This summer we went on vacation, and I have blogged about NY but never about the trip to Wisconsin. Dr. Dan has some notes about Isabelle's broken ribs and subsequent recovery. I'll try to tell about some of our experiences, but who knows...
One of the things we did was go to the "Waterpark Of America," or WOA! It really should be pronounced like that, I believe. We went there last year as well, but this year we had a larger adult to children ratio, including one adult who stayed out of the water and kept track of our towels and some seats---a very useful addition.
Just like last year, Luke managed to fall asleep on Daddy's lap as they toured around the "lazy river". I think that I'm too exciting---I really love the lazy river, but Luke refused to fall asleep on my lap, so I had to go around by myself. Eleanor would go around and around tube hopping whenever she got tired of being in one place. It was a relief not to have to worry about her---many times I just let her swim with her cousin while Michael and I kept track of the younger ones.
My very favorite part was the "hot tub," a small heated pool with bubbles and waterfalls. Eleanor and Amanda were able to get in with me and swim around. Being in the hot tub is not quite as relaxing with Eleanor and Amanda as being in there by yourself, but it's fun for other reasons. The girls liked it pretty well. They thought it was too hot (as evidenced by the way they got in and out) but they knew Mama liked it, so they tried to join in the fun.
Unlike last year, I was convinced to go down the "Family raft," a circular raft which holds as many as 8 people (provided the people are small). The raft starts at the 10th story and goes around in a big tube in and out of the building... As we ate lunch, I was able to see the shadows of people going down the raft, it didn't look too fast, I thought. We climbed up. I was hoping we could all be crowded in to one raft, but they said 6 kids and 3 adults was too many. Michael went with the older kids and my sister-in-law and I took the youngest ones.
I am not exaggerating to say that I screamed the whole way down. I think once I thought it was calming down a bit, only to go into a tunnel and turn sharply. Looking back on it over a month later, I do not remember the details of why it was so scary, but I do remember fast breathing, heart racing, shaking... I didn't go again (although certain people tried to convince me to go down backwards =)
Afterward, I asked Luke if he had fun on the family raft. "Yes!" he said excitedly. "Do you want to go down again?" He thought, and then shook his head. "Noooo.... no go 'gain." My feelings exactly. Amanda, Eleanor and their cousins roped whoever could be convinced to go down as many times as possible. I think Grandma's in line for next year, provided she doesn't break anything...
Now for the second waterslide from the title (you were waiting for that, weren't you?) We were at a birthday party the other day at a neighborhood pool with a good sized waterslide (about 3 loops, maybe? Michael will correct me =) It was slow enough that Eleanor managed to stop for fun, and if I wasn't paying attention I would slow down to a stop. If you leaned the right ways, though, you could zip right down. The other adults talked me into trying it once, which I did, despite my apprehension. Then, I found myself going up again, and again... I helped supervise Amanda, who was wearing the life jacket. I think she probably would have gone up and down for hours if we had let her, but I really felt someone needed to be at the bottom in case something went wrong. Luke, too, was an enthusiast, and would even walk up there by himself (that is, not be carried) if he were able to ride down with someone. I actually enjoyed the feeling of going down the little water slide. Maybe I can work up to the family raft again next year.
One of the things we did was go to the "Waterpark Of America," or WOA! It really should be pronounced like that, I believe. We went there last year as well, but this year we had a larger adult to children ratio, including one adult who stayed out of the water and kept track of our towels and some seats---a very useful addition.
Just like last year, Luke managed to fall asleep on Daddy's lap as they toured around the "lazy river". I think that I'm too exciting---I really love the lazy river, but Luke refused to fall asleep on my lap, so I had to go around by myself. Eleanor would go around and around tube hopping whenever she got tired of being in one place. It was a relief not to have to worry about her---many times I just let her swim with her cousin while Michael and I kept track of the younger ones.
My very favorite part was the "hot tub," a small heated pool with bubbles and waterfalls. Eleanor and Amanda were able to get in with me and swim around. Being in the hot tub is not quite as relaxing with Eleanor and Amanda as being in there by yourself, but it's fun for other reasons. The girls liked it pretty well. They thought it was too hot (as evidenced by the way they got in and out) but they knew Mama liked it, so they tried to join in the fun.
Unlike last year, I was convinced to go down the "Family raft," a circular raft which holds as many as 8 people (provided the people are small). The raft starts at the 10th story and goes around in a big tube in and out of the building... As we ate lunch, I was able to see the shadows of people going down the raft, it didn't look too fast, I thought. We climbed up. I was hoping we could all be crowded in to one raft, but they said 6 kids and 3 adults was too many. Michael went with the older kids and my sister-in-law and I took the youngest ones.
I am not exaggerating to say that I screamed the whole way down. I think once I thought it was calming down a bit, only to go into a tunnel and turn sharply.
Afterward, I asked Luke if he had fun on the family raft. "Yes!" he said excitedly. "Do you want to go down again?" He thought, and then shook his head. "Noooo.... no go 'gain." My feelings exactly. Amanda, Eleanor and their cousins roped whoever could be convinced to go down as many times as possible. I think Grandma's in line for next year, provided she doesn't break anything...
Now for the second waterslide from the title (you were waiting for that, weren't you?) We were at a birthday party the other day at a neighborhood pool with a good sized waterslide (about 3 loops, maybe? Michael will correct me =) It was slow enough that Eleanor managed to stop for fun, and if I wasn't paying attention I would slow down to a stop. If you leaned the right ways, though, you could zip right down. The other adults talked me into trying it once, which I did, despite my apprehension. Then, I found myself going up again, and again... I helped supervise Amanda, who was wearing the life jacket. I think she probably would have gone up and down for hours if we had let her, but I really felt someone needed to be at the bottom in case something went wrong. Luke, too, was an enthusiast, and would even walk up there by himself (that is, not be carried) if he were able to ride down with someone. I actually enjoyed the feeling of going down the little water slide. Maybe I can work up to the family raft again next year.
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