Wisconsin Dells Trip-Wisconsin Deer Park

After we checked out of our hotel and before heading home we stopped at the Wisconsin Deer Park. My parents took our family here when I was about 4 years old and I remember how cool I thought it was to feed the deer. I knew Ayden would like it, but I was surprised that Cael was so excited to feed them too and wasn't scared of the deer unless they got too close to him when he didn't have food for them. I love the expression on Cael's face in some of the pictures. In one he has both fists up like a boxer protecting his face. Too funny! The deer were really tame and followed us around trying to find food. We bought a package of wafers for them for about $5.00, I think. It was definitely worth it! LOVED this place!

Love his expression!

Boxer stance!

The shrug..

Wisconsin Dells Trip

I'm continuing to play catch up with the blog and will probably for October-January just do a summary so I can catch up, but I had to post pictures about our awesome vacation in the Wisconsin Dells at the end of September. It was our first family vacation as a family of four. The boys did great sleeping, which was my worry, and took great naps too. We stayed at Great wolf Lodge which VERY oriented around children and families. It was a great place to stay and not too expensive in the off-season. We looked at going to the Dells in the summer and it was just so expensive. September and October was much cheaper, and the indoor water park was huge so we didn't feel like we missed out on anything by not going in the summer. We all had so much fun, and the boys had a blast. Both love the water, which I attribute partially from going to the pool so much over the summer. They were not afraid of anything. Cael went down all the slides we would let him, and Ayden was just tall enough to go down the all the BIG slides. He went down them all multiple times with no fear. There is no way I would have gone down some of them at any age, much less 4 years old :) I think Cael will be the same way. Ayden's favorite was riding on an intertube in the wave pool, and Cael liked the kiddie area with the little slides and things he could ride on.

One of the restaurants we ate at was called Buffalo Phil's and your food and drinks arrived to you on a small train. They boys LOVED it. It was pretty neat. They also played Thomas the Train episodes on the tv. The boys were in heaven :)

Food being delivered to our table :)

The clock tower at the hotel where they had storytime and songs every night.

The kids cabin in our room where the boys slept.

There were bunk beds in it and everything. It was so neat!

One of the big slides Ayden was just tall enough to go down...on his stomach. I tried it once, and that was enough for me. It was dark inside the tunnel and you got jerked around, and you are on your stomach. Not my idea of fun... But there he goes!

Storytime!

We had such a great time! We will definitely be going back again. I would highly recommend going in the fall because it wasn't busy, which is one thing I hate about water parks. Ayden keeps asking when we are going to go back again!

A Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine

Both of the boys love trains so we have gone to A Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine since Ayden was two years old. It was in September and they had activities for the kids to do and then we got to ride Thomas. We met up with some other friends there and we all rode Thomas at the same time. It was a kind of rainy day so we didn't hang out as long as we would have if the weather had been nice. I made the boys train shirts to wear that day. They are really cute!

Center Grove Orchard

This fall we got a season pass to Center Grove Orchard and it was a good thing we did because we went A LOT. We often met different friends, which was a lot of fun. The kids had much more fun than they would have if we went on our own and I had someone to talk to! Cael had a blast running after Ayden and the other kids. I seriously think that he thinks he's 3 or 4. He is so ahead of his age in everything. I guess that's what happens when you have to keep up with your big brother. It was such a mild fall too, which was great for being outside.

Ayden's First Day of Preschool

Ayden started preschool in the beginning of September and LOVES it! He goes three days a week and is so excited to go every day. His best friend in his class is Carissa, who he has known since he was about one year old. His mom Destri and I met when we were taking them to Kindermusik class when they were little, and I went to high school with Destri's husband, Carson. What a small world! Ayden's teachers Laurie and Jan are really great, and I have gone a few times now to spend the morning with Ayden. He loves it when I am there, and is so proud to show off his mom :) We had conferences with his teachers in November and they had nothing but good things to say. Ayden's writing, drawing, and coloring has improved so much over the past few months and he is always excited to bring home and show me what he has made at school.

On the first day of preschool the parents were able to spend the morning with the kids to help them get adjusted. I think it was more for the parents than for the kids! Ayden did great and was fine when he went by himself the next time.

I made sure to take lots of pictures of Ayden with the Mario backpack he picked out for school. After preschool was over I took him out for ice cream at Cold Stone to celebrate :)

Ready for school!

Showing off the Mario backpack he picked out.

Cael didn't want to be left out.

Using stamps at preschool.

Checking out insects with Carissa.

Celebratory ice cream at Cold Stone!