Fall Break at Great Wolf Lodge

For the kids' fall break, we decided to go to Great Wolf Lodge. We did 3 nights (which gives you 4 days access) and honestly that was too long. But we did have a lot of fun, and it is close enough that we can just drive up for 1 day at the waterpark, and then sleep in our own beds that night.

I also didn't take that many pictures inside the waterpark because I was, well, swimming in the water! Or going down the waterslides. It was not too crowded and only the huge slides had lines.

In the wave pool.

Amazing Ivy drawing while we waited for dinner.

Ropes course. Axel, Jeff, and I successfully did it at least twice during out stay. Felix tried twice, and had to get brought back down both times because he was too scared. But props for trying!

Mini golf.

Mini bowling.

Ivy about to fall off the bench because she is so tired.

Margot immediately started to crawl with her belly up for the first time, probably because the carpet was scratchy! Go Margot!

Day 2. Mirror maze.

And more swimming.

Day 3: Change of scenery. We went to a college's natural science museum. It was October 1st and they had decorated it for (a rather scary) Halloween. They had pretend bodies in bags floating in the fake river with the animal specimens, lots of guts and body parts, things like that. I did not take any pictures of the scary stuff. Surprisingly, the kids were completely unfazed. Thank goodness! They liked looking at all the preserved animals, and at this huge light up globe.

Spinning the earth stone thing outside the museum.

Mini golf again.

Ivy got a Build-a-Bear.

We played arcades a little bit, but it was super pricey!

I let the boys pick out small stuffies too.

Mirror Maze again.

Day 4: Water park until exhaustion.

Exhaustion.

Again, it was really fun and we had a great time. The waterpark was totally safe and very kid-friendly. We never sleep well in hotels so sleep was an issue, but we survived!

September 2025

Jeff took Ivy and Felix early in the morning to get donuts, and then they ate them on the curb at school while waiting for school to open. They thought it was the best thing ever!!!

Its so hard when church is at nap time!

Celebrating family September birthdays together.

Ivy helping to feed Margot.

We have explained to Ivy a few time about how she was a frozen embryo, which she doesn't totally understand, so here is a little snippet of her version.

Felix playdate with his best bud.

At a friend's birthday party. I realized Ivy was the only kid on the birthday-boy side of the table so I tried to move her, but her family said to leave her! So she is in all their pictures and videos, whoops! It was a really fun party!

A mouse jumped through our magnetic screen door. She roamed the downstairs for almost 2 days!  We were so happy to finally catch "Minnie Mouse" (the kids had named her).  Jeff used oil to get her off the sticky trap, and released her outside.

I smelled a burning smell every time I turned on the oven for like a week. I finally realized my dad had missed a potato when cooking for the big family party! It was in the back corner of the oven!

Grandma J came to visit!

We played SkyJo, of course!

 She got to watch quite a few soccer games during her visit.

And Felix's second grade musical!

Felix had a speaking part. He did great!

This one is funny to watch because Felix got something in his eye!

Another of Margot's favorite places.

Ivy and Grandma swinging.

Jeff said thoughtful things about each soccer player before giving their awards. This is the one for Felix.

And the coach spiel.

Such a fun group of boys!

Looking cool in Dad's shades, playing goalie. The sun was setting right in his eyes.

Team photo after the last game!

Playing Kuub with Grandma.

 

I couldn't find Ivy when I was gathering up the other kids to leave our neighbor friends' birthday party, and eventually found her in the birthday boy's special tent, eating her treats!

Blanket Fort day in Felix's class. He has declared this was his favorite day at school ever!

Margot putting her strong abs to good use.

Me and my beautiful girls, ready for church!

My birthday!

The sunglasses I won for my birthday at the sushi restaurant. They have a birthday wheel you can spin, and sunglasses is what I landed on!

Birthday cards from the kids.

Axel holding my ice cream cake in the cooler, haha.

My mom made me a memory book for the past year. 

Jeff and I did an Escape Room. We had never done one, and it was so fun! It was just the two of us, and we were blazing through it so fast until we missed a clue and got stuck, and had to ask for a hint. We still finished with 11 minutes to spare!

Felix's fun run.

Margot hanging out with Grandma on the floor.

"Let me out!"