Warm Hearts Happy Family

My family just kicked off this Christmas Season in the most perfect way.  The Great Wolf Lodge way. 

December marked the 5th annual Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge; a holiday celebration featuring indoor snow, caroling, and seemingly endless family fun.  Not only do you have the thrilling indoor water park but you get all of these activities as well:

·         Holiday Story Time with Mascot Rowdy the Reindeer

·         The Writing Depot, where children can write, decorate and mail letters directly to Santa

·         Polar Wolf Walk, a wintery nature hike for kids to site penguins, polar bears and more

·         North Pole University, complete with educational activities to earn a diploma and special gift

·         Toy Creation Station, where children can create toys to keep or give to a friend  

·         Wrapping Depot for guests to have presents wrapped on-the-spot

·         Special musical guest performances

·         Holiday caroling

·         Santa appearances

·         Animated Great Clock Tower holiday performances

As soon as my family entered the lodge we were embraced in a winter wonderland with sparkling lights, snow, a roaring fireplace, topped off with holiday music and decorated trees. There is holiday joy everywhere you look, and you can’t help but instantly get that warm and fuzzy feeling only happiness can bring. 

After checking in we started our day in the indoor waterpark.  The kids had a blast and so did mom and dad!  After that we headed to the lobby to enjoy cookie decorating and hot chocolate;  followed by a stroll down candy cane lane where the kids got to vote for their favorite decorated tree.

We ate dinner right in the lodge restaurant and let me tell you–the food was delicious.  And to my surprise, extremely reasonably priced!  We followed dinner with a visit with Santa Claus; and of course my son proceeded to ask for a gift way outside of our holiday budget–don’t know how we are going to get out of that!

We then changed into our pajamas and went back into the lobby for caroling and the thrill of real snow falling from the ceiling.  The night ended in our room with a special room service order of cookies and chocolate shakers.

The weekend was filled with great memories and fun and my family is now making Great Wolf Lodge a part of our family traditions.

Snowland runs December 5 through December 25th. 

I would like to thank Great Wolf Lodge for providing my family a complimentary stay to discover and share the wonder that is their annual Snowland adventure.

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You are, aren’t you?  Sneaky little holiday season you.

Well I am ready for you so bring it.

Bring on the Christmas music weeks before we have our Thankful Feast cause I’m listening!

Go ahead retail, woo me with your holiday cheer and door buster sales.  I love it!

Go on neighbor, put up those lights so I can arrive home to some twinkling happiness.

Holiday food you say?  Yes please, and seconds.  Weight Watchers will forgive me.

Stress can’t hold me down!.  We will buy what we can afford and make up the rest in quality family time, joy, and appreciation.

On this Thanksgiving, I have much to be thankful for, and thankful is exactly what I am.  This is what I am choosing this holiday season–to count my blessings and to teach my kids to do the same. 

Could we use a new mattress?  Yes, desperately so.  But we have a warm bed to sleep in and I am grateful for it.

Do we need new windows? Someday, but the view out of our current ones is filled with beautiful houses with neighbors to match.

How about new clothes? I have lost 26 pounds thank-you-very-much which has greatly expanded my wardrobe. I am quite thankful for that!

Toys you say?  My basement (and living room, and bedrooms, and car, you name it) is covered in them.  More toys the kids do not need.

This leaves room for the good stuff.  For appreciation of family and all of the little things that warm our hearts. 

Like driving around and enjoying all of the lights.

Or having hot chocolate after dinner with a family movie.

Watching my kids fall in love with Ralphie and his red ryder BB gun just like I did.

And teaching our kids that holidays are about celebrating the love that a family can create.

I do not care if this year ended without presents.  I am truly grateful for the people in my life and am content to just celebrate our humanity, our successes, and our contributions to one another.

And no worries, the kids will also celebrate the wonder and excitement of unwrapping their presents–while mom and dad sit back and smile at our beautiful corner of the world.

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