Great Wolf 2012

Great Wolf 2012 was another Great adventure! We headed out on Sunday, January 8 and spent two days slidin' away...
(You must revisit Great Wolf 2011.
it is a most amazing and completely earth-shattering event.)

The excitement of my first slide, which is to happen in no less than 4 hours is so strong, its blinding, and I must close my eyes. Really. 

 Mel, Bryan, and the kids headed north to the lodge this year. So, we met Mom and Dad at their house and then headed south, with a quick stop at Chili's in Gainesville....this Chili's is really good. I don't know why, but seriously it tastes better than any Chili's close to home. seriously.

 In typical Bradford Family Vacation tradition- we were early....so we went to downtown Grapevine and did some window shopping and Jett and Grandpop had some frozen yogurt...

Grandopop had never been to one of the fancy new fill your own cup yogurt shops- he ended up with over eight ounces of ice cream and toppings in his little cup...if a little is good- a lot is better, right!? 

Once we met up and checked in-

 we were dressed and ready for a swimmy good time in no time flat...The excitement of this group was uncontainable, immeasurable, and it had been building for a year....

Uncle Bryan zippin' up the younguns...Mel and I were already on our way to the slide...not really. I took this one, maybe...

Mel and me before our run, or race to the top, without a kiddo in site.

Who said this place was for kids?

but- sorry about the crazy eyes, I know they are very scary. Like I said- I was really excited about this trip- the kind of excitement that can only bear eyes such as this...

Let me explain the following- It was so fun Mel was automatically dreaming of our next run or maybe she just swallowed a bunch of water after we tipped over, violently and unexpectedly. And, I had more fun than is legal except at the Great Wolf and I am giddy...and doing the ugly and quite possibly honking giggle that is only reserved for very rare occasions in which no one has a camera. Except, my mom brought hers to the swimmin' hole...how unfortunate...

 Jett's first toilet bowl- this is not the slides actual name- but none of us know the real name. it is absolutely the funnest slide. pretty sure I went down this no less than 100 times each day.  I might dream of this slide at night. I wish Mitch could attach one to the hot tub deck...

and this is run one-hundred twenty five, at least...

the wavy pool. the kids spent hours in the wavy pool. they begged to stay in a little longer...with or without waves.

 

Love this pic. My Dad always has the greatest faces- can't you see all the mischief and all the trauma his toddler self must have caused his Mother or teenage self to his high school English teacher? 

Emma is so focused with her next move, I can't even stand on my head while shaking maracas with my feet to get her attention. Mckaylea wants to strangle me or the camera or both, so she can get her sweet tush on a slide-Stat!

Jett was over the moon that he was tall enough to ride everything. I wish I had a picture of his face when he shot out of the Tornado. It was one of shear terror, even his toes were tense, his eyes were nearly spilling over with tears- except for that one little telling twinkle...

His exact words were,

"Mom, that was so scary, but also so fun.

It. WAS. AWESOME."

 He still needed a little reassurance from Grandpop,

 that they did, in fact, have a good time.

Mischief is genetic and non-stop when the grands are together.

These two yahoos are trying to drag Grandmom to the Tornado. She said no. Yes- NO to her very persuasive and very adorable grandsons. This was day two. 

One day of the Tornado was all Grandmom needed to meet 

her water slide quota for this year boys.  

Lily pads are tough....really tough. Trust me. 

and Jett and Emma and My Dad:)

The Parting Shot

not really, we ate here for breakfast in the middle of sleeping and sliding. not only did we eat, we also went shopping and quite possibly took a nap. 

This is the only photo, however of all of us dressed...and dry, 

so we'll just pretend it really is our parting shot. 

Here's to another great year full of unforgettable memories 

and to Great Wolf 2013...here we come!

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