Castaway Bay Waterpark

This last weekend, I felt like a normal family again.  Normal in the sense that Ammon got an entire weekend off...it was heaven.  I will never take for granted having a weekend off again.  He was post call on Friday and didn't have to do any work things until Monday morning and this was his only weekend off in February.  

We ran away to The Castaway Waterpark up in Sandusky, Ohio.  Months ago we planned to do this with our friends the Smiths who also have five children.  We did it a couple of years ago and had a blast and decided it would be one of our fun last memories with them.

Although I'm six months pregnant and we have a one year old, it was still fun for all of us.  I personally didn't love being in suit this far along and didn't get to do much besides sitting in the baby pool with Paisley but watching everyone else, especially Ammon and Ethan, having fun and laughing was so worth it. 

  This was our ninth winter, out of nine here in Ohio, that we've gone to an indoor water park.  This is definately one of our favorite memories each cold, frigid Ohio winter.  We get to run away just for one night, hang out in warm temperatures and hardly pack anything...my kind of vacation!!!

It was surreal a bit this time though.  Knowing that indoor water parks are a thing of the East, it was a bit sad leaving for the last time.  It was also so crazy to see how old our kids have gotten.  It used to be that I would be a little scared at the waterparks, trying to keep track of four kids under five.  Now, as you'll see by the pictures...I hardly saw the kids.  Paisley and I hung out, and they are all wonderful swimmers and were off with their friends the whole time.  I saw them about once an hour as they would come to check in or get a snack or bandaids (they played hard!!).  It made me realize just how fast time flies...they are getting so big these days. So big and independent.

My favorite part though, was seeing Ammon so much different and so well rested.  During the weekend, we talked, we each read books (and just for fun...not surgery ones!), we napped, we played with the kids, and we made plans for the future (like our moving date, graduation, Ammon's ENT surgery).  I saw Ammon laugh and get tired from playing water basketball.  It was fabulous to leave that darn pager behind and have the cell phones buried in the towel bags and ignore Columbus for 24 hours.  Monday he texted me and said, "I feel better than I have felt in a long time".  I loved reading that.  This weekend was just what we needed.

See how many tattoos you can find in any of these pictures....I think our two families were the ONLY ones there not tattooed!

My bathing beauties!

The girls loved the ropes course...

Someone has learned to take two steps and seemed more sure of herself and confident in the water...she was so proud of standing up alone here!

Everyone (except Paisley and I) rode this water ride over and over.  Even Karli, (who stood on her tiptoes multiple times) got past the life guards and rode the ride with Ammon several times.

Kaitlyn and Karli

Don't let these smiling faces fool you.  Ok, Ethan's not smiling...he was so tired!! These boys may be looking friendly here but see the next picture.  They played hours of some intense water basketball.  There were some serious scratches and welts after their many games!

Jarren, Ethan, Ammon, Ammon Smith, and David

Haha....I don't know if I should post this one or not! I told you it was intense.

Paisley was an absolute ANGEL the entire time there.  She played so well, didn't cry, lasted as long as the older kids and when it was nap time, she took a two hour nap in the stroller.  I'm grateful we can continue to do fun family things even with a toddler in tow.

Brynlee, Sydney, Kaitlyn, Karli and Hailey