Vacation Wrap-up Day

Last week was Spring Break for Loudoun County Public Schools, our first official spring break as parents. We opened the week with a treat for ourselves, a trip to Jammin' Java to see Elizabeth and the Catapult on Sunday, while our babysitter, Laura, put the kids to bed. Elizabeth opened for Mark Erelli, whose music was fine but not really my preferred style. I spent most of that part of the concert distracted by the fact that Walton Goggins will probably play Mark in his future biopic.

We drove down to Massanutten Resort on Monday afternoon, making good time on the non-annoying part of I-81 before the drowsy's set in after Harrisonburg. Massanutten Resort is not the "all-inclusive" type of resort -- it's just a jumble of different vacation homes (mainly for ski season) with many activities and restaurants close enough so you don't have to go far. We stayed at a cabin called "Massanutten for Kids" which boasted a huge playroom full of toys and books in the basement.

On Tuesday, we explored the campus, walking the Arboretum Trail and hitting playground #2 of 3. We had smoked barbeque sandwiches for lunch and then everyone returned to the cabin so Rebecca and Ian could take epic-length naps. After dinner, we drove up to the overlook for a brief hike, then had ice cream bars at the local store.

On Wednesday, Rebecca got up early to hike then we spent most of the day around the cabin. We walked around Painter Pond in the afternoon then had dinner at the Campfire Grill. I had a game steak, which was essentially a burger patty served on a skillet.

Thursday was our busiest day. Rebecca and Maia got up early for a sunrise hike. Maia was so excited that she woke up at 5:30 AM. After breakfast, we went to the petting zoo to feed goats and sheep.

We did afternoon naps in the cabin, although Maia was so excited for the next activity that she spent the whole time in front of her mirror wearing her swimsuit and goggles and chanting "Water Park!"

The Indoor Water Park was the favourite activity of both kids. Maia got to float on the lazy river several times and watch the waveboarders (though she's not quite 42" to be able to do it herself). Ian loved the 1-foot-deep pool which was shallow enough that he could propel around like a baby tadpole. Afterwards, "Water Park!" and a made-up song called "Lazy River" became staples of his vocabulary.

We came home on Friday and had our first "travel throw-up" incident. We all handled it well and Maia was running around the Chickfila playground without a care just an hour later.

On Saturday, Grandpa Tom came by to do some egg dying. On Sunday, Rebecca and the kids went church at Riverside, then to Maryland to see some of her mom's family. I missed these events, having caught an awful cough from Maia over the course of the week!

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