New years in Dallas.

Ryan travels alot to Dallas and has always wanted to take me there.  Chef Tom Colicchio from my fav. show (top chef) has a restaurant called Craft at the W hotel that Ryan rants and raves about so someday I hope to go there with him.  But that wasn't happening this trip. This was all about the kids and a nice fancy restaurant wasn't in the mix :). 

We spent the day going to Ryan's office (the kids love to go to Ryan''s office) and then to Gaylord's.  They had a big ice sculpture display and sledding.  Unfortunately the line was LONG and it was super expensive so we decided not to sled.  Then we took them to a huge store like Cabellas.  They love to see the stuffed big animals and aquarium.  Not to mention sit on the 4 wheelers and boats. (we gotta rent 4 wheelers someday).  It's funny how easily my children are entertained.   We were all pretty tired after traveling that we decided to go check into the hotel for the night after we ate dinner.

Ryan playing with a Lion at Bass pro shop.

The boys LOVE LOVE LOVE to stay in Hotels so the 1st night we just got a cheap room at the Aloft.  It's a small Modern hotel the room was pretty cool and a perfect size for our boys.  Only two problems 1 the bathroom didn't have a lock on it that's always delightful. #2 it was new years eve. Being a hotel catered to business men we were sure this wasn't going to be a party central but we were oh so wrong.  So wrong in fact that we didn't get ANY SLEEP!!! They put us in a room right by the fire pit where the stinking party took place.  The later it got the louder it became as well.
Funny how my kids wake up if I drop a pin at my house and this night they were out cold.  But Ryan and I couldn't bare the noise which made for a long long night.

But that's all part of the experience right.  Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of this place.

  The next day we took the kids to the children's museum. The Dinosaurs were way cool.  We lucked out it was only a $1. this day.   It was right next to the stadium with a bowl game going on so we cut it short not wanting to be stuck in the bowl traffic.  But the museum was small compared to the one in Seattle that we love so just 2 hrs there was perfect.

We decided it was time to go to the main part of our trip.  We had kept it a surprise from the boys and they Freaked out when we pulled up to the Great Wolf Lodge.  Our boys love water parks so they went ballistic.  Especially Gavin it was so fun.  We didn't take very many pictures and what we did take were not very good.  We were to busy having fun to worry about pictures.

View from our room.  The water slides are inside but go out of the building and then back in.  It was pretty cool.

The boys had there own little cabin with in the main hotel room

They were excited it had video games and their own T.V.

It was so weird to be in the water when it was FREEZING outside.  But it was surprisingly super warm. And only people that stay in the resort can go on the water slides so it wasn't too crowded.

The boys Favorite waterside the toilet bowl.  They rode this so many times.  Gavin was so mad he couldn't go on this one or the hurricane.  He was our little fish and LOVED the huge watersides which really surprised me.  He went on more then the older boys.

The little kid play area.  Gavin lasted in here about 10 mins when he saw the other water slides.

This big huge bucket dumped water.  They loved standing under it when it dumped.  Not me I got it once and it water took me out so I was done.

Everyone loved the wave pool.  Most of our time was spent here.

Success of a great trip when you play so hard you fall asleep in a chair at the water park. 



I wanted Christmas to be more about family time instead of just toys.  This was the perfect little trip we all enjoyed each other and had a great time.  I think this will be our new tradition it made Christmas all that more fun.