GREAT WOLF LODGE

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From the Seattle Airport, we traveled to the Great Wolf Lodge to spend two days relaxin with the Ashmore family.
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Let me just say...this place was flippin' awesome. I was blown away by the coolness of the front lobby, before I'd even been to the water park part. Let me give you the tour:

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The view as you walk in the front doors.

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A view looking back at the front doors. I liked the can't-believe-it's-not-real pine tree, myself.
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Here is the view from the second floor, looking down on the rest of the lobby. Antler chandeliers and cushy, log furniture set a cabin-y mood.

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My favorite part was the two-way fireplace. River rock, stuffed wolves, and flickering flames. I wanted to spend a day with my book, curled up on the couch in front of this baby.

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Where they put on shows for the kids.
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The most magical part of the lodge were the bracelets. Passing them over the hotel door knob, made our room automatically unlock. I felt like a mix of James Bond and Harry Potter.

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And the water park. For me, seeing this for the first time was more exciting than walking into Disneyland. That giant bucket sure holds a lot of water.
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See?

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Ready to get wet.

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The wave pool.

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The water slides. The Howlin' Tornado drops you unexpectedly into a giant halfpipe. Oh. my. heck. SO fun.

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Maybe it was just the goofy artist in me, but I loved the trees painted on the walls.
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Grandpa Ashmore and Braxton (our nephew) walk hand-in-hand.

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The family stake their claim and prepare for a wet n' wild day.
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Andrew plays with Baby Laney (our niece).
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Andrew's brother Jeff plays with his two kids: Brax and Adelle (or "sissy", as she informed me earlier).
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Adelle gives Uncle Ryan a high-five! Look at that grin (and that cute baby belly) !
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Anyway... we wore ourselves OUT. My full recuperation from all this fun required several days and nights.

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But next, we were headed to Ferndale, WA, for a not-so-surprised, surprise party for Andrew's mother. The BIG 5-0.

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Lots of people showed up to celebrate Rhonda...

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But all Braxton and Riley really cared about was getting some cake! {I just love Brax absentmindedly running his fingers through his cousin's hair . So precious.}
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On our last day, we were privileged to attend the beautiful baby blessing of brand-new baby Emmett.

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Then, we piled into the car with Andrew's brothers, Lane and Ryan, and began our journey back to Rexburg. But, that folks, is another adventure in and of itself.

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To be continued...
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