Great Wolf Lodge

We do not have great pictures from our Great Wolf Lodge vacation, but we do have great memories.  Most of the time we spent in the water and therefore did not have a camera with us.  

Our little weekend getaway was so much fun.  Hector's boss wanted us to take a weekend away on his dime.  With our kids being little it is not that easy to get away so we decided to include them in the fun.  And let me tell you, vacationing on someone else's dime is the way to vacation.  We didn't take Estelle with us, she got to spend the weekend with friends!  We checked into our ginormous room Friday afternoon (Both Sienna and Natalia had their own queen size bed and we really did not need to full size bathrooms) and we headed to the watery fun.  The girls were hesitant for about a minute and then the fun began.  They were both so brave.  Natalia loved the big slides and could not get enough of them.  We loved going with her on the big slides.  It was so much fun.  Sienna loved the little slides and she was in machine mode.  I could not even begin to count the times she went down this little orange slide.  She was so fun to watch.  She held her hands like a little ninja every time she came down.  Not sure were the ninja hands came from but she sure was entertaining to watch.  She would sit at the top of the slide until she was sure that one of us was watching.  She wanted an audience every time.  

Both girls loved the wave pool and Natalia loved watching the big bucket of water dump...from a safe distance of course.  Sienna also really loved the lazy river.  We missed Estelle of course but it was so nice just having the two older girls because both Hector and I were free to just play with them. We didn't have to hold a baby or worry about naps and bedtime.  It really was awesome.  It was two full days of just playing, no stress and all on the kids schedule.  We let them stay up late Friday and Saturday night and play.  We got home late Saturday night and they were both exhausted, but it was well worth it.  

enjoying the wave pool

Having fun in the craft room

Sienna showing off her new swimsuit

Because we had a nice tab at the lodge we enjoyed lots of fun activities without ever leaving.  We ate when we were hungry and we spoiled the girls with ice cream and fun drinks.  We played at the arcade and let them try bowling for the first time.  They were both terrible bowlers, even with the bumpers in, but it was fun watching them.  

Sienna bowling

Natalia's two handed bowl

Natalia watching her ball land in the gutter even though the bumpers were up

Coming out of the big slide

Hector and Natalia coming down the big tube slide

We let the girls watch a 6D movie, Sienna hated it.  It was so funny.  The chair moved and we had 3D glasses. The attendant told us if I unbuckled her the seat would stop moving.  She lasted about 20 seconds before I unbuckled her and took of her glasses.  Natalia liked it though.  

The girls playing at the arcade

The whole trip was a blast.  It really was fun just spending fun time with the girls.  We all loved it and we spent tons of time in the water.  We were happy to see Estelle when we got back.  Natalia and Sienna missed her.  They were really happy to see her Sunday morning when they got up.  

More Birthday Fun

We had a blast celebrating Sienna all day long.  We did a kid party in the morning.  When I asked Sienna who she wanted to invite to her party her first response was, "can you come?"  I have to love that I was her top choice.  I told her that of course I would be there so then she asked if Natalia could come, then she wanted Estelle.  Once we established that family was a shoe in, her next choice was our neighbor girls, who are 12 and 13 and my babysitters.  They are home schooled and home during the day so they could come and both Sienna and I were happy they were there.  We let her invite a few kids closer to her age too.  We colored Frozen pictures and played "knock down the snowman", which was a huge hit.  We had Frozen themed snacks and cupcakes and of course opened more presents.  

Natalia, Abigail and Sienna coloring

Frozen snacks

The snacks were quite popular and so easy.  Snowman noses (carrots), Reindeer antlers (pretzels), ice and snow (blue jello and cool whip) and an Olaf in Summer Drink (water with a little blue food coloring).  Every time Sienna got thirsty she would say, "mom, may I have more Olaf in summer please?"

Abrielle, Sienna, and Alexis (best babysitters ever)

waiting in line for the knock over the snowman game

Natalia trying to knock over the snowman

Rob knocking over the snowman

Sienna's two handed attempt

The kids enjoying their snacks

Sienna opening her Anna doll

The kids had so much fun being silly and playing at the party.  It was a great morning and simple to plan, but lots of fun.  Both Natalia and Sienna loved it.  Natalia was an awesome big sister.  She enjoyed the party and was never jealous of Sienna.  She seemed to really enjoy Sienna being happy.  Both girls were having fun being silly during lunch time so I took some pictures.  

After nap time it was party number two.  We had Hector's family over for a pizza party in the evening.  Sienna loves her cousin Eli so much.  We let the kids play the snowman game again and we saved some of the crafts from the morning party for them to do with Eli.  Sienna was so happy to have Costco pizza, it is her favorite and she was really excited to finally eat the cake.  

Sienna eating her birthday pizza

Anthrea, Andy and Luke

My little munchkin was spoiled with so many presents but she loved opening every single one of them.  I wish I could have captured her cute little voice when she pulled Frozen out of the bag.  It was filled with the joy of dreams coming true and oh so cute.

Estelle would prefer to eat movies

Sienna did not want to make a wish and she had been telling me for days that I could make it for her, so I did.  It then took her multiple tries to blow out her candles.  No, they were not trick candles.

Sienna blowing out her candles

Sienna trying again to blow out candles

One candle left, will she get it?

Nope, had to try again

A fun surprise in inside the cake

building a snowman craft

We had a fun filled day.  I loved watching all the joy that shined in Sienna.  I love celebrating my kids' birthdays.  I love making them feel special.  I find so much pleasure in trying to think of things they will enjoy and I hope to leave them with lasting good memories.  Happy Birthday Sienna, we all love you so much!