Great Wolf Lodge

GWL is one of our favorite family outings each year.  I will have to say that this year was my favorite trip to GWL so far though.  Karcie was FINALLY able to ride the big slides and I no longer had to sit beside her in the pee kiddie pool the entire time!

We rolled up to the GWL right after lunch in Concord.  The nice little lady at the desk informed me that we had been upgraded to a Kid's Camp room.  Y'all know we ain't splurging $50 to pay for that in the Terry household.  I was so excited for my kids.  They beg for the bunk beds each year, but we always so no.  I thought I would get an eyeball roll from my husband when I told him that we were upgraded for free.  I know he secretly thought I had been the one to suggest and purchase the upgrade.  Seriously though, this chick made my day and my sweet little K girls' day!!

I was hoping they wouldn't realize that we had an upgraded room until we walked in, but my smart Kamdyn noticed that the door said "Kids Camp."  They jumped on their beds immediately!!

Shortly after, we jumped into our swimsuits and hit the water park.  That Karcie got on every single slide multiple times!  She wasn't tall enough to ride the Howling Tornado, but I think that might have scared the bathing suit bottoms right off of her.  It scares me to death, but I ride it multiple times every year!

These kids wanted to hop across these lily pad thingys at least a million times.  I mean, all of this fun stuff here and they wanted to jump on lily pads.  I don't get it!?!?

We stayed at the waterpark until about 6:30.  We took showers while Richard got us a pizza downstairs.  After pizza we made our way to the clock-tower show and story-time.    Kamdyn was a bit bored saying she was too old, but was forced to stay because her baby sister loves this!!

Last was the arcade.  $20-$30 per kid on these crazy arcade games for them to win 300 tickets and come away with a 5 cent piece of candy and toy.  Not a good deal!  But they love it so we do it every time we go.  

We were also awarded a late check out because we were repeat visitors.  We got up early the next morning and hit the water park again.  Richard had work to do so I was with the girls a good portion of the morning.  We did make Karcie sit in a chair at the bottom of the Howling Tornado so Kamdyn and I could ride together.  Surprisingly, she never moved....I could see her the entire time, Nanny, from the stairs while we were waiting in line.  

As evidenced by the last picture of Karcie, we had a great time!  GWL will tire you out!  Can't wait until next year!

"See my five cent toys, Mommy!"

Great Wolf Lodge

We made our way to GWL after The American Girl store.  Boy, was it crowded.  A lot of people were leaving, but a lot were also checking in.  I was worried that they wouldn't have a room ready for us and that we would have to carry our luggage into the changing rooms so we could get the most out of the water park on that first day.  Luckily, they had ONE more room that was ready!!  Yahoo!!  We checked in, put on our swimsuits and hit the slides.  I didn't take any photos on the first day.  We were in too much of a hurry!!

We came back to our room around 6:00.  I got the girls and myself showered and dressed while Richard left to get us dinner.  By the time we ate, it was time to head downstairs to the clock tower for story time.  We were kind of late and had to sit in the back.  The girls didn't seem to mind though.

After story time, we headed to the arcade.  We played a few of the games until it was clear that Karcie was running out of steam.  She was tired.  Heck, we were all tired!!

Day 2 was full of water slide fun.  Kamdyn even got up the nerve to ride the "treacherous" Howling Tornado.  She rode it twice.  I was so proud of her for facing her fear.  She wanted to do it so badly, but was so nervous.  She was proud of herself after she did it!  Richard and I rode the Howling Tornado several times.  We made the girls sit in a lounge chair and promise not to move.  The lines were super short so they didn't have to sit for long at all.  

It was a short family trip, but we all truly enjoyed the time away and the time together.  Memories make this life even sweeter!

Sweet sisters running down the hall in their PJ's.

Carrying her baby doll!

Happy as can be!

I love that Kamdyn still gets excited about these events, too!

Karcie was scared last year, but not this year!!  She jumped right up there to have her picture taken!

My sweet angels!

Blurry IPhone photo.  We needed the flash off!

Goofball!!

Wheel of Fortune

Shooting the Duckies!

Proud as punch to ride the carousel.  

A little Air Hockey.

This game was CRAZY!!!

It shook us to death.  It was like riding a real roller coaster!!

CRAZY!!

Sweet Karcie looking at me through the netting of the kiddie zone.

This was her favorite place to be!!

Karcie and Kam leaving the wave pool.

She gets braver each year.  

I love that she wanted to try everything!

She made it all the way across multiple times and little sister waited for her!

Swimming in the pool.

Handstand!!

Karcie wasn't feeling very adventurous this year.

She did a lot of watching!

Kamdyn entertained herself the entire time!

 I was amazed when she walked right under the HUGE water bucket!!  She didn't even tell me what she was going to do!!

But this happened!

Then this happened!

And THIS!!  That's a lot of water!!

Daddy with his sweet girls!

A sweet man beside us offered to take a family photo.

What's worse than wearing a swimsuit?  Wearing at swimsuit in the middle of the WINTER!!  

Taking a break with my little girl!

She loved to sit in the lounge chair wrapped up with her drink and snack in hand.