Staycation

Months ago I was talking with Angela about the hotel my cousin Travis stayed at in Frisco last summer. With a quick google search and a great AAA discount the room was booked for our staycation 2010 (last year we spent a night at the Gaylord). With it being so close how could I not invite the boys to join us by the pool?

Day one started out a little "cloudy". When we arrived and checked in to our fantastic room with a balcony (over the parking lot-but still one of the few with the option to sweat overlooking the cars) we headed straight out to the pool. Apparently everyone else decided to take a Memorial Day Staycation to the Westin Stonebriar too because there was not a single chair. We had to stand there like hawks til we finally got regular sit up chairs from the restaurant to sit in. People would jump in a claim chairs as people were leaving but you literally had to hover or you missed out. We scored one chair and no worries...after an hour we were able to get two chairs next to each other. It was very frustrating but once we were parked in the lounge chairs the rest of the day was enjoyable. Jack and Nick joined us after nap time. We swam til around 6, headed up to the room to change, and then went to Fireside Pies for dinner.

Jack loved the hotel. I think later this summer we might try to get another good rate and I guess I'll let the boys join me in the heavenly beds (and I want to try out that heavenly shower) because other than the unusual crowds, the pool was very kid friendly.

After dinner the boys dropped us off, we rented a movie, and ordered room service. When I woke up my back was killing me so I thought that the heavenly bed had done me in. Turns out that when I went to the bathroom FOREVER I realized that for the first night since I found out I was pregnant I slept through the whole night without my three or more trips to the bathroom...now that is HEAVENLY!

Angela and I woke up early with the plan to get to the pool and claim our seats. I went down to the Cafe to get a muffin and everyone I saw was already in suits. Racing upstairs we threw on our suits, gathered our things, I hit the wrong button on the elevator (which after the next part you'll know why this could have been a bad thing...one more button and we would have been back on the grassy knoll without a chair), raced out, and got two of the last 4 chairs. A few minutes later we were able to claim one more close by which we moved for the boys. The umbrella was broken but hey, we had 3 chairs and were much better off than those poor soles that slept in or just checked in.
At the top of the slide (a favorite of Jack's).
Angela at the bottom of the slide. Turns out that Mommy was too short to catch Jack at the end of the slide. He came down that first time and was bobbing...some man saw the fear in my eyes as I was struggling to stay up myself, grabbed hold of Jack, and passed him to me....from that point on it either had to be me at the top with them at the bottom, Nick would slide down and Jack would follow, or by the end he could go up the rocks by himself and Angela and Nick would wait for him at the bottom. And if you think him bobbing was scary ask me later about his head getting stuck in the steps of the ladder...which meant he was under water and struggling...TERRIBLE I tell you...but we are both alright now. :)

Waiting for lunch with a Gatorade and trying to shield ourselves from the sun. Jack was such a staycation trooper the whole time.

After lunch Jack and Nick did a little putting on the putting green by the pool.

Our little Phil Mickelson (had to ask Nick for a name...didn't feel right using Tigers name).

So glad Daddy played around with Jack because it helped him win the adult putting contest. Jack was so cute cheering him on from the steps of the pool. Nick won a lunch for two at Eddie's bar at the hotel...guess we'll have book another staycation in order for the free lunch not to go to waste.

Giving my little fish a ride to the other end of the pool. He loved his vest (Mrs. Paige requested no arm floaties to not back track his learning from swim lessons and this was great...you take out sleeves from inside the front and back of the vest so that it can adjust as fit for his swimming ability-this allowed him to lean forward and use his legs and arms...pretty soon we'll take out all the front so the back floaters are mainly there as a precaution and a little support). His Max Liquidator water squirters from Target were another winner!

Going.

Going (even with the music that close and LOUD).

Gone.

A little afternoon refresher after a SHORT nap and then we headed home. What a great staycation...sure wish we didn't have 3 more days of school....this taste of summer was such a tease but has me so excited about the fun the Relle Clan will have this summer.

Here is a video I took of little fish going down the water slide. Listen closely and you can hear his squeals on the way down. He LOVED the slide!