The stress of packing and getting out the door for the weekend melted away on our drive. Matt and I enjoyed two full hours of uninterrupted adult conversation with each other as the kids napped in the back seat- it was heavenly. Then we stopped at the Welcome Center/rest stop to stretch and enjoy our packed lunch. It was so cute as I faced away from the parking lot and nursed, Matt and Lauren enjoyed watching the big trucks come in and go out, they rambled on and on about where each one parked and what each truck looked like. I could have sat there longer, enjoy the soundtrack of our life, but back in the car we were and a few hours later we found ourselves at the campground, where my sister, her husband, and my nephew Finn were already set up and waiting for us.
We opted for a "rustic cabin" and not a tent this time around. It wasn't that much more and the thought of camping in a tent with two little ones didn't sound like too much fun to Matt, and honestly me either. I believe there were multiple times over the weekend that I thanked him for not wanting to tent camp. It's one thing to enjoy the tent in our own backyard- it's another to be in a tent for days on end with the kiddos. The cabin was just a glorified shed, with two sets of built in bunk beds, a table and two chairs, and a dresser. It did however come with a window air conditioner- which was heaven sent, since it was very humid all weekend.
Friday afternoon/evening went so fast, before we knew it the kids were sleeping and Shauna, Charley and I were sitting around the fire- being goofy. We were letting the fire die down so we could roast some mallows up when we had a little friend visit the site. Shauna and I got up to retrieve the food, only to find a skunk already enjoying it for us. YES, you read that right, a shunk was enjoying some of Lucy's (Shauna's dog) dog treats. Then sniffing around to see if anything else looked good. I about peed my pants and had no interest in any food anymore. We waited a while until our little friend wandered off and then put all the food into the cars for safe keeping. I went to bed after all of the excitement- oh the great outdoors!
On Saturday we spent the morning taking it slow, then the campground offered crafts for the kids- so Lauren painted a bobble head cat and Finn an airplane. Then they played on the playground for a while. Lauren swung on a big girl swing and kept asking to be pushed higher. Oh I wished I had brought my camera for that. It seems like just yesterday she was terrified to swing in a baby swing too high.
Then lunch and a trip to the swimming pool rounded out the afternoon. We enjoyed relaxing and chatting while the kids napped. We finally had our marshmallows and got dinner prepared ahead of time so all we had to do was cook it later (made a wonderful chicken santa fa meal, you can find the recipe here). We took a walk and watched the kids play that evening.
That evening we didn't have a skunk visit- all food went into the car right after dinner- but we did have a rainstorm come through. The kids were sleeping away and we just moved under the gazebo and waited it out.
Then Sunday we got up and started getting ready to head to the amusement park. By the time we drove, parked, and got into the park it was around 11- so we ate and then got to riding rides. Lauren and Finn rode so many rides. I've never been to such a kid friendly amusement park. Every corner you turned around there were more kid rides. Ninety percent of our time there was enjoying watching the kids ride on one ride after another. Lauren and Finn even enjoyed a few "big kid" rides with us. They had so much fun!
Daddy and Lauren
They went all day long with no nap and were so good. Lauren just kept wanting to go on another ride. Her facial expressions were cracking us up- she would look like she was miserable or expressionless the whole ride and then come off and be so happy. While on the other hand, Finn smiled with glee and excitement the whole ride, waving and carrying on. They were great riding buddies. My sister and I loved just watching them play and have fun. They're only seven months apart and soon you won't even be able to tell the difference. Olivia hung in there too. She mostly rode in the stroller happy and content, or slept in the stroller. For a short while I had her in the carrier- she just loves to be up and seeing everything that is going on!
We got to enjoy some family rides too. They have a monorail and we rode the old fashioned cars together. Matt did the accelerator and Lauren drove (bump, bump, bump) the whole way while Olivia and I relaxed, and held on in the backseat. They had a little steam train for the whole family too. Olivia was sleeping so I stayed back with her while the rest of them went on. Lauren loved the train!
They even got to meet the Hershey Bar! We saved Chocolate World for the end of the evening and went on the free ride that tells you all about how chocolate is made- they really enjoyed that. Matt enjoyed the huge selection of candy they had in the shop too. We also stopped at the souvenir store and Lauren got a little stuffed Hershey Kiss, who is named "Kisses."
We had such a great time and made some wonderful memories I hope not to forget. Like how Lauren dragged Finn's wagon around everywhere she went. And Finn and her were so cute playing together. Finn kept giving Olivia kisses all weekend, who can resist those cheeks?!?
The ride home on Monday was relaxing and quick. I've coined the term "vacation hangover" since once you get home and the vacation is over the drudgery of unpacking, cleaning, and washing that follows is never any fun. We're now back into the swing of life at home. But next years vacation with them is already in the works...
"...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to konw this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:18b-21
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