Friday, July 29, 2011

Vacation

We took a family vacation this from Sunday to Wednesday.  Or course, we took Vicki with us.  This way, we had one adult for each child.  We returned to Holiday World, an amusement and water park in Santa Claus, Indiana.  This was our sixth trip in as many years.

We tried a different lodging option.  We stayed at Santa's Cottages.  It was perfect.  The cottage was bigger than the ones at the campground and better than two hotel rooms.  We had two bedrooms, two full baths, and a large great room.  There was plenty of room for the boys to spread out.  Each boy also had his own bed, which helped them sleep better.  It was nice to have all that space to come home in the middle of the day to give the boys a break from the crowds and the noise.

This is the first vacation that Noah did not throw one fit.  He didn't drop to the ground.  He sat and listened.  We weren't stared at.  We weren't asked to leave.  It was wonderful.  We finally had a successful family vacation.  It wasn't relaxing, but it wasn't stressful. 

The staff at Holiday World is great with the kids.  We get a paper from the Guest Services office that allows us to enter rides at the exit.  They will either put us on the next ride or give us a time to return.  That's such a lifesaver.  My kids could not wait in a hot, crowded line for more than 3 minutes. 

Nate and Noah each rode new rides this time.  That's a huge accomplishment.  We were able to walk past the swings and the carousel without Noah losing it.  Nick rode every roller coaster at least once.  The boys love the log ride and thunder river.  Noah loves to get wet.

We also had accomplishments in the water park.  They all 3 rode a water slide that had a tunnel.  For years, they wouldn't do it.  Noah rode the water roller coaster with Tim, Vicki, and Nick.  We were worried that he wouldn't hold on since they don't buckle you in.  Well, he did.  Nate managed to walk by the kiddie play area without crying because we won't let him go in. 

Finally.....a vacation just like any other family.  I am sooo happy!