our Stay-Cation

We didn't do any big trips this summer so we decided to do a little local getaway.  We headed up to Lancaster for the big vacay :)  

We started our stay-cation with a trip to Dutch Wonderland-a great amusement park designed specifically for younger kids.  It was a great place and all 3 of our kids were able to go on all the rides they wanted...and a few they didn't want to go on that we made them try.

We decided to start with the Sky Ride so we could get a good look at the park and decide where to begin.

Does Emma look nervous?  Yes?  Well, she was.  She did NOT like how high we were.

Abi and Steve were just ahead of us.

Now this one the kids liked-the Road Rally.  Doesn't this look just like Steve's old jeep?

The Dozers...I thought I had pics of all 3 kids on this one, but here's Emma at least

Daddy and Jas on Frog Hopper.  Abi and I went on this first so Jason decided he wanted to try.  We thought he was going to HATE it, but he laughed and smiled the WHOLE time...he is one brave little monkey

Not sure if you can tell, but Jas was grinning from ear to ear!

Abi and Jason were brave enough to give this one a try with out mommy or daddy!

The Double Splash Flume
This is the last smile you will see from these two in regards to this ride.  By the time we were done Emma was bawling and Abi was chewing us out for daring take them on such a scary, wet ride! :)

This one was a big hit-we did the "rainbow slide" a few times

THE TWISTER!
I wanted to go on this one but no one else did.  Finally we were able to get them to agree to go on it with the promise of ice cream.  Abi ended up loving it and wanted to go again.  Emma did NOT want to go on it and lucked out when we found out that only 2 people could ride in a car.  Steve and Abi went first then Jas and I went when they were done...Emma was off the hook-phew!

Jas loved it, he kept lifting his hands up and yelling, "no hands!!!"

As promised, ICE CREAM!

Oh, here's Abi on the Dozer

Steve and Abi-the masters of the bumper cars

We ended the day with a nice relaxing ride in these logs-no where near as scary as the log flume according to the girls

Emma and mommy enjoying the ride!

After the fun day at the park we went and checked into the DoubleTree resort in Lancaster.  We chose this hotel because of this:

This indoor water playground was awesome!  Our kids played there for about 2 hours after dinner that  night.  Emma even did the big blue slide on her own choosing.  She and Abi did it probably 10 times each-it was great!

The next day we were planning on going to Mt Gretna Lake for a day at the beach but the kids didn't want to go, they wanted to stay at the hotel and play in the water park.  We were all for it-it was easier, cheaper, and A LOT less driving!  We lucked out too because by about 1:00 it started storming, we were so glad we decided to stay here instead.

After the water park we headed home.  Our Stay-cation was over, but we all had a great time and we were all wiped out.  Hopefully this was the first of many stay-cations to come!