Mid Winter Break

So normally we would be heading south to Miami and then Key West for some sunshine and R and R but this year Kent county on the universal school calender shortened mid winter break to two days. Now Clint and I could both take personal days and extend it to a reasonable break but we weren't sure how Cae's ears would be resolved and thus we didn't buy plane tickets when they were cheap- so no trip to Florida this year. We decided we would take our break and make our own "tropics in GR". A trip to Fredrick Meijer Gardens, a visit to the aquarium at the zoo, dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe, and finally a stay at a local Ramada hotel advertised to have a water slide and hot tub along with a standard hotel pool. Sounds great right. Let me tell you how many ways the wheels came off these plans. First there is an ice and rain storm so it is difficult to walk to the back of the zoo where the aquarium is. Next we find out the Rain Forest Cafe closed. We still have the hotel and the gardens right? Our hotel has a check in of 4p.m.- that should have been a tip off but hay we hear it is a cool slide and breakfast is included so okay. Advertised newly remodeled rooms- yea in 1982, the hot tub is broken, and the water slide is shut off at 5 p.m. At the same time Clint's mom Rita was taking the other two grand kids on a overnight to a hotel with a pool nearby and she was going to bring them to our pool for a trip on the water slide after we all had dinner together. We came back from dinner to no water slide, and no hot tub- no thank you. We checked out and asked for a refund- at first they balked but when confronted with the facts that the "Castaway Bay" and "Splash Tower" were closed or non- functioning and this is the only reason we came to stay seeing that we live here. In addition the microwave and fridge in every room were also non- existent. They quickly repented and refunded our money. We then headed over to Rita's hotel for a swim in her regular hotel pool. At this point it seemed silly to get a room to sleep in a bed not as good as our own sleep number just to stay in GR so we left Abby with her Grandma and cousins and we took Cae and headed home. Rita took all the big kids to a movie and we watched it snow. Most of the schools were closed the day after break due to snow. So much for the tropics in GR. Next year it's Florida or bust. These are some pictures from swimming in Grandma's hotel pool.

Abbi and Cae hit the pool

Abbi takes Cae for a trip around the pool

Abbi shows Cae how it is done
Bree and Clint watch as Abbi helps Cae splash
Again Cae is the center of attention from two pretty girls

Of course Abbi is his sister and Bree is his cousin
Aren't they sharing nicely?
All of them warm up

Cody warms up in the shower
I think Bree should have to give Abbi a ride don't you?
Trying out the life jacket
Clint helps Caelun "swim"
Abbi gives Bree a tour around the pool



Pam and Cae warm up in the hot tub


Clint whistles a tune while Cae warms up
after being all tuckered out from his swim