Cincinnati Chili

What is Cincinnati Chili?

Spaghetti topped with a watery chili

On our way home from The Great Wolf Lodge, we stopped in Cincinnati to try their world famous Cincinnati chili.  Jimmy and the kids loved it.  I hate chili, so just the smell made me feel sick, ha ha.

Great Wolf Lodge: Gifts!

Santa brought the scooters they asked for!!

Great Wolf Lodge: Christmas Eve Prep

The kids didn't seem at all concerned about Santa finding us in our hotel room.  I was so relieved.  I expected them to ask a lot of questions!  We did all of our regular Christmas traditions, with the exception of reading The Night Before Christmas.  I had a mommy fail and forgot to pack the book.

Obligatory family pics

Decorating cookies for Santa

Hanging the stockings...

Putting the reindeer food outside our hotel door, ha ha.

Vacation mode, ha ha

Great Wolf Lodge: Arcade

Jimmy and the kids were obsessed with the arcade... which of course, was just down the hall from our room.  I think Alex was more obsessed with the arcade than the water park.  He would constantly ask to go there.  Jimmy was happy to accommodate, of course!  I happily relaxed in the room while he took the kids to play ;0)

Mini golf

Jimmy was so proud that he got the daily high score... he beat a nine year old.

They had the cutest little bowling alley for kids.  Alex loved it

Glow in the dark mini golf

Great Wolf Lodge: Waterpark

A giant indoor water park was less than a two minute walk from our hotel room.  It was perfect!  The kids both loved the wave pool and small slides.  Amelia's favorite ride was the lazy river.  Jimmy rode one of the giant water slides and decided he was "getting to old to do stuff like that," ha ha.

Great Wolf Lodge: Story Time and Crafts

Pillow case decorating

Story Time

At first, Alex was scared of all the talking and singing trees.  However, one of the songs the trees sang assured him there was "nothing to be scared of," so he felt better after that, ha ha.

You can't tell from the picture, but it's snowing.  It was amazing.  It actually snowed in the lobby every evening after story time.

Catching snow

Great Wolf Lodge

Jimmy and I never shy away from celebrating holidays in unconventional ways.  This year, we decided to road trip to Mason, Ohio and spend the week of Christmas at The Great Wolf Lodge.  This was our first official family vacation with just the *four of us and we had so much fun.  

The kids loved the accommodations, especially the bunk beds.  In fact, as soon as we got home, they have been begging to have bunk beds of their own.  Jimmy and I appreciated the convenience of everything being within a two minute walk from our hotel room.  It really was a great and (gasp) relaxing vacation! 

The kids absolutely loved their room, especially their bunk beds.