Each summer, Vic tries to mark off a week of time for us to do something. We have gone to the beach mostly, but this year, with the Huey and Powell and Klatt families, we went to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Waller, Texas. This is less than an hour from us, and each family rented a cabin next to one another for a Thursday thru Sunday on August 13th thru 16th. Yogi Bear "National" Park, as Atticus called it, was a really fun vacation. Our cabin had one bathroom and one bedroom where Grace and I stayed and then an upstairs loft where the boys slept. It had a little kitchen and couch and TV and then that was about it. It was super air conditioned which was nice when you needed a little downtime and for Grace who napped each day on the couch. But, it was a great cabin, size and everything and as long as your kids can get up and down the stairs, you could fit 4 people in the loft and 2 in the bedroom and the couch even folded out to a bed for another person or two, if needed. It was not fancy, but perfect for what we were looking for. Outside, everyone pooled their chairs and the picnic tables and we spent most of our time, around the cabin, watching kids play together and ride scooters and bikes until late at night. We rented a golf cart for the group which was 100% worth the money to get back and forth to the pool or take kids for rides around the park. In fact, if we were not hanging outside at the cabins, we were spending all of our time at the pool. The pool area was so great for small families. It was really crowded on Saturday, because they let people come in for day passes as well to use the pool. But, the kids water slide area was great and the huge slides were great for the men who went down them over and over and over. It took the first day for Atticus and Grace to get used to the water area. And the next day, it took half the day of Vic or I riding with the kids down the slides to get them comfortable. But, by Friday afternoon, Atticus was going down the water slide and having the best time over and over and over. Honestly, I bet he did it 75 times on Friday and another 100+ on Saturday. Grace loved it too, but of course was a little small so she just had us taking her down over and over and over and Vic did most of that job. We also at smores, played miniature golf, painted some ceramics at one of the craft events, ate lots of popsicles (and tons of junk food - Atticus knows to go to Cassie who brings lots of fun vacation food!), and just enjoyed the entire trip. It was also so fun because of the families we were with. All of the kids, except little Case (who was about 15 months old and still needed naps and mama time), could play together and entertain one another and do most of the water things with less help. They had the best time and Atticus loved being with his friends. Grace enjoyed it too, but of course, was a little younger, so she needed a little more downtime and little more mama and daddy time, but she too, loved playing with friends when she was ready to play. Poor baby LOOKED rough with that black eye, but she had fun. I just think it is so fun that a couple of times each year, we will be with these families and watch all of our kids grow up together. In fact, here are the ages of each group at that time: Vic & Sarah & Atticus (4) & Grace (2); Derek & Mandee & Beck (4) & Ben (2); Todd & Emily & Haley (5) & Camden (4) & Leighton (2); and Joe & Cassie & Wesley (5) & Case (15 months). It is definitely an inexpensive trip I'd recommend to anyone with kids!
