Splish, splash!

To take a break from the winter weather, which has been mighty cold lately, we jumped in the car and headed to Sandusky, Ohio. Sandusky is best-known as home to Cedar Point Amusement Park, but it also has three indoor waterparks. We chose the Great Wolf Lodge, since we enjoyed our August trip so much.

The lodge didn't disappoint, though this location was definitely older and smaller. We arrived Friday afternoon and stayed less than 24 hours, but that seemed to suit us just fine. One of the visit's highlight was seeing the boys on bunk beds for the first time. They spent the first hour in our room pretending to sleep on the top bunk, then wake, then sleep some more. I saw glimpses of Brendan and Ryan actually playing together and enjoying each other's company (which we've seen more and more of lately). (It was also Ryan's first test on a big-boy bed, and a preview of what's to come. We have bunk beds for the boys, once Ryan moves out of the crib.)

Brendan and Ryan enjoy breaking all the rules -- eating breakfast in bed, watching TV in bed and sitting on the top bunk.

The bucket atop the waterpark fills up and dumps tons of water on the eager swimmers below. It's definitely a show-stopper.

The waterpark wasn't overly crowded Friday evening, making it easy for us to go from slide to slide. Ryan enjoyed the toddler/preschool-geared slides and needed no help getting to the side so he could go again. Brendan feared little! He went down every slide, including two that were very fast. He also liked the family hot tub. Who wouldn't? It was warm inside!

Ryan, who is jumping in my lap, says, "That Ryan! Wearing goggles!"

Kelsey gets wet, though it was harder for her to stay warm, so she stayed wrapped in a towel most of the time.

Around Michigan, everyone gets antsy in late January or February for a winter escape. That's why our schools have a winter and spring break. (Our winter break is in mid-February.) I didn't understand the first couple of winters, but now I do. And if we can't get to the beach in the Virgin Islands, then the Great Wolf Lodge will have to do.