Great Wolf Lodge

On Monday and Tuesday of this week Maia and Mason played hooky from school and Michael took off from work so we could go with Michael's brother and his family to the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA. Man, did we have a blast! It is an indoor water park and resort--very family friendly. Our kids had the best time playing with their four cousins and Michael and I had a great time enjoying our little ones.

This is Maia and Mason peeking out from their bunk bed in our Kid Suite. They loved having the bunk beds and, of course, fought over who would get the top. Maia's mind is like a steel trap, I tell you, because she remembered that Mason had gotten the top bunk in our similar hotel room in Orlando when we went to Disney World four years ago.

Marlee loved her little bed in the kids' alcove. She "made her bed" by spreading her beloved Strawberry Shortcake blanket on it and stared at the above mural endlessly (it was above her bed).

Mason and Ethan enjoyed a quick game of checkers before breakfast.

Mackenna loved the little fountains and kept trying to step on them to let the water tickle her feet. She did some of the little slides, but preferred splashing and crawling around in the water best of all.

There was a giant bucket that filled with water and then tipped its 1000 gallons every five minutes. The above photo shows Mason and Ethan as they await the downpour.

Mason loved the wave pool. Since there were hardly any people at the resort, we had it to ourselves many times. He and I rode the waves repeatedly. It was so easy simply to enjoy my children when I didn't have to worry about cooking, cleaning, laundering, etc. In the above photo, Mason and Maia are riding the waves in a raft with their cousin, Nina.

Michael got pretty good at balancing on the boogie board while riding the waves. Then, he forced me to have a go. I was worried I'd lose my suit (it had happened to others--men and women), but I gave in to his pleadings and had a go:


These are the eight cousins after two days of water play. They were tired but deliriously happy at all the wet fun they'd had. I was so proud of all my kids for being brave and trying new things. Maia actually tried everything--all the slides, including the tornado one (although she vowed never to go on that one again) and the surfing thing. Mason, too, did it all. Marlee tried the big slide with her dad and is still bragging to anyone who will listen about how she went down the big slide. Of course, she refused a repeat trip, but at least she did it. She preferred the little slides. Mackenna was happy just to splash and frolic in the water or to sit on my lap as we floated down the lazy river. Michael and I always like hanging out with our brother and sister-in-law. It was just a great time and I am so glad my brother-in-law gave us the chance to go!