Trip to Indiana: Second stop - Wisconsin Dells

The next day we were on the road again and heading to Wisconsin Dells.  The kids did a really good job travelling and each time gets a little easier.  They constantly wanted to hear “the God song”, which is Bryan Moyer Suderman’s CD, "God's Love Is For Everybody".  I’m thankful for this as I know soon enough it will be “put on Justin Bieber or Beyonce!”  Easton also had to always recite our travel plan: Mini-apple-places, Consin Dells, Indiana, then Mimi and Pawpaw’s! “right, mom?”  We stopped at a McDonald’s (actually a few unfortunately) and when we left Cassia’s comment was, “Mom, you know what I’m the best at?  Making friends – I make friends wherever I go!”  Yep, sweetie, that’s a good quality to have.

Well, we made it to Wisconsin Dells and as the kids were bouncing back and forth between the beds, Ryan went down to get the rest of our bags.  Easton pushed a button on the air conditioning unit, but I checked it and it looked fine.  A couple minutes later the smoke alarm went off in our room.  In trying to get it to stop I was fanning it, then hitting it, then trying to get it off the wall to take the battery out – the last two probably not being good decisions.  Then I punched “off” on the thermostat.  And it stopped.  So, most kids would not like the sound of a smoke alarm, but my kids don’t like it when they are in another room and I am grinding coffee beans.  So, this wasn’t a good start.  I called the front desk to let them know and she asked if the alarm was just a beeping or a full alarm.  I said, “full alarm”.  She said, “Okay, well, do you think someone should come and look at it?”  Really?  You have to ask that?  “Yes, that would be a good idea.”  Then there was this awful smell which was obviously not going to air out anytime soon, and I really didn’t trust the smoke alarm to not go off again and wake us up in the middle of the night.  So we asked if we could switch rooms.  The new room was great (even an upgrade) and we were off to find the water slides.  The kids loved the water park.  There was an outdoor wave pool and then an indoor park that we went to.  They had an outdoor park as well, but it was a little too big for our kids.  Here are some pics…

  

They had a great brunch offer and we took advantage of that.  We also went into town one evening.  On the way there Cassia said, “I brought a dog leash along on our trip!”  We don’t have a dog.  She had brought something that she uses at home to pretend.

“Why would you bring a dog leash?” 

“In case a dog comes near us!!” 

“Uh, well, okay then.” 

(See previous post.)

Here are the kids with some "down time" in the hotel room playing with our iPod Touches.

The second night we were there, everyone was exhausted and sleeping when a shrill sound woke us up.  I couldn’t figure out what was happening.  Then I realized…it was that darn smoke alarm again!  So I started hitting the smoke detector – must have been PTSD.  Finally Ryan opened the door and we realized that the alarm was out in the hall and there were people heading for the stairs.  Now Easton is not really even awake at this point, so I grab him, Ryan grabs Cassia and we head out.  We only made it about 5 steps out the door when the alarm stopped.  Thank goodness because I was a little worried that we were on the 5^th floor.  We got the all clear and went back to bed.  I don’t think Easton really ever woke up because he was asleep again by the time I laid him down on the bed.  In the end, we never found out what happened.

Even considering the two alarm incidents, we had a really good two days and would definitely go back again!  Then we were off to Indiana.  It wasn’t hard to find, we just followed the humidity.

Trip to Indiana: First stop - Mini-apple-places

I haven’t added anything in a long time!  Probably because we were away for 2 weeks.  And we were getting ready the week before and catching up the week after.  But we had a great time visiting family and friends in Indiana.  We took a couple days to get there and back this time so we could do some other things along the way.  I’m really glad we did that – it was a lot of fun!  I’ll split this post into a few because otherwise it would be very long!!

We stayed with Ryan’s cousin and her family just outside of Minneapolis for two nights on the way down.  We had a great time there and it was so nice to spend some time with them as we hadn’t seen them in a long time.  While there, we decided to go to Como Park Zoo which is a small zoo and there are no entrance fees – however they have a suggested donation if you choose.  This zoo was the perfect size for our kids.  It was so hot and humid that day and it would have been a chore to walk a long distance with the kids, but we got to see everything before we all melted down.  The big hit was the seal habitat!  I think Cassia could have stayed there for a couple hours!  Soon after we got there Ryan asked if I had brought the camera.  Of course I brought the camera, are you kidding?!  Well, I brought the camera, but left the battery in the bag at the house.  So, needless to say, we have no pictures of the zoo.  But I’m sure we’ll go back sometime.

We then decided to go to the Mall of America where it would be nice and cool.  We thought the kids (or at least Cassia) would like some of the rides at the amusement park in the middle.  Well, that was a bust – or not, considering your opinion.  Cassia didn’t even want to ride the carousel!  I take that back, she only wanted to ride the one that had three seats and was one of those coin rides you see a grocery stores. J  Easton really wanted to ride in a similar ride that was a bus that moved back and forth a little.  So we decided to spring for the ride ($1) and we had two happy campers, make that four happy campers.  We went to a couple other places including the American Doll store and Legoland.  But those places are actually only to look at and not to buy – didn’t you know that?! ;)

Music Man

Easton has always loved music.  When he was a baby he would hum or sing ahhhhh at bedtime when I would sing him a song.  Although it was nearly impossible to carry the tune with the off note ahhhhhhhhhs, it was pretty adorable.  The first song he sang was Twinkle Twinkle - like many other kids I'm sure.  He also likes the Clean Up song that they sing at daycare.  Unfortunately this song takes up all of his concentration, so the cleaning up really doesn't happen.  Mostly because he has to play his guitar while singing!  I'll try to post a short video...

But now if you ask him to sing a song it is the new version of Twinkle Twinkle:  Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light.  Until recently he really didn't know all the words, but no one is allowed to sing with him unless invited and definitely no one can correct the words.  He will stop singing, complain loudly until you stop and then start over again.  This is very hard for Cassia who knows the right words - as she really likes to correct people (I mean, teach Easton things).  These are the words:

Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light
Standing On The Corner Bright
Red Means Stop
Green Light Go
Yellow Means Slow Down
Don't You Know
Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light
Standing On the Corner Bright

This is how Easton sings it:

Twinkle Traffic Light
Standing On The Corner Bright
Red Means Stop
Green Light Go
Yellow Means Slow
Blue Means....I don't know what blue means...
(Repeat)

Then he gets mad at the song and it turns into a heavy metal kind of Twinkle Twinkle.  You don't have to imagine - I have a video.  He now sings the right words, mostly, and the guitar just adds flavor. 

Transformed by a Dog

My family went on the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Walk yesterday in support of my friend's daughter who has juvenile diabetes.  It was a wonderful day in Winnipeg - warm, sunny and breezy to keep the bugs away.  I was emailing and calling around before the walk to see if I could borrow someone's Chariot (a stroller that fits two kids and can be attached to a bike).  Luckily I was able to borrow one.  I knew Easton would need a stroller and I KNEW that 10 minutes into the walk Cassia would all the sudden declare that she was too tired to walk and absolutely could not take another step (and drop to the ground with a lot of sighs and drama).  So, a double stroller seemed like a good solution. 

Now, backtracking a bit, Cassia has always loved animals - especially dogs.  Before she could speak, she would squeal with delight whenever there was a dog that caught her eye.  Some people thought that she was crying in fear, but then saw the look on her face and realized that it was just an overly excited laugh/squeal.  It has been her mission in the last year to hold a dog's leash.  Anytime she can touch one, she does.  A stranger's dog?  Doesn't matter - the sole objective is to touch the leash. 

So imagine her delight when another friend of mine shows up to the walk with their family's dog.  Cassia did not leave that dog's side until they had to go home.  I mean, she got to co-hold the leash - a whole year's worth of excitment in 1.5 hours.  She walked 5K without a single peep.  Never a complaint, never a whine, never a break.  She kept the pace and chatted with my friend the entire way.  I had to coax her to drink a juice box and walk along side her with some raspberries so that she would eat something and not fall over from the exhaustion she usually claims.  I. Could. Not. Believe it. 

This dog transformed my spirited daughter.  People were saying she was so responsible, that she was such a trooper and that they couldn't believe she was keeping up.  I was so shocked, impressed and proud of her. 

It has actually had me thinking that we should get a dog!  I love dogs, but I also have two young kids and we travel to Indiana a few times a year.  Not a great time to get one - as I have said every other day to Cassia in the last year.  But she now has me seriously considering it.  That is the positive outcome for her.

The negative outcome for her is that I now know that she can walk 5K without whining, complaining or falling down in exhaustion.  So the three blocks to the grocery store or to the park should be cake.  I'm on to you, kid.

I'm a Blogger?

I've been feeling so badly lately since I haven't been keeping up with family and friends. And I think of all the cute things my kids do that I don't record anywhere. So, here I am blogging. This way, I can do both at once and maximize my time! I'm still not sure how this all works, but here it goes...

Dawn