Wacky waterslides

and anything else wacky you can imagine, can be found at Wisconsin Dells!  For the past five years we have been going to the Dells for a weekend over the summer with Danny's family.  My family came for a few years, but they have needed a break lately (new jobs, new baby, weddings, new houses).  I miss them going and hope next year we can find a date that works for everyone!!  But, the Dells trip must go on, so off we went this year, back to our favorite resort, The Wilderness.  

We lucked out with the weather on Saturday and ended up with a gorgeous sunny day.  We spent close to 5 hours in the water - which was enough to wipe me out!!  I thought it would be easier this year because the boys are so much more independent in the water.  I learned over the weekend that there is such a thing as too independent, especially when, as Danny's dad says, "they swim backwards instead of forward" making it impossible to watch all three kids at the same time.  They loved all of the little waterslides they could find.  Coop ventured out onto the bigger ones, one in particular I found really fast and a bit scary, but by the time I was at the bottom, they had already sent Coop down.  As he came flying out at the end, I thought I had ruined his whole weekend and he would be traumatized of the water forever, but not Coop.  He looked at me laughing and asked to do it again!!  Ellie took Danny, Uncle Mike, and I on all of the really "big" slides - she loves every minute she is in the water!!  

There are certain things that have become tradition over our years of going to the Dells and one is Danny and his caps.  He has taught the kids to hit the little strips of paper with rocks until they go off.  Safe, I'm not so sure, but completely loved by all of the kids!  Plus, we need something to do because inevitably as we are walking out the door, Michel decides he needs to do something inside so we are always waiting!

Another tradition is time in the inside play structure and arcade area.  This year the kids were more interested in the games than the slides - except maybe Ellie who went down the same slide over and over again!!  The boys tried out bowling, which was somewhat successful just for the fact that no one dropped a ball on their foot!

As the kids get older, we are able to venture out of our resort and try new things.  This year we tried out the go-karts and a ride on the Ducks - the vehicle that goes on land and water!

Our annual trip was a great way to spend our last weekend in the US!!