January Resort GetAway

We had a family vacation at a resort this weekend... well, the kids, pup and I tagged along with Steve to his tournament in Moncton. We stayed in a wonderful hotel that had an itty bitty pool and a gigantic waterslide. We left after breakfast Saturday and arrived a little after noon. Steve had enough time to get us settled in the hotel and eat a pb&j sandwich (we brought groceries to cut down on expenses) before heading to his first game. While he was gone, the kids and I doned our beach wear and went in search of the pool. Initially, it was disappointing. The pool itself was tiny, no more than 20ft by 40ft, maybe, four feet deep in the deep end, and no hot tub in sight. But at the end was a spiral tube waterslide that was at least two stories high, so that made up for it. This time we remembered life jackets for the youngest three, which allowed them to be mostly independent in the water... not safe unsupervised, of course, but not hands on 100% of the time either, which makes the ratio of four kids to one mom more manageable. Jack was pleased as punch that he could touch in the deep end. We played there for an hour or so, then headed back to the room where the girls warmed up by splashing in the tub. Dried and dressed, we went down to the hotel's "Suite Shop" for the most expensive LikAMaids and Mini Eggs ever purchased - I guess I was paying for the experience. The kids were so excited to go to "the candy store" and pick out their treat.

Shortly after, we received a visit from Jill, Greg and Ainslie, good friends who chose the Armpit over Halifax but came up to Moncton to see us. We got into our cold, wet suits and headed back down to the pool as soon as Steve arrived back between game 2 and 3. With a second set of hands, I was able to ride the slide more with the boys (PJ and Wen were not impressed), which was a blast - chasing them up and down and catching them in the water to wrestle and toss them around. With everyone waterlogged and tired, we returned to get dressed and go see Steve's third game. I enjoyed watching, the girls enjoyed climbing around the bleachers and the boys played their DSs. After the game, I convinced Steve (who convinced a few teammates) to go back to E.ast Side M.ario's for dinner - YUMMY!!! We arrived "home" to the hotel near 10, when the pool closed so Steve and Jack raced down for a few more slides before the doors were locked. The other Munsters and I set up sleeping bags, got into pjs and settled down. Tired from the late bedtime and water play, the kids fell asleep quickly and Steve and I didn't last too much longer.

Unfortunately, we didn't sleep in this morning as late as I hoped by their late bedtime. Steve had to get up and out for an 830 game, but the kids and I moved at a slower pace, watching tv and lounging for a while. After a shower, we went down to the "continental breakfast" in our pjs. It was a great spread; baked goods, cereal, fruit, fruit salad, yoghurt, omlets, french toast, juice, coffee, tea... I think the hotel may have lost money feeding the Sampson Munsters this morning. Jack alone had two bowls of F.ruit L.oops, a yoghurt, two raisin scones, a muffin and juice. Xiao Jie had cereal and a banana before hearing there were eggs available, and then devoured two large omelets in record time. After eating our weight in breakfast foods, we headed back up to the room. I tidied and packed and then read while the kids watched tv and played in the closet. Steve arrived back from his game and we went to the pool again, this time for a couple of hours. Jill and Greg came to visit over our pb&j lunch. After they left, we sat around for a few more minutes then checked out and headed to Steve's last game.

Rookie had to come into the gym for the game because the weather would have made him a Pupcicle had we left him in the car. He was very excited to see all the people, initially TERRIFIED of the steps of the bleachers, he gained enough confidence that he was soon jumping up and down the lowest step to greet anyone who showed up. The whole experience was so exciting that he peed all over the floor of the bleachers. Once that was cleaned up, he settled down and slept for most of the rest of the game, only waking to greet people who showed up late. At the end of the game, he christened the sideline too, just for good measure.

The drive home was long and nervewracking as we ended up in a storm again. Luckily this time we made it all the way home instead of being castaway in Truro like New Year's Day. All in all it was a wonderful family weekend with lots of playtime and little stress... a break from reality that was greatly needed. Tomorrow we're back to reality with music class, swimming lessons and a visit from the Early Interventionist for Wen.

N