Our holiday festivities did not end with Christmas day. Chad had invited our entire family to spend a few days at the Great Wolf Lodge down in North Carolina--his Christmas gift to us! We were going to meet him, Darnell and Darnell's family there on the 27th, so December 26th was a busy day!
That morning we did our shopping with my mom's Christmas gift. Every year she gives everyone some money with the understanding that we must spend all of it the day after Christmas. We get together that night and share what we bought (and give back any money that is left--there is never any money left).
This year, George and I pooled our money to buy a replacement iPad mini. Our old one George received from the hospital got spiked by the kids and even though we tried replacing the glass, it was pretty destroyed.
Spending time at the outlet mall:
They were pretty excited they each got a soda.
That evening after sharing our purchases, we drove back to Charlottesville so spend the night.
December 27th, I drove over to Scott and Abbey's to pick up Lance and bring him back to the house to open his gifts Santa had left and those from the family:
(I wish I had taken a picture of the tree with the gifts... there was quiet the spread. That little kitchen behind Lance was left for Lily from Santa as well.)
He made quite the haul, his biggest gift being a huge terrarium from Santa for a snake and an IOU for a snake of his choice from me and George.
Amy had driven down the night before with us so she could make the four hour journey with me and the kids. George had to work and wasn't able to come. :( One day we will get to vacation together,
It was a long drive, but the kids did well. Laura and her family were already there and had been swimming for a couple hours. We checked in, got to meet Darnell's family and then headed down to the waterpark.
The kids meeting Darnell's brother and sister:
At the waterpark Amy was such a huge help!
Lily loved the water! She wouldn't stay away from it and would toddle around letting it splash her. So cute.
Cole. Cole was my anxiety the whole time we were there. I lost him twice at the pool that first day, bringing me to tears as we frantically searched the pools. Luckily Chad found him doing down the waterslides like it was his job. That kid.
While I was with the little kiddos, Lance and Jude hung out with Uncle Chad and Darnell, going down slides and swimming in the wave pool.
Mom was an angel too! As soon as she got there, she grabbed Lily so I could play with the boys. She's the best!
Here's a short video of Lily playing in the water:
That evening, Chad and Darnell treated us to a dinner at the Lodge. It was buffet-style and perfect for the kids.
During dinner, they did a program in the lobby that Jude watched. It even "snowed"!
Lily being loved on by cousins:
Enjoying dinner and good company:
Cole saw these wolves and had to say hello. He had a hard time staying in line because he was so excited, but once he got up there, he got shy.
Lance was having a great time!
My attempt at a picture of all four kiddos:
Remember how I lost Cole twice earlier that day? After dinner and taking pictures with the bear in the lobby, it was time for bed, the kids and I all walked back to our room. The Great Wolf Lodge is a huge place and our room was probably about 1/8 of a mile away from the lobby. Quite the hike for little people.
We got back to the room and I started getting everyone settled. About 3 or 4 minutes go by and I realize I haven't seen Cole. Didn't he come in the door with us? I know he was walking down the hall with us. I'm calling him and checking all the rooms and finally go out to look in the hallway. There was Cole several doors down with a group of adults standing around him. I run up and after assuring them I was his mother, they told me I needed to call the front desk. Apparently when they found Cole wandering around by himself and were unable to find his mom or dad, they notified the hotel and the manager was about to put the hotel into lockdown! I thanked the group of people who helped Cole and ran back to the room. I managed to call the front dest and verify he was safe with his family before anything happened. I then turned to lecture Cole about not wandering off, staying in the room, etc. when it hit me:
I had left
him. He was behind me in the hall and I had herding the other kids into the room and closed the door
while he was still outside. He had found those other adults by trying to open their door while looking for his family who had disappeared.
I. felt. terrible. And the 1st place award for Bad Mother goes to...
Ugh. I hate vacationing without George. I gave my sniffling Cole a big hug and told him I was so sorry and after a snuggle he was fine. He also walked in front of me the rest of the time we were at the Lodge.
