Aquarium

To finish off Katheryn's birthday we let her pick a place to go for a family party. And she wanted to go to the new Aquarium that opened up last year.

 

It was BUSY!

It was interesting and beautiful, when you could get close enough to the tanks...

There was one way in, one way out and a very, very long line up, so you and every single other person who wanted to visit the aquarium that day were all squished into the same space.

 

 

We had Nick in his wheelchair, so he spend a lot of time staring at other people's butts, until we could get to the tank and told him to ooh and aah over what he was seeing.

He didn't enjoy himself...

 

But ooh, ahh, octopus!

 

Katheryn had more movement and really enjoyed herself
She also went on Kyle's shoulders so she could see everything over people's heads

The first section was dark, and Nick actually fell asleep.

We got to the tropical fish section and this was very well organized and not the squished-busy section that was everywhere else. There was a moving sidewalk on one side so everything was close up to the tank, but also moving. The other side was just a hallway that you could step off if you wanted.

You got to be up and close and see everything

It was very freaky having a shark with big teeth swimming right directly over your head.

Nick woke up at this point and really liked it

The sharks really caught his eye

In the centre of the aquarium was the kids zone.
You can get up close and personal with more fish


[K with fish]


They also had a tank with sting rays you could touch (hard ones)
Nick was very interested in splashing in the water and didn't really want to touch them. As he was splashing one of them came right up to him. That was it, he was done.

We got separated from everyone (probably from spending 30 minutes in the bathroom - which was very accessible)
And so it was Nick and me exploring all of the cooler fish!

This one was my favorite

Can you see the sea horse?

And there was a floor to ceiling tank full of jellyfish.

The tank would change colours and the jelly fish would change colours.

 (these are giant jellyfish)

At the exit there was the top of the giant lake (with the sharks you can see).

Katheryn got to pick anything she wanted from the gift shop. A rainbow Hello Kitty was the obvious choice!

Katheryn wanted to carry her bags, and she is perfecting her little-lady pose!

Dancing to their own beat

The kids got their groove on!

Nick loves wiggling that bum!

Thanks to Grandma for the card that was the inspiration for this Dance Party!

Underwater

I got an underwater camera for Christmas, so of course I had to try it out!

I had a blast with it!

 

The kids were not as impressed with it as I was

But Katheryn was game to try until I got  good picture

 

And Nick didn't really have a choice, but it only took a couple of attempts to get this one

 

And they still liked the water after I got my masterpieces, so we were all good!

This was the closest I got to an underwater picture of Kyle

Howling Weekend!

We spent 3 days and 2 nights at Great Wolf Lodge. After our trip in 2012 I wanted to come back. And we still didn't get to do everything they have to offer!

The bunk beds were not as fun as a couple of years ago during the night hours, but during the day they loved it!

We spent some time every day at the arcade, and the kids all had their favorite games to play
Nick won all of these tickets (200) playing a single turn/coin of a game!
He was so proud of himself!

Katheryn liked chopping up all of the fruit!

 

There was a lot of tough decisions before we left on how the kids wanted to spend their 1200 tickets

And of course we needed more time in the pool!

 

These floaties were great! Katheryn tried to swim a bit without them, but it was too busy.

 

The first day we spent in the kiddy pool, the kids didn't want to do anything else.

But the shallow water let Nick crawl around... and tear up his feet (not that bad, but some)

And we were close to the slides so they could try them out
Katheryn was very brave this year and went on all of the kid slides. The yellow and the green were her favorite because they were twisty.

Nick went on the orange one (his favorite colour). He went on it only once, and said he didn't want to go on again "because my legs might go up again"

When we went investigating we found a bigger pool that he liked a lot more.

Even if it gave him the opportunity to go underwater.

I wanted to spend time in the 'lazy river' which wasn't so much lazy as filled with people and tubes in a fast moving circle with times when water dumped on you
Nick didn't really like it

I liked just floating (as long as I wasn't run over by anyone) and Katheryn loved just running around in the water

But that was the extent of the exploration. No wave pool or anything that potentially dumped or sprayed water. There was also an obstacle course kind of pool that no one wanted to do.

But even if we didn't do lots of what they had. The kids had all of the fun that they wanted

 

I tried to get them to explore the big blue slide. But not this time. Looked like fun!

We had a FANTASTIC family weekend!

Fun and exhausting!

Happy 6 years!

6 years ago, this little munchkin was born

 

And somehow this little tiny baby became a big girl! 6 whole years! It's like a lifetime and a moment at the same time.

 

 

For Katheryn's birthday this year we decided to take our family gift cards to Great Wolf Lodge and have a big birthday weekend!

 

 

When we arrived, Katheryn had her own present waiting for her!

She has been sleeping with this wolf ever since

 

No... I don't think she is happy and excited at all...

Katheryn was very particular that she didn't want to open any presents until her actual birthday.
And also that because it was her birthday we had to do everything she wanted to do

Like being the pool all day

Telling everyone she is 6 years old

 

Playing with her brother in the big pool

 

 

And go on all of the kiddy slides

 

Part of the birthday package had a cake. I brought candles and a lighter, so we went back to our room and blew out candles (singing in the restaurant didn't go so well)

There was also the dancing to the Birthday card... but I posted that earlier

She had an amazing day! And we were all exhausted at the end of it.
More Great Wolf Lodge pictures to follow!