2008 "Staycation"

Like many others, this year we decided to vacation from home to try and save money on gas and accommodations. There are a lot of fun things to do locally, and the kids definitely sleep better in their own beds, but I have to admit that there is just something to be said for actually leaving town for awhile. One great thing about vacationing is that I don't have to cook. Packing the cooler was the most cooking I did all week. We were able to go out to breakfast a couple of times, and we enjoyed a few good dinners out. We planned a lot of fun things for the kids all week long, and were completely exhausted by the time Sunday rolled around.

On Monday we took Michael and Ty to Lagoon, and left Blake home with Grandma. It was a lot of fun because the lines were short and we could all ride together. We went to Lagoona Beach for awhile, where I was completely embarrassed by the state of my swim suit! I promise I will buy a new one next season! The water was COLD, and Reed's tender feet just couldn't handle walking barefoot, so we didn't stay in the water park for too long. The kids love Lagoon. Ty is brave enough to ride anything, and Michael is big enough to go on a lot of the big rides with Reed. Lucky him!

Isn't he cute? I love this picture of Ty.
Since I'm the one who takes pictures in our family, the only way I ever get in a picture is if I take it myself!


On Tuesday we left Blake again and went to the Treehouse Museum. What a great place. The kids were entertained all day. Ty went down the spiral slide over and over and over---screaming at the top of his lungs each time. Michael and Ty both really enjoyed the toy castle they had (only $169 plus accessories at the gift shop. . . Geez!). Michael also especially loved building and destroying the train.

On Wednesday we went out to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. I was surprised how much there was for younger kids to do. I thought Michael would be so excited to see the huge dinosaur bones, but he was much more excited to play a dinosaur matching game on the computer. There was a huge sand and water table with small dinosaurs to play with that Ty really enjoyed. They also got to dig for dinosaur bones, and build dinosaurs with mix and match pieces. After the museum we went to see the 3D dinosaur movie on their big screen.
After Thanksgiving Point we went to visit my Grandma in Orem and then hit Chuckie Cheese for dinner. Michael thought he had died and gone to heaven! Seriously, it was his favorite thing we did all week. Pizza and soda for dinner? An entire room filled with games to play? And Dad says I can play all of them? And we get prizes at the end? Awesome!!! Ty mostly just wanted to go down the slide over and over, so Michael got to use most of the tokens we bought. Blake really got a kick out of climbing in the car and train and rocket ship. The kids loved it, but I nearly went insane. I don't know how anyone could work there for more than a day or two without completely losing their minds! All of the lights and noise and kids running around spilling food on the floor. Hopefully they pay those kids a lot!

Thursday was my favorite day. We went to Cherry Hill. I love taking the kids, but there's no way I can take all three of them there by myself without one of them getting lost or drowning. It was fun to have Reed there. He took the boys down the water slides while I watched Blake in the pool and Pirate's Cove. I think I could happily spend an entire day floating around the Lazy River, but unfortunately, my kids want a little more action than that! Reed got a mega sunburn that day. He always need to get at least one a summer.

On Friday we went back to Lagoon with our bounce back passes. There were no lines all day, and we've definitely decided that we don't ever want to go back on Stake Lagoon day again. Blake came along that day and got to ride the merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, and the train. We also played miniature golf---which Reed just absolutely loves. Michael discovered that Music Express is his favorite ride, and he and Ty rode it 3 or 4 times in a row. I can't believe they didn't lose there lunches!

On Saturday we went to breakfast at Doug & Emmy's where the service was awful but the scones were to die for. Yum. . . Later Reed and I got a babysitter and we went out to dinner and a movie. Reed took me to Tepanyaki for the first time, and I loved it.

It was a good week. The kids had so much fun they could hardly see straight, and we're all completely exhausted! That's what vacations are for, right?