John and I decided to go to Dunes Village this year for the kids for Christmas. Dunes is a kid-friendly, on-the-beach hotel with indoor swimming pools and water slides, that we heard about from Kim. We invited Jim and Fern to come along, since John would be taking several days off. We also got a sweet deal on a gorgeous hotel room, their fall and winter rates are very low! We wanted to get to see Jim and Fern, and thought this would be extra fun for the kids.
Ammon took a few days to warm up to Fern. She is the sweetest person around, so we think he was a little leary of her due to her habit of wearing curlers most mornings. Kate and James thought her curlers were fascinating also, and wanted permission just to sit and watch her put them on! They enjoyed just hanging around and talking to Fern in general, especially Kate. Fern helped her make a little book out of note paper that Kate treasured.
Joan and Ammon hit it off with Grandpa Jim right away- I think due to him tickling them/ playing peekaboo on the first day. Joan seemed to know it was her particular right to come and sit on his lap whenever she wanted and get extra attention. She really liked Grandpa Jim hugging and teasing her.
Noah also really enjoyed doing crossword puzzles with Grandpa Jim. He wanted to spend all day getting the answers out of Jim and writing them down.
We mostly just hung around our house the first few days they were here, while I panicked and packed for the trip. They did get to go to Grady Barnes' farm, one of Jim's (and mine!) favorite places. They also got to go to a bagpipe concert that Grandpa Mark was in, and got to see our kids in the practice run for the primary program.
On our way down to the beach, we did have an education excursion and stop by the Fort Fisher aquarium. They have a shark touch tank that all of the kids really enjoyed.
The lady at the other touch tank also taught them how to flip over the horse-shoe crabs, which the kids got a kick out of.
There was a very nice playground at the aquarium that the kids were thrilled to run around on as a break from the car. It is new, or I just never noticed it on our previous trips.
The kids had a blast a Dunes Village. It was a little too cold outside for Fern to enjoy walking on the beach very much (high of 60). John and I were happy with how well prepared we were in our packing (made several casseroles so we wouldn't have to cook while there) and how nice the hotel room was.
Our favorite part was the view.
Our hotel room was on the 11th floor, with wrap-around floor-to-ceiling windows. Maybe John and I are easily thrilled, but that was our favorite part. Watching sunrise and sunset on the beach. I even caught a short glimpse of dolphins.
The kids loved the beach, the older kids seemed to not care that it was FREEZING! (Note to self- come in Sept or mid Oct next time you catch their fall deals!) We only had 2 brief beach excursions. I was surprised at how much even the bigger kids just loved jumping up and down. (Got some great photos, different post).
The kids, of course, LOVED the indoor pools and water slides!
Most of my photos turned out like this:
And I was too busy having fun and dripping wet to work with the camera much at the water park.
The bigger kids loved the big slides, the lazy river, and just swimming in general.
Ammon wanted to have nothing to do with it. He is usually very calm and good natured, but this seemed to be too much NEW for him at once. He uttered low moans and groans all while I pushed him in a dolphin car around the lazy river, as if I was out to get him and was torturing him. I took him into the jacuzzi, and pointed out that it is like a BIG BATH with BUBBLES (two of his favorite things). He stopped whining, and reluctantly poked at a few bubbles with a petulant scowl on his face (This MIGHT be fun, but I will not admit it.). John and I took turns watching him the first day. He put up with it without whining the 2nd day, but was still not thrilled, and thankfully Fern watched him at the hotel room so we could have fun with the older kids.
Joan LOVED the hot bubbling jaccuzis (there were several at each building). She also went down the smaller slides a few times, but that was enough for her.
Kate loved the big curving slide, much to my surprise, and spent at least an hour running up the stairs and going down the slide, non-stop. We knew she would fall asleep quickly that night!
The only place we ventured out (besides some simple shopping) was Mr. Fish. The food was good, the staff was friendly (although a hush settled over the crowd as we stood in the doorway with all of our kids). the kids were very good (we even got a compliment), but we left quickly once Joan and Ammon ran out of french fries.
Mark came down with stomach flu right as we pulled up to the restaurant (the first time he has had stomach flu since we lived in Mesa- I think drinking chlorinated water makes you susceptible), and spent the visit sitting in the car with a bucket. Which might have been a good thing, as there were a few nude pictures up on the wall (I faced most of the kids the other way). Mark caught a glimpse of them before he went out to the car, and was disgusted that John and I stayed.
Much to our merriment and slight dismay, as we were on our way out of the restaurant, Sarah asked one of our neighboring lobster-feasters if he was "done with his claw". He was, and obliged her, and we came home with a lobster-claw momento. :) I wouldn't allow it in the house, and the neighbor's dog ate it a day or two after our return.
Overall, it was a lot of work and not really a 'vacation' for me, but I think the kids will have some great memories, and I would happily do it again!
