Our mini-vacation...with the emphasis on "mini" and the sarcasm on "vacation"

frankenmuth, MI (2 hours away from us), overnight stay in a hotel/indoor waterpark.

spring trip 2010.

we have returned. it was quite the trip.

our first trip since we've become a family of 6. and, we're happy to say that we survived, survived but didn't exactly thrive.

where to start?

let's just say that there seemed to be a discount at the waterpark for people with extremely large tattoos. there were also a proliferation of warning signs telling waterpark goers to limit their time in the park because of the extremely high chlorine levels. and, though the hotel had recently been "refurbished", the 1980s wallpaper border was left behind.

let's just say that though there were 5 slides in the waterpark, a basketball area, a river, a splash zone and a playground, my kids preferred "the hot pool" (aka the hot tub). actually preferred is not strong enough. we had to forcibly remove david away from it.

let's just say that the town of frankenmuth was really just an extended version of holland's windmill island except with a german theme. Kitschy (please notice the capital K)

let's just say that early on in the trip, jon and i high-fived each other because the trip was going so well. we didn't, however, high five each other when jacob had a complete meltdown in the bavarian inn, home of the world famous chicken dinner. or when the kids refused to go to sleep even though it was 10pm, viewing their big hotel beds as gymnastic mats. or when the kids put themselves in front of the TV (not even turned on) at EVERY CHANCE THEY GOT pleading and begging us to let them watch TV and not go back to the waterpark. or when, in the world famous bronner's christmas store (how can everything in this town be world famous?!), i had sales clerks following my every move. 4 kids in a store dominated with dainty christmas ornaments and precious moments figurines...i guess it was rather dangerous.

jon's final comment of the trip, as we pulled into the driveway, "just think deb, it can only get better"