Flying Squirrels Game

Last night was our 2nd attempt at our YMCA staff outing to the Flying Squirrels game.  We had perfect weather for it this time!  Miss Andi threw out the first pitch and Kylie went down to the field with her!  Kylie was so excited to do that job.  

As we entered the gate for the game, a lady asked Will if she could use him in the 3rd inning to scrub the bases with a giant toothbrush.  He was all for this, so we filled out a waiver form and got our instructions to meet the lady after the 2nd inning.  We thought she must be picking a bunch of kids to do this job.

It turned out that it was just Will!  We got to go way under the stadium and get the giant toothbrush and then take the limo golf cart out to the field.  

Just this past year, Will might have shied away from being the center of attention of a big crowd.  He has gotten so much more confident in the past few months and had no problem doing this job.  

He, of course, had to keep his eye on the game while we waited.  

Finally, Nutzy the Squirrel came to take Will out on the field.

He went right out there and scrubbed all the bases with the grounds crew.

Mom and Kylie stayed on the Limo Golf cart as it followed Will around the bases on the warning track.

Will needed ice cream after that hard work.

and then the sugar set in.

After the game, Will won two other prizes throwing tennis balls into hula hoops on the field.  Then, there was a fireworks show and the kids ran the bases with no parents.  I can't believe how big they are getting.  It was a very fun, late night at the ball field. 

Great Wolf Lodge Surprise

Kristen (Ethan and Lilly's mom) and Megan happened upon an amazing groupon for a 2 night stay at Great Wolf Lodge.  With the Dads' blessings, we split the groupon and got all kinds of perks to go with it.  We did not tell the kids where we were going or that we were going together.  Kristen's kids thought they were going to visit a relative and after a week of clues which included: 1. we will be sleeping there (guess: camping) 2. There will be wolves (guess: zoo) 3. We will eat ice cream (no guess) 4. It is still in Virginia 5. There is a playground but you have to wear your bathing suit (guess: Sea World)

Will and Kylie did not figure out where we were until we were there, despite Will reading every single highway sign for 1.5 hours.  AND THEN, we pulled in right behind Kristen and her kids and they FLIPPED out.  They were so excited, it was so fun.  Will and Kylie have never even been to a hotel, so this was all new to them.  

After 2 nights and 3 days at GWL, we figured you could spend 2 weeks there and not do everything it has to offer.  We spent most of our time at the waterpark of course!  Will was tall enough to do every single slide and ride, and he did.  Kylie was tall enough to do every single thing but one.  Which she did.  It was like her heaven.  

There was a giant indoor tree house with water pouring down everywhere and splashing everywhere and two water slides from the top.  There was a wave pool, a hot tub, a wave rider, a kiddie pool, an obstacle course, an outdoor pool, and several tube slides.  There was also a lazy river.  We were only lazy once.  

Inside the resort, there was a build a bear place, an ice cream shop, several restaurants, stores, spas, kids activities all the time.  There were story times, wolf walks, nature shows, costume characters, just about anything.  The one thing the boys, especially loved was the MagiQuest.  They each got a magic wand and a clue book and they had to do different quests throughout the hotel where they waved their wands at pictures, paintings, spell books, treasure chests, talking trees, jewels and dragons, fairies and trolls.  You had to follow the clues in the book to do things in the right order and earn runes.  They loved this.  The wands are theirs to keep and can be re-charged for future visits and new adventures.  

There are a few more photos to be shared tomorrow.  The kids are happy and tired and LOVED their secret trip.  It was fun to be able to surprise them and they couldn't get the words out fast enough to tell Daddy all about it when we got back today.  

Oh, and the room was upgraded to a kid cabin room, so the kids got to sleep in their own little cabin inside the room.  So fun!