Mini-vacation

Because of our big move this summer (and the fact that we didn't know when it would happen) we didn't get around to planning a real summer vacation.

But we managed to squeeze in three nights at the brand-new Camelback Resort in the Poconos Mountains.  It has an indoor waterpark, very similar to Great Wolf Lodge, which is only a few miles down the road.

What heavenly bliss it was to have perfect 84 degree weather at the waterpark every day (no matter what the weather forecast was outside!)

And no greasy sunscreen required :)

Aunt Kristy, Uncle Tony and cousin Tatum joined us.

Such fun!

We stayed in a three bedroom, three bathroom suite that had a full kitchen and living room.  Plenty of space for our big crew and so nice to have a fridge, microwave, dishwasher and stove.  Not that I like to cook, but it is nice to be able to make a few things and not have to order something every time you get hungry.

Tatum loves water!

SISTERS!

Audra was such a fish in the water...

if you can imagine a fish that can't swim!

She splashed around loving every minute of it,

with no fear at all.

I don't even want to think about how much pool water she probably drank!  YUCK!

But she was happy and full of smiles :)

Still smiling...

even while shivering with purple lips.

She gets cold sooo fast!

Day 2:  and new suit and just as cute

The biggest hit was the wave simulator.  Aidan, Maura and Daddy each tried out boogie boarding.

They had lifeguard instructors at each corner and they would talk the kids through doing some "tricks" on the boogie board...no hands, thumbs up, superman pose, kneeling on the board, and rolling over!

Aidan wanted to give surfing a try.  He watched the mandatory video education and earned his "bracelet".  But it's definitely not as easy as some people make it look.  He tried and tried, over and over...

and finally he got the hang of it!

He managed to stay up on the board for about 15 seconds until he wiped out...

 

The resort had lots of other fun things for the kids to do inside:

rock wall climbing

rope challenge obstacle course

pottery painting

(a family event)

The finished products...

Aidan's baseball

Maura's fox

Audra's hand print

We spent lots of time (and $$) at the arcade.  

Maura won the bonus on the spinning wheel!

1000 tickets!!

And as if that all wasn't enough fun...

There was an Outdoor Mountain Adventure area!

We all rode the mountain coaster...even Audra.

It's like a roller coaster, but there are hand brakes that allow you to control how fast you go.

Aidan and Daddy did the 4000ft Zip line

They had to ride a shuttle bus up to the tippy-top of the mountain.

We walked Aidan and Maura up to an area that had kid activities including a Euro-bungee jumper, a 30 foot Free-fall jump and...

Another rock wall

The most fun may have been the all-terrain Hummer ride we got back down to the bottom of the mountain.
Good thing we had our seat belts on!