We so needed to get away. We needed to just “be” somewhere as a WHOLE family.
For 15 days we were separated, and continents away from each other. I can’t tell you how hard that was for Brian, and me….and the kids. But, the kids were strong and so brave as they waited for us to bring home their baby sister. They wouldn’t have done it for ANY OTHER REASON. It was fierce love and sacrifice.
We came home, and we reunited as a family…ALL OF US WERE TOGETHER…FINALLY! But, what a whirlwind this month home with Tahlia has been. As soon as we came home, it was Christmas celebrations with family, then it was New Years celebrations, school, homeschool Co-op, then daddy was thrusted right back into 2 full time jobs. He has been swamped as he has started kids basketball up at church and got the men’s outreach basketball league up and started again for a new season. All good things….but, IT’S BEEN NON-STOP.
We have not had much time to take a breath and just reflect together, as a family, the celebration of Tahlia being with us. To really focus on being all SEVEN of us together!
We came to the Great Wolf Lodge to just breathe and exhale…..to marvel at the dynamics of our new “increased” family! To just, well….just enjoy one another w/o feeling pulled in five different directions.
The three days that we were away, we just got to “BE”. We got to be together, play together, and enjoy every ounce of each other w/o the RUSH RUSH of life at home.
It was our first vaca as a family of seven….and, It was blissful.
some highlights from our “get-away:
-We are realizing more and more that little Tahlia is our water baby! SHE LOVES water!!! Though, she gets cold pretty fast…not much meat on her bones to keep her warm!
-Tahlia is also quite the thrill seeker…she loved doing the “family-waterslides”
-She let daddy hold her in the water and played with him when I wasn’t around…so, mommy got to ride slides with the other kids! FUN!
-The boys had SO MUCH FUN with their “wands” running around the hotel making magic happen!
-Helaina and Tahlia got matching doggies and bonded in a special way over their mutual love for all things cute and squishable!
-Isabella was an awesome pool side babysitter and allowed mommy and daddy to ride slides together!!
-our best friends: The Woodies, came up to play with us the 2nd day we were there! It was a lot of fun to get to be with them!
-Ashy won the 1000 ticket jackpot prize at the arcade!
-Brian won a NETBOOK in one of the arcade games!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT????:)
-Tahlia learned to shoot skeet ball, thanks to Aunt JuJu!
-Tahlia got to sleep with ISabella at night, and Helaina cuddled with her at naptime:)
-The kids LOVED having thier own cabin w/in our room!
-We discovered that vacations are A LOT more fun with a baby sister as sweet and fun as Tahlia!
SO thankful for our time at the Great Wolf Lodge, what an awesome place to just GETAWAY TOGETHER!!!!
Awesome – and looks like it was perfect – so glad you did it!!!
Got me excited – we are going for the FIRST time for one night next weekend – haven't told the kids 🙂 Looks wonderful!
Keep at it momma! Loving those kiddos 🙂
Johanna, what a WONDERFUL idea! You have me trying to figure out when we can do this after Brooklyn's palate surgery 🙂 LOL We went to OC right after her last lip repair just for the day and it was just what we needed. This looks even more amazing! After all the stress our families (and the kids especially) go through, this is really just the perfect thing to do. So glad you took so many pictures to share your trip, I never take this many and always regret it later!
Splendid! What fun! And I have to say, you're looking pretty good, mama. In a few pics I thought maybe you were the older sister…seriously! 🙂
Looks like it was such a blessed and great time away! So glad you had such a fun place to go to. It looks like a fun place to take the family. Things are settling down on this end. The second week home has been much better. Thanks for your prayers! Praying for you too!
What a FUN family trip! I can't believe it, a NETBOOK? I can't even win anything at baby showers LOL 🙂
I've never been to the Great Wolf lodge, but I just may have to now after seeing your pictures!
I can totally relate to needing time away. Looks like you all had such a WONDERFUL time. 🙂 I'm eager to try a getaway at Great Wolf Lodge once the girls are a bit older.