Staycation 2009

This year, we thought we'd try to save a few dollars and check out a staycation-spending a few days doing fun things close to home.

We started at Lone Star Park watching the horse races. Todd and I had been to the races before for work-sponsored events (back in the Arthur Andersen days), and also when Madison was just a toddler. We'd always planned to go back, and Madison's recent infatuation with horses seemed like the perfect time. Once we settled on a non-booty-burning spot to sit, we had superfun picking horses and cheering them on to wins. Tanner cracked me up with the intensity he invested in each race. The NASCAR influence was a live and well. Grady's attention span was limited between races, but he entertained himself by running around like a banshee and adoring his brother. Tanner's just pretty awesome in Grady's world.

After the races, we headed to our superfancy hotel courtesy of http://www.priceline.com/. In fact, the Hilton Hotel & Conference Center was SO fancy, that, to bribe the kids into awesome behavior, I told them President Obama might just be staying there. It worked like a charm too, complete with whispering in the halls. Sometimes I'm just brilliant.

Monday, it was on to Six Flags. I was a little skeptical of this part of our adventure-not sure how exactly Grady would hang in that situation, but he did most excellent. There were a few tense moments, specifically involving kiddie bumper cars and explanations of height requirements on rides like The Titan. But, after an embarrassing time-out and scream-a-thon, he consented to behaving like a "good boy," and for the most part...did. It was tiring being such a good boy though.Madison was a trooper and rode some super roller coasters like Texas Giant. She's just sassy enough to take it.Tanner, like me, just took in the moments. When I asked him what his favorite part of the day was, he said, "oh-just EVERYTHING." Personally, I think it was reading the map. That boy loves him some maps.We took in a few of the shows to cool off from the Texas Heat, and I'm so glad we did! Otherwise, I would never have been able to snap a shot of my kids alongside real-life gangster cowboys and a sheriff. Can I tell you-they have never been so still and perfect for a picture. Maybe there is something to those guns everyone likes so much. Kidding.

That night, we stayed at the Staybridge Suites which I only mention because it was so incredibly awesome. Priceline gave it to us for a cool $40, and it included a suite (bedroom, living room, kitchen), happy hour & appetizers, and a hot breakfast the next morning. The kids thought we were in the lap of luxury, and I had to agree. Our family of five will definitely be checking out this situation for future travel. Just to give you a taste, this is the breakfast area-so nice we almost hated to leave!!But, we had big plans at the Great Wolf Lodge, and once we told the kids that's where we were headed, their bags were packed:

First observations at the Great Wolf: Sensory. Overload. There isn't even a picture that can do the Water Park justice. Constant slides, sprays, buckets of dumping water-all on cue to a wolf's howl. It's an odd thing for a mom when her chicks scatter in a place like this. I'm still adapting to the fact that my kids are getting old, and have acquired life skills-like swimming. Madison was all about this MagiQuest game going on all over the hotel. Some kind of Harry-Potter-Problem-Solving-Wand-Game. After we got her into the groove, we even let her roam the hotel (phone in pocket) on her own to complete the "quests." I caught the melancholy look on Todd's face when she came to check in and report her findings. He was just a little sad to realize "she's growing up." She totally is. :(Tanner and Grady grooved on the waterplay for the rest of the afternoon, and we finished out the evening with Storytime and Songs in the lobby-a very "Mommy" event that Todd endured. Afterwards, I wanted a good pic of the 3 hoodlums at the Lodge. It took 63 shots, and here are the best ones. This is my life. My crazy, crazy life.

After purchasing some croc decoration thingies, and a round of stuffed wolves, we piled in the ol' minivan for the drive home. Grady was asleep in 2.3 minutes, and we didn't hear many peeps out of the other 2 either. To me, that's an indication of satisfied fun meters all around. I've been told it was the "best vacation ever," and have to agree that it was lovely to spend this time together-all 5 of us. I say that because it was really the first time we have all done such "touristy stuff." Part of my "stay home mommyness" has always included crazy field trips, and up until now, we've pretty much ditched Grady at times like this to give the other 2 some special attention. So many times in the last 4 days I just sat back and soaked up the memories the kids will take with them as part of their life with us. The memories of Scroggins-party of five.