Spring Break at Great Wolf Lodge, Wisconsin Dells

We spent a fun few days of Spring Break at Great Wolf Lodge in the Wisconsin Dells.

Monday--After checking in and checking out the resort, we hit the water park for a couple hours. For dinner, we introduced the boys to Famous Dave's BBQ, a favorite from our Bloomington/Lincoln days.

Caden before the BBQ sauce mess

Tuesday--We spent the morning at the water park. It is harder to get photos of Caden and Cole, but I managed to snap a few. 

Little slides perfect for Kieran

Happy guy!

Caden and Cole waiting for the giant bucket to spill

Kieran preferred to keep his distance from the giant bucket

Cole-professional lily pad hopper

Enjoying each other instead of fighting--nice change of pace!

At lunchtime, we went over to Knuckleheads, the indoor amusement park, which had pretty much everything my boys enjoy...

a huge inflatable

go carts

rides

bowling

Curt won. I lost. This is not surprising.

mini rollercoaster

arcade games

After an entire afternoon at Knuckleheads, we ate dinner at Buffalo Phil's and briefly visited the outlet mall.

Wednesday--More water park fun

After Curt told me that I would not like this ride and then he tried to convince me to try it, I decided I should definitely skip it. The boys loved it though.

Hanging out in the only swimming pool

Waiting for Daddy and big brothers

Caden came down first, then Cole in the second lane. Curt is getting ready to come out of the third tunnel at top.

Jumping waves in the wave pool

After a morning of water fun and lunch, I went shopping at the outlet mall while Curt took the boys to play Magiquest, a special activity at our resort. It is a scavenger/treasure hunt game with electronic wands. It is a large area (maybe four floors) with slides and tunnels. You go on missions and solve riddles. We ate dinner at Moosejaw pizza after my shopping trip, and then we returned to Magiquest. 

Curt and Caden listening to their clues

Trying to defeat a dragon if I remember correctly

Cole and Kieran participated too, but here they are just playing around.

Thursday--Sadly, we had to head back home after our fun getaway.

We made a quick stop in Normal for gondolas at Avanti's.

We've been to the Dells twice now, once in the summer (Kalahari) and once at the end of winter (Great Wolf Lodge). We had so much fun on each trip. Great Wolf Lodge was perfect for our boys' ages. There was plenty to do in the three large indoor water areas. Plus, Magiquest was a fun evening activity. Our suite was great too. We will be making many return trips to the Dells. The boys are already asking when we are going back.  

March Happenings (minus Spring Break)

In March, the boys and I had the opportunity to meet one of their favorite authors, Dan Gutman, at the Chatham Library. Both Caden and Cole enjoy his Weird School series. Caden also reads his baseball card adventure series and The Genius Files series. We enjoyed listening to his talk and were thankful that he stayed for autographs.

Dan Gutman

Caden getting the newest Genius Files book signed

Cole had Mr. Gutman sign one of his Weird School books.

Jacob, Tyler, Mrs. Goin, Caden, Luke, and Luke's little brother Eli with Dan Gutman--Mrs. Goin is the librarian at GES. She also taught Caden's reading enrichment class, which he loved.

We had to say good-bye to Pap Pap in March. It was so very sad, but the celebration of his life was very nice. It was wonderful to spend time with family in Pennsylvania.  

My boys with Grandma Pat

The boys hanging out with Papa in the Baltimore airport while waiting for our flights back home

At the end of March, Caden had to turn in a 3D model demonstrating something he learned during the science unit of his reading enrichment class. He studied sickle cell anemia and made clay models of a normal red blood cell and abnormal red blood cell.

Caden's 10th Birthday

Caden turned 10 in March! So hard to believe! We celebrated with a Minecraft family party, followed by a family trip to Cole's last basketball game, and then a friend sleepover. 

Opening presents from Grammy, Grandpa, Aunt Mariah, and Uncle Jason

The AWESOME Minecraft cake from Grammy (She also made Minecraft cupcakes, but I guess we didn't get a photo of those.)

Can't believe Caden is already in double digits!

Caden has such a hard time smiling on cue for a camera ;)

Caden's friends (Connor, Jacob, Noah, Brady, Saurya, Mason) arrived in the afternoon. After some free time in the basement, Curt and I took them to Scheels to play games.

They each took a turn playing a sport on this game.

Intense game of duckpin bowling...One team got a turkey (THREE strikes in a row), which resulted in a lot of excitement.

Some target shooting

Photo opp before heading home (Saurya, Connor, Caden, Jacob, Brady, Noah, & Mason)

The rest of the night, the boys ate pizza and cupcakes, watched Caden open gifts, played vidoegames and Nerf gun wars, and watched two movies. They didn't get a whole lot of sleep, but they seemed to have a lot of fun. 

The next day, Caden opened gifts from Nana and Papa and us. 

Legos and books--two of Caden's favorite things

Chinese checkers from me because it was one of my favorite games from childhood. I played it with my Grandma Pat.

I think Caden had another happy birthday. To the one who first called me mom, I love you dearly!