Cowabunga

At the beginning of the summer the kids made a list of things they wanted to do this summer. It included things like, go to Red Butte, sleepover at Grandma's, see the movie Thor, Go to Lagoon and a few other things. Now summer vacation is coming to an end, and I am happy to report we have done almost everything on the list. There are still a couple of more things left to do though.

Cowabunga Bay was a big item on the list. The kids have been asking to go again since we went last summer. We talked about going in July when my parents were here, but with Valerie's skin treatment that we were doing at the time, it was not really doable. So Here we are a week before school starts, and I am happy to say, we made it.

While dad was at the bike race on Saturday, the kids and I spent the day getting wet, and having fun.

The boys can't get enough of the dump buckets. When ever the bell started ringing I would see them running over to get dumped on. Valerie liked to watch the buckets dump, but she didn't like to be close enough to get wet.

Valerie, and I tried a few slides. She did not love them, but she liked the pink slide enough to go on it a few times, as long as someone went with her.

My friend has season passes, so they joined us for the day. It was really nice to have a friend for Emily to run around with, and I loved having my friend Laura there to visit with.

Because Emily was with her friend Lindsey, I did not see her much in the beginning. Every now and then I would catch a glimpse of her. At one point I saw her going down a slide and was able to hurry and take a picture. Unfortunately all we can see is her foot.

Joe and Josh were happy to hang out together. For most of the day.

But when it came to the water slides, Joe did not want to go on anything above the blue slide.

Josh on the other hand was feeling very brave, and went on every slide.

He also wanted me to take lots of pictures.

This slide was one of the scarier ones, but Josh loved it. I also saw Emily do this slide. I think it is the biggest in the park.

While Josh was on his water slide mission, Emily took Valerie to play in the pool. She did this without me even asking.

Valerie was very happy about this, because she had been wanting to ride in the tubes on the lazy river, but she was too small to stay on one by herself. Emily figured out a way to make it work.

She is such a good big sister.

I think one of Josh's favorite slides was the sun slide. He went on it a few times.

The kids had so much fun,

and when it was time to go they knew they had had a fun day in the water, because they came away with old man hands and feet.

I don't know about your house, but at our house that is a sign of a great day at the pool.

Hotel Highlights

Staying at a hotel is always a treat. This trip we stayed at The Crystal Inn.

The boys love it when there is free breakfast. I don't know why, but they always think that is a great feature. Probably because they can try a little of everything.

But the kids favorite feature of staying at a hotel is the

swimming pool.

We went swimming everyday we were in St George.

Including Thursday night.

Emily loves to swim, and has gotten really good at it. She has been working on learning the different strokes this year, and was having fun practicing them in the pool.

Even though the kids have been taking swimming lessons for a few years. Last summer the boys would still not leave the side of the pool. They would hold on for dear life the entire time we were at a pool.

This summer the kids have been taking lessons from a great teacher, and I couldn't believe the difference it has made. Instead of holding on to the edge this trip, Josh was all over the place............as long as he could touch the bottom.

Joe is a lot more confident in the water too. He still likes the swim noodle, but he was willing to leave it on the side for a bit this trip. By the end of our trip the boys were even doing the rocket glides they had learned in class the week before.

Valerie on the other hand is not afraid of the water at all. I took her into the pool the first night and she loved floating around with me on a noodle at first, but then she started wanting to do it herself.

One of her favorite things to do was to Jump to me from the side of the pool. she would jump and I would catch her. then she would say "Again! Again!" After a few jumps I decided to let her go under the water a little on a jump. That time she said, "Towel, I need a towel!"

I thought maybe she would be done with the game after that, but after wiping her face off, she jumped in again. then she wanted to try swimming without me . She kept telling me "Get off! Get off!" Luckily Aunt Jenny had a tube she could borrow. So I could just stay close to her.

Saturday between the wedding and the reception we all went swimming in the pool. The kids loved having Grandma and uncle Jon there to play, because there is nothing better than a good water fight.
When we went to Cedar City last summer, Valerie's Favorite feature of the hotel was the mini fridge in the room...............


I think that was a favorite this time too. After the first night of swimming, she went right to the fridge and got out her leftover spaghetti for a bedtime snack.

Thanks for the fun Trip to St George Grandma and Grandpa!