Last weekend we took the kids to a water park resort about 90 miles southeast of Des Moines. Andy actually came up with the idea a few weeks ago, and sent me a link to Honey Creek Resort. They have a winter wonderland special for a 2 night stay, and I also saw there was an annual Kids at the Creek event the weekend we picked to go. This was the first time that just our little family has gone on a trip just the four of us. We are so lucky to have our family live so close to us that we typically go on vacations trips with our families. Inside joke, but Andy only allows us to call it a vacation if the kids aren't along!
The kids were super excited to go on 'cation'. I was a little nervous about sleeping all 4 of us in the same room, and the first night was pretty rough since I made the bad decision on sleeping in the same bed with Hannah. That girl does not stop moving and always has to be sleeping ON me. So the second night I slept in the other bed with Andy and all 4 of us slept all night, and didn't wake up until after 7am! We brought along our little kid blow up mattress for Henry which worked perfectly (except for it makes loud noises when they move, so when he starts to stir around 6:30am you hear every time he shifts). Not sure how we will make it work with a 3rd - I guess pack n play in the corner?? Even cozier!
One thing to remember is to definitely pack a big cooler with breakfast items like milk, go gurt, snacks, etc. They only have a little snack shop onsite, and then a really nice restaurant. There is nothing else close by as this place is out in the boonies. So we saved some bucks by eating breakfast in the room both mornings.
Eating and watching the sunrise.
First we hit up the Kids at the Creek event. It was $3 per person to get in, and there was a small room with inflatables, a room where you could learn about different animals and make a footprint in clay, and then a room set up with different games where you get tickets and pick out a prize at the end. All perfect stuff for kids their age.
Trying to knock the cup over (this one was impossible). The ladies running the tickets loved our kids, so gave them a ton of tickets for the prizes even when they didn't win the games. Very nice of them.
Hannah lovin the inflatables. Henry had to push her bottom up over the first hill, but she could do the rest of it after that. Usually she says 'Mommy do it!' but this trip it was 'Henry brother do it!'.
We went back to the room for snack, and then got ready for water park time. As you can see, the kids were pumped.
Hannah all ready to swim. Henry jumps right in and starts swimming like a little fish, but it took Hannah a little bit longer to warm up. By the second time we went down there that night after dinner, she was much more comfortable and would go down the slide all by herself.
The kids climbed up on this fish and kept falling off and laughing for a good 15 minutes.
Going down the pirate ship slide.
See that blob under the water - that is our little fish Henry. He is so good in the water! 2 more inches taller and we wouldn't have had to go in with him in the 3' pool area.
Great trip overall. I highly recommend this to anyone in the area that is looking for a quick, affordable getaway. The kids had so much fun, the food at the restaurant is actually really good. We hit up the pool first thing in the morning on Sunday, checked out right at check out time, and had an awesome brunch at the hotel restaurant before we hit the road at nap time. Kids were exhausted and slept the entire way back. I definitely see us coming back again next year.
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