Great Wolf Lodge

After much deliberation over a birthday party…ice skating party, roller skating party, art party, sleep-over party-when, where, how, who-McCanless just couldn’t make up her mind. So we decided for her. It was last week and I wouldn’t have time to plan much of a party anyway. Much to my dismay. (Hate January birthdays.) So, Mel booked a family getaway at the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, NC.

McCanless went last year with friends for New Year’s Eve and had a blast so we knew she would love it. (Plus, we were curious and wanted in on the action.) Mel threatened my life if I woke them up before 9 AM, and there’s no laundry to do here, so I’m online.

This place is massive and amazing. Amazingly huge. McCanless has had fun showing us “the ropes.” She tells us exactly what to expect and when and where. She already knows everything, you know? Pretty amazing for the ripe old age of 8. (I tell her this about 10 times a day. I can’t wait until she’s a teenager and she really knows everything.)

This girl has not stopped squealing. I think she just might explode from excitement. Not sure if it’s because she can wear her bikini “for real” this weekend or from being almost tall enough to go on big girl slides. (Poor thing. Even though she can swim almost as well as I can, she has to wear the “baby swimmer” bracelet because she is about as tall as a 2 year old. She’s limited to only a few areas of the park, but Daddy has been able to sneak her down a few big girl slides.)

Their favorite, just may be the “kids cave” with bunk beds in our room. I tried to convince Mel that the girls need cute little white bunk beds (specifically from Pottery Barn Kids) because the girls went to bed so effortlessly. (It may have been out of pure exhaustion, but surely the bunk beds helped.)

I was a bit worried about MC being on the top bunk, but I remembered “way back when” my baby brother fell out of his top bunk onto the hardwood floor and rolled under the bottom bunk and continued to sleep. It gave my mom a bit of a nervous breakdown when he couldn’t be found the next day, but he was completely uninjured.

Just as I turned out my lamp, I heard MC sneaking her way to our bed. So much for bunk beds.

Story time in the lobby of the Lodge.

I can’t wait for them to wake up and see what today brings!

5 Comments

Carrie  on January 8th, 2012

Wow, looks awesome! I hope ya’ll are having a blast ~ enjoy!!!

Terri Woodham  on January 8th, 2012

Maybe, next year if we can’t do Disney as a group-this might work! Glad you had so much fun; can’t wait to hear all about it! Love you, MOM

Misty  on January 9th, 2012

Looks like so much fun!! I cannot wait to take Finley there!!! We may live there. LOL Love ya!

Judy and Walter Brown  on January 9th, 2012

So glad y’all had such a wonderful time. Loved the pictures, especially the one of Mel coming down the water slide. Didn’t recognize him at first b/c he wasn’t wearing his bow tie!!

Jill  on January 10th, 2012

I found your blog few years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter and googled the name “Maryclaire”…the name I was toying with at the time. After seeing your beautiful daughter, I was sold on the name. I envisioned my daughter like yours (and like my son)-blonde haired and blue eyed.
From that I periodically visited your site to check on your little Mary Claire. I was so sad and shocked when I read you were diagnosed with breast cancer.

I know I don’t “know” you, but I pray often for your healing, strength and perseverance to beat this disease. You lie on my heart at the oddest times…and I am prompted to lift you up in prayer to our Lord. I hope 2012 is a wonderful year for you and your beautiful family!

God bless!