Great Wolf Lodge

We are taking a trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg today. We woke up, dropped the dog off at the sitter (see the other post), packed up and hit the road.

When we arrived the first thing the kids wanted to do was swim of course. So we got on our suits and went down to the water park. We played and played until dinnertime. Paige is not yet tall enough for the craziest ride, the Howling Tornado, but she swims well enough to be given a wee bit more independence than last time we were at a water park. Jason and I took turns with her so we both got to do some rides.

 

Before dinner, we went into the lobby for the balloon animals. Eva got a bunny,  Darby wanted a flower, Paige got a dog and Brendan wanted a sword. 

We ate dinner and then got the kids set up with Magiquest. They were able to play it for a little bit before bedtime. Trying to maintain our routine, we put Paige to bed first in the "kid cabin". The older kids watched a show on the iPad until bedtime.

 Tomorrow is Brendan's birthday and we told him he gets to choose what we do.

Fun with Dad

We all love Daddy Jason. He is the fun parent. He planned a camping trip for this weekend but the weather didn't cooperate. I had to break it to Paige, who was the most excited about it. She was so positive. "That's okay. We can make a tent inside with my blankets, enjoy the fire in the fireplace and make s'mores in the kitchen. Camping inside can be fun too." What a sweetie! So, as promised, Daddy set up a "tent", we watched a movie and I made s'mores. It was a hit.

Jason also takes the kids fishing every chance he gets. It turns out that Brendan LOVES it. Who would have guessed? I think he likes the peace and quiet and being in nature. He has caught some pretty nice fish too.

When he can, Jason helps out with summer school and reads aloud to Paige. It makes my heart happy to see it.

Even the dog likes Daddy (more than me maybe?). He runs with her in the mornings on the trails by our house.

What a good guy I married.

Cuties

I love how tan these two cuties get in the summer. We love the pool and playing outside!

Summer School Time

I suppose part of having a former teacher as your mother means that you have to do schoolwork in the summer. Every year I create a short program that we do daily to prevent brain drain over the summer. Each kid rotates their time through workbooks, reading time and iPad games for their weaker areas (keyboarding, math, handwriting and phonics for this year). It gives structure to our days and I really get to know them as learners. I enjoy it. I don't think they mind it either.

Who's 40?

It's my birthday today! I am 40 years old. I don't mind saying it. I have earned these years.

This morning Eva and Darby gave me these. They are so thoughtful. Paige had no idea it was my birthday. Brendan said, "Oh yeah. Happy Birthday Mom," and then asked me to go get him something. Sigh. Always a dichotomy at my house.

We found out last month that the Celtic punk band we discovered last summer, Scythian, was having a free concert in Reston on my birthday. I decided that was how I wanted to celebrate.

First, we ate at Jackson's Mighty Fine Food. I knew I was going to like it when instead of coloring pages, they handed the kids each an etch-a-sketch to play with. The kids had never played with one before and really liked them.

And the food. Oh, the food. So yummy! Tasty burgers, sandwiches, pasta, and steaks.

 And for my dessert, I got both a chocolate waffle with ice cream and chocolate marshmallow cheesecake to share.

After dinner, we went to the Reston Town Center plaza to wait for the concert. It is a lovely area with fountains, greenery, tables and a huge glass pergola under which the concert would be held.

The kids passed the time running up and down the stairs and playing the fountains. 

The Scythian started playing. They are an upbeat Celtic band with lots of fiddles. I love it!

Jason and the girls danced the night away. 

Brendan was having a hard time with the noise and strangers. He spent most of his time off to the side.

After dancing and singing for about an hour, the girls were pooped. They laid down on the sidewalk. We left the concert before it ended but that was okay. I had a nice birthday.

Float-In Movie

The pool at the Officers Club had a float-in showing of Moana tonight. Families could arrive early and play in the pool. When it got dark you could lounge on your floatie and watch the movie projected onto the big screen (or sit in the lawn chairs, which is what I mostly did). The kids stayed in the water almost the whole movie. What a fun way to spend a summer evening.

Kids Lab Graduation

The last day of Kids Lab is kind of like a showcase. The families are invited and the kids get to show off what they have been working on the past few weeks. Brendan was in a Lego Mindstorm class (robotics). He programmed robots. I am sad that I didn't get a picture but it was crazy in there. Eva did coding. She and a partner created code for this robot to do a dance. They both had a fun time.

Swimming Lessons

The two older kids chose to do Kids Lab again as their summer activity. Darby and Paige chose swim lessons. So Eva and Brendan go off to the half day school program and then I take the younger two to the pool. Darby's class is first so this is how she spends the time. I make her do some of her summer school hour there. "Moooooooommmmm. Its SO boring waiting for Darby's class to be over so mine can start!" Poor girl. Its tough being five. ;)

For the first week I kept hearing Paige's name being called. I'd look up to find that she was always too far from the teacher. Can you see her in this picture? The one with the pink noodle the farthest into the deep water while everyone else is headed for the side of the pool? Yep, not a great listener.

But the second week was better. She loves her teacher, Mr. Troy. She especially loves how they go down the slide at the end of every class.

Darby, on the other hadn't, is one of the younger ones in her class but can definitely keep up. She is a fish. I couldn't believe it when, within the first week, they were jumping off the diving board! She loves it!! She even tries to go off with a jump and a twirl now. Mr. Troy is her teacher too. She may or may not have a small crush on him.

Today was the "graduation". They both passed their levels!! Here is the very patient Mr. Troy. He actually has a twin brother who teaches lessons too so they have to wear certain clothes so the kids know which is their teacher.

Too bad swim lesson are over but we still have every day this summer to go to our amazing pool! I love where we live!

Stirring Up a Hornet's Nest

This morning I heard Brendan and Jason leave to take Stella on a walk. They are the early risers of the family. Later I heard the door slam and Brendan screaming bloody murder. I came downstairs to Jason arriving as well. The story unfolds that Stella nosed into a hornet's nest, causing them to attack her and Brendan. He stood frozen in fear and screaming. Jason brushed them off, getting attacked himself. They ran home. There was even on hiding in Brendan's clothes as he took them off. He smashed it with his shoe and a "battle cry".

He was so upset for hours afterwards. Brendan has over 20 stings on his body. Jason has several on his arms.

Stella has seven, including one on her nose. She put herself in her crate to lick her wounds. What a morning!