Water

Our trip to GWL was better than I expected. The room was HUGE, and the kids had their own little room/log cabin entirely. And their own TV. I never knew what a blessing that could be. Woohoo! We weren't stuck watching Dora when we really wanted to watch 24.

The waterpark was completely age-appropriate for them. When I called before-hand, the receptionist said our kids wouldn't be able to go on some of the bigger slides, so I was picturing these wimpy baby slides for them while K and I took turns on the big ones.

When we got there, the kids could actually go on almost everything by themselves, including two really long slides, and K and I could take them with us on the three really big inner-tube slides.

I literally had to carry a clinging, crying S up a ROPE LADDER (imagine that, will ya?) and shove her terrified, shaking body down the long slides the first time (before the attendant noticed and told me to stop), because I knew she would like it if she would only just try it.

"Like it" ended up being an understatement. The girl spent most of her day in a constant cycle; going up and down those two yellow and red slides, over and over again. They actually ended up being her favorite thing of the day.

Ahhh, what a little "mom pressure" can do...

There was also a regular swimming pool, a gigantic shallow pool (that I sat in with M alot), and a hot tub.

We stayed for 10 hours the 2nd day.

We'll go back next year.

Five Years Ago, again

When my brother died, I was ten. I remember not knowing how to be on the anniversary of his death. Was I supposed to pretend like it was like every other day, so my parents wouldn't have to remember? Was I supposed to be sad? Was I supposed to be happy, so they wouldn't feel bad about my remembering?

Of course, I grew up, and realized that my parents were thinking about Nate anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to acknowledge the day. And I didn't have to pretend to be happy or sad. I just needed to let my parents know that I still remembered.

Today, five years ago, we lost our Adeline. We didn't want our kids to have that same pressure I felt. We didn't want them to feel pressured into sadness on this day.

At some point, when they are older, the kids might have questions. They might be more affected than they are now. They might be sad at not having had time with their sister. We want to open to talking with them. We want them to feel good about asking those questions. On the other hand, the kids might not be affected by having lost Adeline. They hardly got to meet her. We want them to feel free to not be emotional as well.

So, we decided that we, the parents, should acknowledge the day, (so that the kids don't have to tiptoe around it), and talk about how sad losing Adeline made us feel. Then, because we are thankful for our healthy kids, and we are thankful that Adeline is having a riot with Christ, we can use this day too have fun together too. A day to thank God for our family.

Maybe none of that makes sense to anyone. It doesn't have to. I just know that I would rather acknowledge our sad feelings, remembering Adeline, and then move on from there to thankfulness, for her time with us here, for her good ol' time with Christ now, and for the gift that God gave us in the family we have with us here.

We chose today to go the Great Wolf Lodge. The kids are excited. I must be too, because I couldn't sleep when I thought about getting to go on water slides all day.

FIVE!

The big kids had a birthday. They are five years old.
Z said, "When I was sleeping, I was four, and then I turned five. When I woke up, I was bigger and stronger!" And it seems pretty close to the truth. These five years flew by.

Christmas Money

We are going to the Great Wolf Lodge! A indoor water park and hotel. The hotel offers "a Kid Cabin suite sleeping area with a bunk bed, a day bed and their own TV. In the main portion of the suite the adults have a queen bed, and a corner gas fireplace." Woohoo!

My Grandma gives us money every Christmas, and usually I throw it into our bank account, and end up using it for groceries or gas or something. But THIS year, B saw her give me the envelope, as she said, "Merry Christmas to your kids!"

He asked, "What did Mooka (Grandma) give to you?"

"Money for Christmas", I said.

"What will we DO with that money?", B said.

And I realized that this is the first year that we would actually have to devote that money towards something fun for the kids. I'm sure my Grandma would be glad, as she probably didn't know that her Christmas money went towards tampons, milk, and wheat bread.

So we decided that we should spend it on something that we could do as a family.

Thus, the Great Wolf Lodge...

(Hey, Auntie Ange, this would be a good time for you to come visit us. At least we would be out of the cold winter wonderland for one night!) :)

Happy, Merry, Late Christmas