Tag Archives: family

Vacation, Day Three

We’ve had a considerably more low key day today at the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. Less time in the water, a little more down time resting in the room, generally a little more laid-back. Overall, an enjoyable day.

This is our second trip to this GWL location. We were here about 5 years ago. My teenage son was 8, the Noodle was an infant, and the Goon was not even a conversation yet. That time, we planned poorly. My oldest son had all of the enthusiasm appropriate for his age being in the water park. My wife and I ended up swapping out every 45 minutes or so with him getting wet while the other one sat with the baby. At the end of 3 days, we were exhausted from trying to keep up with a little hellion. Not a very relaxing vacation.

We are far better equipped this time. Our group- really my wife’s family- comprises 5 adults, 2 pre-teens/early teens, and 2 little guys (the aforementioned Noodle and Goon). Unlike last time, we have plenty of bench strength. I have not had to chase my 3 boys every moment. Woot!

With all the family around helping wrangle my boys this week, it will probably only take a day or two at home to recover from our vacation!

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Vacation, Day Two

I’m writing this at the end of our second day of fun at Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. Thoroughly exhausted, my wife and I are praying to the wolf spirit that the boys sleep through the night! The Goon (age 3) was up for a few hours last night (midnight to 3 am or so) insisting that he needed to go home as he couldn’t sleep here. Funny, as I would have pegged him as the world traveller. Instead, he is exhibiting some serious homebody tendencies.

I am pretty water logged- we were there when they opened the water park doors at 9 am and were in and out of the water most of the day. The MagiQuest activity was a nice way to break up the soakings. It also puts the day to sleep pretty well- nothing like climbing all over 4 wings on 2 different floors to wear everyone out!

Sadly, the one supply that we are lacking in the mobile pantry we brought from Syracuse is beer. I’ve been a good Dad today- good enough, I think, to splurge on a $6 can of beer! (Note for next year- bring beer from home! These resort prices are crazy!)

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Vacation, Day One

The vacation has officially begun. We made it from Syracuse to Buffalo, picked up my brother-in-law and family at the airport, and crossed into beautiful Canada. After about 4 hours of play in Great Wolf Lodge’s water park everyone is thoroughly exhausted.

My boys- all 3 of them- are rip roaring and ready to go. How is it that everytime I think, “This will really wear them out!” they end up tucking me into bed. Youth, despite the cliche, is not wasted on the young. It is my experience that they use every bit of it…

Assuming I survive the night, look for my next dispatch tomorrow. Good night, sleep tight. That’s for me. I’ll be asleep before 9!

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The Uncle They Call “Uncle”

My boys are really lucky. I’ve written before about how lucky they are that my father lives with us. Their lives are also richer because of their wonderful uncles and aunts.

Based on marital status, they’ve got 4 uncles (my three brothers and my wife’s brother) and one aunt (my brother Matt’s wife). But- if you use the criteria of people with substantial connections to those uncles you also add in my brother-in-law’s longtime girlfriend and the partners of my two other brothers. The expanded definition is more apt because I don’t think marital status defines family. All in, uncles and aunts, I count 8. And they are all wonderful people.

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