Almost Hawaii

Michael had the week off last week (random right? No, he can't have Christmas, Thanksgiving or Spring Break . . . I guess the last week in January was the next best choice). On Wednesday Michael and Seth spent an evening in the nosebleed seats at the Jazz vs Trailblazers game watching the Jazz clean house. Michael cheered for the Jazz, Seth for the Trailblazers. At least they can still agree on the Red Sox.

Thursday we took the kiddos to Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park and hotel for a couple of days. Because if you can't go to Hawaii, an 84 degree water park with three rambunctious punks is the next best thing!

Alice on the jet-ski. Those who eat like birds shall have skinny little bird legs. So let it be written, so let it be done.
Not surprisingly, Seth was the most aggressive with his water.
My family on a floating sea serpent.
This was the charming little sleeping area for the kiddos in our hotel room. They were exhausted by the end of day one . . . and we still had another day to go!
The Lodge has an interactive scavenger hunt (Magi Quest) all around the building. We bought the kids a wand and they completed quests, found treasure, saved pixies and became Master Magi.

At the clock tower for the bedtime show and story. The punks liked it, but the animatronics don't hold a candle to Disney's. Sorry Great Wolf.
The next day we were back in the water! Shocker . . . a picture of yours truly in a swimsuit! I had to crop this picture . . . you could see a little too much of Cleveland. Michael likes the original shot, but I thought the internet wasn't ready for it yet.
Seth would have lived in this wave pool the entire two days if we had let him. He enjoyed it even more than the water slides. Thomas is bellowing "Don't let the water 'plash my eyes!"

Vixie let us borrow their waterproof camera. Groovy, huh?
Almost Hawaii, people. Almost. We still had a famously good time.

Feel Sorry for Me. Or Don't. It's Up to You.

January. I know you feel it too. Get thee hence, January.

Michael has been on call or at a conference every weekend this month.
I really could have used him right about yesterday morning when, right before church (seriously interweb readers, we were all dressed, my primary lesson was 100% prepared and my hand was on the front doorknob) when Alice blew chunks. And then, she was magically all better.
But we skipped church anyway (who wants to take that chance?) and the kiddos climbed the walls, swung from the chandeliers, and made every attempt to begin World War III in our living room.
Naturally I neglected and ignored the children and read an entire book in one afternoon.
Sunday dinner was peanut butter sandwiches. Really people, why cook if I'm the only one who eats it? The kids only eat three types of food each (three different types for each child, which complicates things), so why cook something that is going to be met with stares, tears, and tales about how Grandma once let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner?

When I entered my Sunday afternoon read in my Goodreads account, I realized that all of January has been this way. I have read nine books in three weeks. Normally I wouldn't complain about it . . . but I really think it is time for me to get out more. I think I need Michael.

When Gloria Steinem said that "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" I don't think she meant that if I were a fish I'd be shopping for a Schwinn. However, that is exactly how I see it.

Boo hoo. Now back to your regularly scheduled sunny programming.