Jowling is when you shake your head back and forth so hard your face giggles. Then take a picture to find so many silly faces. {giggle}
My pictures didn’t turn out as well as Jason’s. Holy smokes his are hysterical.
Creating Moments That Matter
Jowling is when you shake your head back and forth so hard your face giggles. Then take a picture to find so many silly faces. {giggle}
My pictures didn’t turn out as well as Jason’s. Holy smokes his are hysterical.
Our family recently stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge and I swear that place is perfect for families! So here are my tips on 8 ways to create lasting memories as a family at the Great Wolf Lodge!
**Be sure to check out my money saving tips at the end of this post as well as a video I put together to show you first hand what an amazing memories your family will create together.
8. A family that bunks together stays together. {snicker} You have got to check out all of the amazing themed rooms at the Great Wolf Lodge. Ours had a kids cabin inside our room! The boys absolutely loved having a room to themselves and Jason and I really appreciated how quiet it was and of course the privacy.
Tip: Check-in starts at 4 p.m., but you can come as early as 1 p.m. to enjoy the water park. Also, check-out is at 11 a.m., but you can stay until 9 p.m. when the indoor water park closes. There are locker rooms in the water park where you can rinse off, dry your swimsuit and change before the ride home.
7. It’s Sweet! The lodge has plenty of places to eat or grab a sweet treat, five to be exact. Don’t forget the darling photo ops that come along with cute food. {wink}
Tip: Bring a few snacks or treats to keep in your room. All the rooms come with a mini-fridge but your room is the only place in the hotel where they allow outside food and drinks to be consumed.
6. Scooops Kid Spa – A darling spa specifically for kids! It’s perfect for birthdays or a special little treat. Your daughter will love the ice cream-themed manicures and pedicures where you can choose your favorite flavor.
5. Cub Club® – If you’re kiddo is ready for a little break from the water park, then head on over to the Cub Club where they’ll enjoy activities and crafts designed to entertain your younger ones for hours.
4. Northern Lights™ Arcade – You’ll find just about everything here at the arcade like exciting games of skill for the older kids, as well as fun games of chance for the little ones, and everyone can redeem tickets for prizes. It boasts hundreds of games for even kids-at-heart.
3. gr8_space™ -This space is for teenagers only! This hang out is pimped out with teen-appropriate internet access, mp3 docking stations, and multiple gaming systems including PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. It even has it’s own tech jockey who not only plays the latest tunes but hosts Rock Star Karaoke in the evenings.
Great Wolf Lodge Howlin’ Tornado ~ Photos courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge
2. Indoor and Outdoor water parks – This theme park is an adventure with Fort Mackenzie, a 4-story interactive tree house, a lazy river, toddler play area, and wave pool. You’ll also love Coyote cannon with a trilling ride and a 40′ drop! If that’s not enough, the most thrilling adventure is Howlin Tornado where you drop into the 6-story funnel with 3 friends. There is also outside water fun to boot!
1. MagiQuest Adventure and Compass Quest™ Games – Because we have all techy boys, our favorite part of the hotel was the MagiQuest game! With a magic wand in-hand, you explore an enchanted kingdom and join in the ultimate adventure as you enchant objects, befriend a pixie, learn from an ancient wizard, battle a goblin and outwit a dragon. It’s a live-action adventure game is unlike any other you’ve ever played.
Tip: Take the stairs! Once you have your wand activated and you take the elevator ~ points are deducted from your score. This is a great perk for parents as your kiddo’s expend a lot of energy running up and down those stair wells. {snicker}
Money Saving Tip: Most guests invest in a Paw Pass to experience all the different activities at Great Wolf Lodge. This offers an over 20% savings over buying each of the activities separately. Activities included on the Paw Pass: MagiQuest Wand and Game, Paw Prints, an animal at Great wolf Stuffing Station with outfit, ice cream in Bear Paw, a small Glitter Tattoo, one “Color Your Own” item in Cub Club, and 20 tokens for the Northern Lights Arcade.
Time Saving Tip: For other ideas before you arrive, be sure to visit their website and select the “Explore” tab at the top of the page. These will take you to pages with more information about all the family fun activities at Great Wolf Lodge.
Adult Activities: There is a lot for grown ups to do as well. Check out the various dining options, places to shop, make a reservation at the Elements Spa Salon and work out in the Iron Horse Fitness Center.
Upcoming Fall Events:
Video: A Magical Time At The Great Wolf Lodge and inside MagiQuest Game
One of the main things the boys like to do when we visit Gramma and Grandpa is fishing!
The boys love baiting the hooks, casting it out, and the anticipation of a bite.
This is pure bonding time and I let Jason and Gramma do their thing with the boys. While I try to learn more about my camera and try different settings and angles.
Their river is full of fish so they usually catch a few and love the thrill of a new fish.
Oh how we LOVE to catch fish. The entire family gets so excited and then I’m on duty do take lots and lots of pictures of the catch. {snicker}
I created a vacation count down calendar with my new Silhouette machine so that we could all anticipate the trip together. In each roller coaster is a piece of paper with information on a ride or attraction that we’ll get to experience. I wanted the boys to really get a feel for how amazing this trip would be, know what to expect, as well as bond our family in the anticipation and conversation. It worked!
It was Drake’s first time to ride in an airplane. {technically 2nd but he was an infant} He absolutely LOVED it. Actually the first thing he asked when we told him about the trip, was if he would be riding in an airplane. The boy was seriously stoked!
I was really worried about Davis this trip. Turning 12 has brought about so many more emotions, harder transitions, and insomnia. However, all that worrying on my part was in vain. The staff was incredible, we prepared Davis properly, and he had the most amazing time! I was really proud of him as he was able to ‘enjoy the ride’ the entire week and stay on his best behavior. I know that he had to really work at it and I was so grateful for all of his extra efforts. It made the week as a family one of the most pleasant and exciting trips to date.
I can’t say enough about the parks! They were clean, technologically advanced, and a flippin’ good time! We can’t wait to go back.
Deanna was our tour guide at the park and made us feel so special. She seriously has such a cool job and has met so many celebrities. I tried to get her to dish, but she’s way too professional for that. HA!
Jeanette and I became fast friends and this trip introduced me to so many new bloggers who I absolutely ADORE! It’s been so fun to see them at EVO and then again at BlogHer. I’ve been spoiled seeing them so much this summer.
I just got my SLR camera and needless to say I have a lot to learn. But it was so much fun trying out new settings, learning about lighting, and using all of the photo op’s in the park to practice some new skills.
It was so cool when I got an email from MSNBC that the Today Show featured our family’s photo from Harry Potter World. I took a screen shot of it to prove to the boys that they were featured. But um, they were very unimpressed since I didn’t come with cash or a prize. {whatever}
My new peeps! Yes the trip was amazing but so were all of the bloggers. My goodness these are ‘my people’. There was zero drama and zero ego’s with this group. They made it so easy to get to know them and their kiddos. I have no doubt that these people will be in my life for years to come. Yes, they are THAT cool. Jason and I felt so blessed to be amongst such talented and warm people.
At the Universal Orland Resort they have child care! So we dropped all of our kiddos off at camp {which gave me hives I was so worried about their behaviors and staying up so late in a strange place} and we went to dinner and the Blue Man Group as couples.
Once again my worry was needless, because when we picked up the boys from camp they didn’t want to leave! They completely bonded with all of the other children and the staff was so accommodating and playful that they didn’t miss us one bit.
I must be living under a rock because I had no idea how flippin’ cool the Blue Man Group is. My favorite part was when the paper towels came down and everyone was grabbing them to take them to the front. Dude… that was cool! I loved it.
HA!!! Since I currently have a bit of a Diet Coke addiction I had to take this picture of Drake in the Coke misting machine at Universal Studios. {bwaahaa!}
Thanks for indulging me in my nostalgia as the summer comes to a close and I come to terms with the realities of a rigorous fall schedule. {big sigh}
I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank everyone at Universal Orlando Resort for making the week so extraordinary, so well planned, with a variety of activities and experiences that we’ll never forget! Have I mentioned how much I miss summer…
Visiting Sea World San Antonio of Texas this summer? Then you’re going to need these insider secrets To Plan Your Trip! Sure you can just show up to Sea World San Antonio in Texas and wait in an hour line for a hamburger… or you can be armed with an easy game plan and really enjoy your trip to Sea World. {wink}
If you have older kids and want to ride the Steel Eel and the Great White go back to the park first thing in the morning {11am}. My boys were able to ride each ride twice with zero wait!
In the summer hit the water rides in the Lost Lagoon before the dry rides between 1-2pm to avoid the lines and long wait times. If you have a two-day pass for Sea World Texas, go early into the Lost Lagoon and stay the day. There is so much to do and your family will absolutely love it.
Tip #4 ~ Best Time To Eat
Tip #5 ~ Where To Sit at the Shows
If the park is really crowded, then you are going to want to get to the shows 45-60 minutes before it starts! Um, yes. I know that sounds a little excessive but if you have come with another family then this is really easy. You tag team it! Have one adult sit and wait at the show with the small kiddos while the other is having fun with the older ones. My husband and I take turns waiting and it actually ends up being a really nice break. Buy some popcorn, cotton candy, or lunch and enjoy the peace and quiet.
I was wondering where are the best places to sit and watch the shows at the park so I asked Brian, their PR director and this is the inside scoop!
Tip #6 ~ Re-create Family Traditions
Don’t forget your family traditions while at the park. For instance, I always take a family picture of us eating cotton candy when we visit. Also, if you match your families clothing it not only makes darling pictures but it also helps with safety as you’ll be able to find your family at a quick glance. Another thing I love to do is take a picture of my kids at the same place every visit. This way as they get older I have fun collage of growing up pictures.
In order to get a picture of the big Sea World sign at the front of the entrance {like the 1st picture in this article}, you’re going to want to take a U-turn at the entrance at around 9:00am. This way no one else will be in your picture, there won’t be a wait, and you won’t back up traffic. {wink}
That’s it. Even though we live 5 hours away, my family and I have been to Sea World San Antonio of Texas over 6 times and I we still can’t get enough of it. It’s a wonderful family vacation and there’s so much to do for families with kids of all ages!
Enjoy your trip, you’re going to love it!
{sigh} Ok. So I married a native Texan. Yes, when I met Jason he was a wrangler wearing cowboy who ironed his jeans. {no kidding} I’ve done a great job at prepping him up – but a girl can only do so much.
Jason fondly remembers getting his first gun when he was 10. Therefore, he’s been wanting to get the boys a gun for quite a while now. Living in the burbs – I’ve been able to successfully dodge this issue for quite some time now. Well, no longer…
Jason’s work has this program where they earn “reward points”. Over the year, he had earned enough points for 2 free computer monitors. {{squeal}} Shhhh… don’t tell the boys but their gifts were not as expensive as they appear. Jason built the CPU’s. Now Jason, Davis, and Dylan can all play their game against each other at the same time! They’re loving it.
It’s not very often that you get to look like a rockstar in your child’s eyes. Jason and I thoroughly enjoyed this moment. {{boy do we have them fooled}}
Something to build
A video game to play
A toy for their imagination (usually the toy to build)
Something to play with outside
A board game
A big gift from Santa
Even the boys have expressed their gratitude for “my store”. That’s what I started calling it years ago when they were too young to understand what a blog was. Our lives have most certainly been enriched. I’ll always be most grateful for this ride and this special opportunity of doing what I love. It’s so rare.
To celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary Jason and I went to St. Augustine, Florida for an adventure. It’s the oldest city in the United States and has a lot of rich history.
One of our favorite things to do is be cheesy tourists and discover new cities.
St. Augustine is perfect for us because it’s right on the beach yet it has a lot of things to do and see.
We did it all! Rode the trolley tours, toured the forts, and enjoyed the time together.
We even made it up all the stairs to the top of the lighthouse!
Ripley’s Believe it or Not! was a lot of fun with some cool photo ops.
It was just a cool weekend with a lot of yummy food and quality time together.
On our way to the airport we decided to take a leisurely drive along the coast and made a lunch stop quick stop in Daytona Beach.
My goodness I cannot believe that it’s already been 15 years that I’ve been married to the most wonderful man. It seems like just yesterday we had our first baby and were in the throws of trying to figure out parenthood.
The last 15 years has been a wild ride but one that I would absolutely do again but only if Jason is by my side.
We have endured sickness and health. We have been broke, wealthy, and broke again. We’ve had to endure the pain of having two children diagnosed and medicated. We’ve had our dreams dashed and other dreams fulfilled. We have lived in 3 states and have finally found our permanent home here in the DFW area. We adore it here! We have been tested beyond our abilities. We have laughed together, at each other, and as a family. We have cried together, been in pain together, and have been the rock each other needs to keep moving forward.
I’m honored to have picked a man who completely gets me. Who loves my excitement for html {web coding}, Sci-Fi and action movies, my OCD and OTT tendencies, and who appreciates all that I am and overlooks all that I am not.
I would never have guessed 15 years ago that we would live in the DFW area, have 3 boys, and I would be a professional blogger. {{bwaahaa!}} If I had gotten that fortune I would have laughed my head off in disbelief. However, I am truly grateful for my husband, for my boys, and for the life I have today. I’m honored to have the responsibilities and opportunities that I have and try by best to fulfill them with integrity and the best of my ability.
I live life each day with the moto “Where much is given much is expected” and I earnestly always try my best. Every morning I also tell myself, “Today is a new day with no mistakes in it!” Hopefully, I’ll live the next 15 years the way I have the last.