GREAT WOLF LODGE!

Hi Nick,
Welcome to my blog...

We finally made it to GREAT WOLF LODGE in COLORADO!

YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!

(except Parker whose embarassed by Mitchell)

This is in the lobby where they have a cute interactive story time for morning and night.

(We only caught it just as we were leaving. haha)

Just as we arrived, we spotted the mascot WILEY himself!

How did he know when we were coming? 

One of the perks of this magical place is that the kids all got passes for different things.

Free ice cream, free arcades, free candy...

But then we got Britta a special pass to get a free BUILD-A-BEAR

or in this case, BUILD-A-WOLF

(see what they did there?)

Filling with stuffing.... checking for proper cuddliness...

What a darling souvenir!

(Side note: She actually lost this within 24 hours of our being there.

No questions asked, they quickly made another one for her without her knowledge.

Then Richard came back up to the room like a hero that he had "found" it.)

I love customer service like that!

Then who should she bump into but Violet the wolf herself!!!

Britta's face made this "Ah-HA! That's my wolf!" look

The fun at this place doesn't end.

We spend hours and days doing everything!!

ROCK CLIMBING!

They time the fastest climbers.

When we left, Parker's name was still #1 on the board!

Some of us were just honorable mentions.

Let's be honest, after 5 kids this was a huge hurdle for me!

And I definitely beat this kid!

Bless her heart she tried so hard, so many times.

She made it about half way up every time.

Then the champion rock climber took to the ROPE COURSE!

Mitchell does his own stunts!

Colette was really the gold medalist at this event.

Every time we turned around she was above our head scaling the ropes!

Now the real star of the vacation was

MAGIQUEST!

Foregoing the BUILD-A-WOLF option,

the older kids got MAGIC WANDS.

They were sent on quests all over the main level of the hotel.

They pointed their wands at all these interactive magical things.

They were running all over the place completing their magical missions.

This was their absolute favorite part of the trip.

They even chose this game over SWIMMING!

Maybe because they got to...

FIGHT DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!

Mitchell defeated the dragon the morning we had to leave.

He walked a little taller that day,

and we all had to tip our hats to him.

Colette also joined the Master Magi club by slaying the dragon.

There were also goblins, magical pixies, epic battles, shadow lord dungeons,

and every other fantastical element you can imagine.

My inner geek has never been so proud of these kids!

They learned more life experience doing this then what they would have done at school. 

NOW, put on your swimsuits as we go to the SPLASH ZONE!

Mitchell slides in from the RACEWAY.

He managed to get 4th out of 3 racers.

But you know, just remember the dragon thing...

Then Richard and he plowed down the Alberta Falls!!

I'd like to make you think I sat here pleasantly all the three days,

snuggling my baby, and staying very dry...

but YEAH RIGHT!

I was taking my turns down the rip roaring slides as well!

The tornado was my favorite.

The wolf tail was terrifying.

No one should make slides like that.

ever. 

Nightlife at the Wolf Lodge consisted of ARCADES!

They let you stay up and play until about 11 every night!

The arcade included cute bowling alleys.

Mitchell came up and declared he wanted to join in our game.

First throw...

STRIKE!

Go away Mitchell...

Don't you have a dragon to slay?

We are so hooked to this place!

We are already looking up for Richard's next trip if they have a Great Wolf Lodge close by.

The Magic, the water slides, the wave pools, the rope courses, the golfing, the bowling, the Dunkin' Donuts, the Ben N' Jerry's, the fire cooked pizza, the WALL OF CANDY, the bunkbeds, and the list goes on and on and on....

It was really big, and yet all contained. I could easily let the kids explore and do what activities they liked, while also keeping a really close eye on everyone.

It felt very safe.

Plus if we needed something, our hotel room was literally two minutes up an elevator.

Your room is opened by the electronic bracelet they give everyone on check-in.

So the older kids would run up if they needed something on their own.

They thought of everything.

This wasn't at the Lodge, but on the way home in WY.

V for VICTORY!

(Except for Parker who blundered it Churchill style)

My darling little wolf.

She's so happy to be on her way home!!!