her own adventure!

I love this kid!  I'm going to miss her terribly when she leaves for college!

The boys and Pop...

sitting on a rock...

Grandma Goof and Pop

"Mom.  Take picture of me with the sharp cactus."

Tim

The Roth 6

February 12, 2012

OK - so Larry and I share a phobia of kid backwash germs.

My boys hiked in with their own water, but they like the drinking game better.

Pop (Larry) has to give them a drink from his water bottle without spilling his water, and without choking the child...

The kids love this game!

Aiden was first.

Then Tyler...

who is seriously afraid of being choked by water so he seldom tips his head back far enough..

I think Isaiah's big mouth helps him win every time!

Then it's time for Pop, to attempt to kneel down, with  18" steel rods in his back, and tip his head back...

don't spill any!

The boys were so focused on finishing the hike!

They were ready to head back for lunch!

Aiden and Isaiah,

"We did it!  Hurry up Tyler!  You can do it!"

My three boys!

Tyler and his helmet...that kids cracks me up!

Heading back down to the truck...

this crew is ready for lunch.

BTW...don't ask why the grandma is carrying small child.

I'm the princess!

My mom and I!

:)

So... where is your next family outing?