Sam & Aidan's Great Wolf Lodge adventure

TheMommyProject · #1 June 17th, 2012, 09:53 AM

Finally get a chance to sit and write up a summary of our trip. We had so much fun!!

I picked Aidan up from school Tuesday right after his lunch. He was super surprised to see me and even more excited when I told him where we were going. Somehow without even really trying, we ended up arriving in the lobby within 5 minutes of each other. So it was perfect timing and we were able to meet up in the lobby and head to the waterpark together.

The kids were both really excited and ready to get into the pool. They were very much feeling each other out the first afternoon and didn't do a ton of playing together, but individually still had a blast. They also seemed peak and crash at opposite times whenever we were in the waterpark. So inevitably, we had one going a million miles an hour while the hour wanted to sit and chill. The only place the two could agree was the best place to go was the family hot tub.

They also really enjoyed the time they had to play together in the room. Trudy had brought a portable DVD player and I brought a couple of board games for them, plus they each had a selection of their toys. They spent a good amount of time before dinner both nights and before bed just playing with each other and having a great time and staying out of trouble. We only had one minor incident (some spat over a card in one of the games) that ended with Sam running to the bathroom, closing the door and crying and Aidan expressing his feelings with "Ugh, girls"! Actually kinda funny thinking back on it, although neither were too impressed at the time. If ever there were stereotypes for a boy and a girl, those two are it.

It smoothed over pretty quickly though and it was forgotten in no time.

Besides the waterpark, we spent time in the Arcade. Aidan hit a 600 ticket jackpot and was pretty thrilled. They each were able to do a Build-A-Bear in the gift shop and we also did the story time in the lobby one night too. We also attempted mini putt, which they played. Not by any normal rules or anything, but they played and had fun.

In the evenings after each of them were asleep, Trudy and I were able to have some girl time. Our rooms were only a few doors apart and we had ground level patio doors. The first night, it took some effort to hook up because our stupid cell phone service was brutally bad and texting wasn't working and neither one of us wanted to risk calling the other room and waking somebody up. Finally through FB, we managed! The second night, we used the patio entrances and so funny to see Trudy running zigzags up to my door. Apparently the sprinklers were on.

I really enjoyed our time to chat and enjoy some wine and just chill. I already knew from the first time we had gotten together that we'd have lots to chat about and we did. I really wish we lived closer together.

On the last morning we said our goodbyes. They had a much longer drive than us and needed to head out mid morning. Aidan and I ended up sticking around until 3:00ish and then were home by supper time. He was exhausted and asleep about 5 minutes after I started driving.

Thanks for the great time Trudy! Sam is awesome and so cute and it was nice to meet Matt too. Aidan thought he was the funniest thing! He didn't have to even really do much in the end, Aidan would just look at him and laugh.

Some pics... I didn't have my camera, so these are snagged from FB mostly taken by Trudy's DH. Trudy will likely have more to share since I know they did a little tour of the Falls before driving home. He was given very strict instructions not to include us in the pics, so cute kiddos only!

The waterpark

This is the big fort in the middle that the kids can climb through with different water toys and stuff. They can also take the slides out and this was the first time Aidan was tall enough and he actually went down the orange slide all by himself. I was half expecting him to be crying at the bottom, but turned out he loved it and did it over and over again.

One of the pools that had this giant snake and some big lily pad things for the kids to climb on.

The kiddie slides

One of the quiet time activities - their Mobigos. They were both so cute and letting each other borrow the others games, such good kiddos!

This was our in-room movie party. I got a room that had a separate little sleeping area for Aidan w/bunk beds. They ended up doing most of their play time in there.

One of the characters came around at breakfast time.

Goofy Aidan. Trudy's DH had him going with different funny things, like french fries in ears and this was his response.

luvSMG · #2 June 17th, 2012, 11:32 AM

We had a great time!

Aidan has been to GWL a few times so he jumped right in. He is also more adventurous than Sam.. she approaches the unknown with far more caution. So, she didn't try as many of the rides as Aidan did (our big feat was getting her to go on the family slide and she wouldn't go again!) but she did have a good time. We asked her what her favourite part was and she said "Spending time with my buddy".

Aidan is a really great kid. He is very pensive, but has a great sense of humour and it's easy to make him laugh. He's very laid back, too. He and Sam got along very well which was nice.

I really like spending time with Gillian... it was really nice to chill with some wine and chat in the evenings. We just have an easy friendship and I, too, wish we lived closer because I feel like we'd be close friends. We just get along.

We'll definitely do something together again!!

After Matt, Sam and I left the water park, we went and did some touristy stuff down by the falls. It was packed (especially so because of the tightrope walking scheduled for the next day) but we managed to get some pics and have some lunch. We didn't leave until 2:30

and had a 7 hour drive home. I was worried Sam was going to lose it but she was absolutely excellent on the way home - she didn't fuss, whine or complain once. Awesome!

I kept her home from school on Friday (I knew she'd be overtired) and this weekend we are just taking it easy, unpacking, etc.

Also, AF arrived on our last day there. *****!