We are one of the last families on the block to visit this awesome place, but oh man, it was worth waiting for. This is our first vacation. Ever. (not counting Cub Scout camping) Back before we moved to Twin Firs, we visited Twin Firs for all our vacations. Back then, Grandad would stock the freezer with Hot Pockets and ice cream and make sure there was pop in the bodega. The kids would always wake up early and he would turn on the TV so they could watch cartoons on PBS. Now that we live here, there is no Hot Pockets, ice cream, or pop...well, not usually.
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| The Wave Pool wasn't the best place to introduce D to the water, but he survived. |
We visited
GWL on the Washington Homeschool Organization discount. That meant we paid $160 for a room that is normally $279. Our room had a separate area with a bunk bed and day bed for the older kids, a fold out couch for F and D, and a queen-sized bed for M and I. We had two TVs in our room! We brought our own food and packed our fridge/freezer with...Hot Pockets (and other easy food)! The best part about our room was the ability to turn the heat up when we were cold. Which never happened because our room was
twenty degrees warmer (or more) than what we are used to! I turned the heat down to 65 degrees. Our beds were so comfy, which was hilarious because my friend said her bed was like sleeping on rocks. Our normal bed must be
really bad if our hotel beds were awesome!
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| Grand Mound is a happening spot! |
They let people in the water park at 1:00 even though check-in is at 4:00. Our room was ready for us at 1:30, so we moved in early! Bonus! We played at the water park for a few hours, went to our room for dinner, and went back to the water park until bedtime. I tell you, M had the time of his life! Our kids are so blessed to have such an awesome dad. He was all about taking them down the scariest water slide- The Howling Tornado- over and over and over again! I'm too
wimpy pregnant for the big water slides, so I stayed safe in the baby pools with the kids too short to ride.
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| D Boys and Friend coming out of the Howling Tornado |
We thought for sure the kids would crash and burn at bedtime, especially D; he only slept 20 minutes in the van on the way down. They always seem to do the opposite of what we think, don't they? D and F were up in shifts all night long. I can't remember the last time I had such a long night. F woke up crying because she dreamed a
wolf was eating her. When those kids woke me up bright and early, I mumbled, "I have one word for you M-
Starbucks!" Can you believe that he pretended they weren't open when he came back?
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| Finally, they NAP! |
Then the bad news spread...a water pipe was broken in the water boiler and the park wouldn't open on time...if ever! Management is sending out free day passes or a discounted overnight rate for all who were affected. But the pool did open and we played for another five hours. D and F did fall asleep waiting for the older kids and M to get through the River Canyon Run. By the time they woke up, the rest of the kids were ready to go home (they breathed so much chlorine in 24 hours they couldn't stop coughing).
Now, M and I are anxiously waiting for...bedtime!
