The Grand Lodge

What better thing to do when you're trying to survive the freezing temperatures of WI

than visit the indoor water park.  My mom and Larry thought it would be fun for all of the

boys, but little did they know all the grown ups would have a blast too!

Owen went up and down this water slide about 97 times while we were there.

 

It was actually a 3 person job getting him up and down this slide.  Grandpa would help him

up the stairs, Grandma would help him at the top of the slide, and then either Ryan or I

would catch him at the bottom.  We all manned our positions and let him 

slide until his little heart was content.

Thankfully after a little while he tired himself out and agreed to ride with Ryan and I

on the lazy river.  I wasn't sure how he would do sitting still on a tube, but after

all that sliding he was more than happy to sit back and relax.  In fact, we all were. :)

Even Joe decided to join us for some relaxing in the water.  His very first time in the pool.

 

When he wasn't in the water, he just slept through all of the commotion.

 

And no trip to the water park would be complete without a ride down the water slides.

I watched as each of my nephews went down time after time.

Then when I saw my 72 year old Stepdad take his turn, how could I pass it up?

 

Sarah and I (who happened to unknowingly buy the same swimsuit) thought it would be

funny to go down together.  As we were walking to the top of the slide I mentioned how long

it had been since I'd been on a water slide.  We waited our turn and when the time came,

boarded our double tube.  We shot out the "toilet bowl" as they call it and swirled around

and around...no big deal.  We even hammed it up for the pictures.  

 That's when things took an unexpected turn for the worst.  You see, you're supposed to

go around and around until you get to the bottom of the "bowl" and shoot out the tube to

the pool.  Well we went around and around, started nearing the bottom at which point our

tube spun around so we were going backwards, and then rode over the hump which

caused our tube to flip over.  Yes, fortunately we have an excellent cameraman who

catch all the footage.  Here we go....

As if the situation wasn't embarrassing enough, I smacked the side of my face on the slide

and it instantly started to bruise.  We figured it would be best to put ice on it, but in order to

get ice I needed to fill out an accident report.  How embarrassing!  Walking around the water

park with a bag of ice and this lovely bruise on my face.

I guess I need more practice and shouldn't go so long in between my water slide attempts.

Injuries aside, it was such a fun day and an awesome idea!  Thanks for the great

memories Mom and Larry!!  We love you and look forward to many 
more great adventures to come.