Last weekend we ventured south to Ohio for a mini family vacation and 20-year reunion all rolled into three days. It was exhausting, but we all had fun and survived! (Though I must admit, I needed a day off from everyone after spending so much time in close quarters.)
Ken mostly grew up in Centerville, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton. That fact is easily forgotten since he moved to Texas his junior year and then quickly settled into the Lone Star State once he attended TCU. Now he's all about Texas.
But when he heard that Centerville High School was holding its 20-year reunion this year, he decided he must attend. He met a handful of friends for the weekend. Ken keeps in touch with many of these folks, many of which he has known since middle school. So Saturday he spent driving down memory lane. He introduced Centerville to the children. Brendan seemed genuinely interested in seeing where Daddy played soccer, delivered the newspaper, ate donuts and pizza. (I hope Ken enjoyed his enthusiasm. I know in a few years he'll have a different attitude!)
Ken shows the boys his old house in Centerville, Ohio. The house hadn't changed much. In fact, Ken could still spot a broken board that his Dad had fixed before they moved to Texas.
Saturday night Ken left us at the Courtyard Marriott and went to the reunion party. Thankfully, we had a suite so I could put the kids in bed and still enjoy television or reading without worrying about waking the children. (I think Ken and I are becoming hotel snobs. Lately, we've been spoiled with suites, and it is so nice to have some time to ourselves once the kids are in bed.) Before bed, though, I treated the boys to ice cream at Friendly's, another old favorite of Ken's.
Sunday morning we started the day with breakfast at Bill's Donuts, another favorite that hasn't changed since Ken first moved into town. The boys gobbled up the donuts, which is definitely a treat for them. Next we found a park behind the Healy family's old church. The boys needed a chance to burn off some energy before heading back the hotel for an early nap. Ryan was in desperate need of some rest after missing his nap Saturday.
Ryan and Brendan enjoy donuts at Bill's Donuts in Centerville. This donut shop was a short walking distance from the Healy's house, so he visited often.
Once he was awake, we loaded the car and drove to Mason, Ohio, where we stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge. Up north, these resort waterparks are becoming quite popular. The resorts are usually booked solid during the winter, when folks here are getting tired of the cold weather and don't necessarily have the need/means/time for a tropical getaway. I can see why so many families enjoy it. The large lobby had a clock tower with a Chuck E Cheese-like show three times a day. They also have storytime at 8 p.m. each evening. There's a craft room where kids can do a variety of crafts for a small fee. On one floor of the hotel, there were some Little Tikes playhouses for the younger set. Of course, they had three or four restaurants for dining as well.
We didn't experience too much of the hotel Sunday as we walked less than a mile next door to King's Island for amusement park fun. King's Island has Nickelodeon Universe, which includes a dozen or so rides for kids. Even Ryan could ride several on his own, without a parent. Both boys enjoyed the rides, though some were a bit too mellow for Brendan. (He had a taste of the bigger roller coasters while visiting Frontier City in Oklahoma with Ken and Aunt Jenn.) Ryan loved seeing some of his favorite characters, including Pablo, Dora, Diego, and Blue. I liked the baby care center that offered an air-conditioned, semi-private space to nurse and change Kelsey.
We lasted a little more than two hours in the humid, overcast weather and dined on LaRosa's pizza, another favorite of Ken's. While we ate, Ken made a mad dash to the Beast for one quick ride. He claims it's the best roller coaster ever. Then we walked back to the lodge, where the boys sweet-talked Ken into a quick swim at the waterpark.
Monday we spent another three hours at the indoor waterpark. They certainly have something for everyone. For Ryan, there's a toddler pool that includes four small slides, a basketball hoop and balls, and several water features. A fort offered some medium-sized waterslides that Brendan could do without us. Then there were the larger, faster waterslides that require tubes. Brendan loved the slides he was tall enough to ride. We could also mosey around in the lazy river or hit the wave pool, though that wasn't as enticing for the kids.
Outside, the resort has a pool with water features and an "island" that is covered with just six inches of water. We spent at least an hour here enjoying the warm sun and breathing in the fresh air. (How did my parents ever sit through so many indoor swim meets and inhale so much chlorine?)
I get a chance to swim with the boys while Ken watches Kelsey, who is napping peacefully in the shade.
Finally, it was time to head home. The drive home was much longer than the initial drive, thanks to construction. But we eventually made it, with everyone feeling a little exhausted but thrilled with all the fun we had.
Before leaving the resort, we get one last family photo.
No comments:
Post a Comment