Back to Spring Break 2020-Great Wolf and MOA

I'm going to travel back in time. Back to a simpler time, when we could leave the house and go wherever we wanted. Back when we could visit people and be in a room filled with other people.

Back on Wednesday, March 11th, we packed up and headed out to the Twin Cities. The kids were super excited for our trip, and everyone handled the drive really well. We drove through Mankato because we had some things to drop off for Elena at Rachel's house. So, we ate a quick lunch at Culver's in Mankato, and then kept going on our way.

We got to the Great Wolf Lodge at around 2:00pm. There were a fair amount of people in line, so the kids and I had fun exploring the lobby and getting some wolf ears while John checked in. Our room was actually ready to go once we checked in, so we went back to the car to drag all our belongings into our room. The room was pretty cool. John and I had a queen bed to share, and the kids had bunk beds to sleep in. They thought the bunk beds were amazing, and they immediately made plans that one of them got the top bunk the first night, and the other one got it the second night.

We chilled in the room for a little bit, and then we got changed and headed to the waterpark. Great Wolf Lodge is known for their huge waterpark, and it did not disappoint. It was huge!! We had so much fun in the waterpark. Emma loved all the waterslides, especially the really big, giant waterslide that we must have went down at least 10 times. She also enjoyed the wave pool, and she got to attempt some surfing. That didn't go very well, but I was really proud of her for trying. Elliott really enjoyed the smaller kid jungle gym area with slides, water sprayers, and of course the bucket that dumps water on everyone. He was brave enough to go down a couple of the slides, but he wasn't super fond of them. He did love going around and around the lazy river, but usually without a tube was his favorite. He also really enjoyed the wave pool, but I had to really keep an eye on him in there, those waves really pushed him around.

The kids also talked us into getting them a Pup Pack while we were there. That was basically a pack that grouped a bunch of the hotel activities together for one price, which saved money overall. They eat got a scoop of ice cream at Ben and Jerry's, a cup of candy they could pick out from the bulk candy store, the Magi wand and quest, and so many points at the arcade.

Both kids really enjoyed the Magi Quest game. With the Magi Quest, they had magic wands that they used to collect certain items, defeat creatures, and complete all the tasks in the correct order. They both got pretty good at that game, and we put on a lot of miles walking around that hotel. They both ate it up, and they both completed the entire mission (which takes a solid 4 hours total) so they became Magi Masters complete with a little ceremony and pin. They were tickled to death.

Every evening at 8:00pm they offered story time in the lobby. The kids really enjoyed that, and we participated in that both evenings. After story time, they would show a little movie and then one of their characters would be available for pictures. I can't even describe how much fun we all had at the hotel. They were really good at keeping us entertained. They also offered craft time, and they even had a dance party one evening.

We spent most of our time in the waterpark or doing the Magi Quest. The food was pretty expensive in the hotel. We ate pizza one evening there, but otherwise John would just run out and get us supper and bring it back to the hotel. It was way cheaper to do that.

On Friday, we checked out of the hotel and headed to Mall of America. At this time, people were starting to become more aware of Covid-19, and we questioned whether we should go to the mall or not. However, we had already bought our tickets ahead of time, and we decided to just go for it.

We got to the mall right at 10:00 am, when everything opened. So, we headed straight for Nickelodeon Universe and got our wristbands. Emma went straight for the roller coaster, which she is now big enough to ride by herself! Elliott was a little hesitant about rides this time, he just wanted to go to Lego Land. But, with a little coaxing he went on some rides, and then I couldn't get him to stop. The mall was absolutely dead because of the threat of the virus, so we really enjoyed ourselves. Elliott went on a couple rides like 7 times in a row. There were really no lines for anything, and everyone had a really good time.

We took at break at lunchtime and ate at the food court. After that we went to Crayola Universe. That place is really fun, and there is so much to do there! We could have spent the whole day there. We did spend a solid 2 hours there. Both kids really enjoyed the experience.

We went back to the rides for a while, and then around 5pm we were all ready to go. We headed to Mom and Dad's house for supper, and then put 2 very tired kids to bed. We enjoyed a nice quiet evening of visiting, and then we all enjoyed sleeping in our own rooms after 2 nights together.

On Saturday, we just bummed at mom and dad's for a while. I went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for one last time. I found a few more treasures to take back with me. I also stopped at the Dollar General for some toilet paper since everyone has bought out all the toilet paper in Sioux Falls, thanks to the corona virus. Rachel and Elena came out to visit for a while in the afternoon, and then they headed home while the rest of us went to Sleepy Eye to check out the new brewery there. It was a really fun visit. The kids kept busy with a jenga game and the rest of us enjoyed some beer and socializing. By the time we were ready to leave for home, some other friends of mom and dad's showed up, so it was perfect timing. It was a good ending to a really fun week.

We got home around 9:00pm, and we were very happy to crawl into our own bed. The kids were already asking when we could go back to Great Wolf Lodge. :)

Here are MANY pictures from our week!

Checking into Great Wolf 

The Magic Magi Quest 

Evening story time 

Crafts 

Howling like wolves 

They completed the Magi Quest 

Meeting Violet 

MOA!!

Lunch break 

We came, we saw, we conquered 

Covid-19 Coronavirus

We are in the middle of a pandemic right now, and things are crazy. So, about a month ago, a new virus called Covid-19, surfaced in China. It started in animals, then mutated to humans, and now it is spreading around the world.

This virus is kind of like the flu, but it attacks the lungs and is really hard on the elderly, the immunocompromised, and people who are not very healthy. For most healthy, young people, it presents like a flu with a temperature, a dry cough, and possibly shortness of breath. The scary thing, is that people can be carriers of this virus and have no symptoms for up to 2 weeks, and the virus can live on surfaces for 48 hours. So, it is spreading very rapidly. Everyone is trying to follow social distancing (which means you don't go to places with more than 50 people, and stay 6 feet away from people), stay home if you are sick, hand washing, and no touching your face, eyes, or mouth.

The major problem with this virus, is that it attacks people's lungs and many of the severe cases need to be on a ventilator. In some countries there have been so many of these patients that they run out of ventilators, and then have to decide who they are going to treat, and the ones who can't be helped end up dying. They are trying to prevent that from happening here. So, things are shutting down, and people are isolating themselves, and hoarding groceries, and panicking.

 We are trying to adjust to a new normal around here. Everything is pretty much shut down. There are no sports going on right now. The NBA and NHL are suspended, the MLB is delayed, the NCAA Tournament was cancelled, all the activities, concerts, gathering, have been cancelled. All the public schools in many states (including here) are cancelled. Basically going to work, getting groceries, and going back home are all that are allowed right now. It's so crazy.

Emma has been out of school all week, and she has no school this next week. For this current week, Emma and Elliott are out at Jim and Barb's house all week. It's been hard to be away from them, but there is really no other choice since John and I are still working. John has been working from home all week, which will continue for the foreseeable future. For this next week, Emma's teachers are making packets for her to complete at home since we are missing so much school. So, between the working and the craziness, we have full days of school work to get through.

Another thing that has been different is church. Basically all church activities have been cancelled, except for actual church. So, no bible class, Sunday school, meetings, or any of our usual church activities, which is a big part of our social lives.

As far as my job goes, we have still been having surgeries at the ASC. But, starting tomorrow, all elective surgeries are cancelled, and we are only doing necessary surgeries. So, this is really going to cut down our surgeries and we are going to start being mandated more often. I am going to start working in other areas and departments where there is a need for nurses. For example, they are screening people that come into the hospital for symptoms of the virus, and there are call centers to call patients with their results. These are places that I will be working when the ASC is too slow to support all the staff. These are crazy times. We are basically just taking things one day at a time at this point.

I am looking forward to seeing the kids this weekend. I miss them a lot. They are having a great time, and have been helping Grandma in the greenhouse. We are excited to take them back home for a few days this weekend, and then assess how we will handle things next week. We may also help work in the greenhouse this weekend, which would be a nice way to stop thinking about this virus.

It's a scary time right now. There are a lot of uncertainties. Many people are being asked to stay home from work. There are financial worries, and health concerns, and just overall stress. The news and social media are full of updates, some that are true and many that are false and cause more panic. I really miss normal. I miss having boring, everyday complaints. I miss our normal weekday busyness and hustle and bustle with the kids. I miss going out and doing things. I want to be able to watch sports and stress over this certification exam I am prepping for. But right now, the only thing anyone can think about or talk about is the Coronavirus. It's stressful and tiring.

At this point, all we can do is be cautious, listen to what we are supposed to do, and live our lives the best way we can. Also, putting Jesus at the center and praying is helping as well. I am hoping that in a month, or two, we are over the hump and getting back to normal. Until then, we will keep taking things one day at a at time, and put it all in God's Hands.

Stay safe and healthy everyone.

Spring Break 2020

We officially are on spring break. We had some nice spring-like weather this past weekend, but today is windy and chilly, and really not very nice. But anyway, time to catch you up on what has been going on around here.

We are still keeping really busy here at the Nelson household. Like crazy busy. Last week, John spent a night in the Twin Cities for work, so I was single momming it for a couple of days. Elliott had Kindergarten Roundup last Thursday, and he was so super excited about it. He told us all about his day, and he is so excited to be a Kindergartener. Mrs. Knuth confirmed that he is ready for school, which was great to hear. Although, I wasn't worried, he has seemed like he is ready for school for a while now. Elliott was disappointed to hear that he couldn't actually start Kindergarten until the fall.

On Friday, Emma started Spring Break and I took Friday off and all of this week for my own little spring break. On Friday, Elliott had his 5 year old check-up complete with shots and everything. He did a really good job, and he got a book at the end. After hanging out at home for a while and having lunch, I took them to the gym with me to play while I worked out and then we went to Midco to do some swimming. The kids had a really great day.

Saturday was a beautiful 60 degree day, and John and I got sucked into cleaning out the garage. Like we totally cleaned out the garage. We went though every single tote, threw away a lot of things, and I am trying to sell some things online. I am selling all my maternity clothes, some of the crib items, and some other odds and ends. It was a great feeling to get through everything, but it literally took all day. The kids did a good job of entertaining themselves, and we did take them to Sertoma park in the evening to burn off some energy. And then we ate supper at Fizolis to reward everyone for a great day.

Sunday was another absolutely gorgeous day. After our usually church activities we headed out to Jim and Barb's to help work in the greenhouse. It was a great day to be outside doing some work. We stayed and worked until around 5pm, then the kids stayed for a sleepover while John and I went home. We took advantage of no kids and went out to eat for some Indian food. It was delicious. We topped it off with a little grocery shopping and then we called it a night. In-between all the activity, I fit in a little studying for my certification exam coming up in May. I can't wait until that test is over (and passed!).

Yesterday, I had my annual exam (which is the reason the kids spent the night at Jim and Barb's house). After the appointment, I went to the gym, and then to Walmart to grab a few things, and then the kids were dropped off at our house. Elliott lost his first tooth at Grandma and Grandpa's house! He was super excited to tell me all about it and for the tooth fairy to come and give him some money. It was a big day. I couldn't convince the kids to leave the house again, so we stayed home and played, lounged, and enjoyed the day. In the evening we headed to Bethel for Financial Peace University class, and then got the kids to bed.

Today, I dropped Elliott off at daycare (his first day there in 5 days), had a conference with his teacher about how he is doing, and then brought Emma to the dentist to pull out her other 2 teeth. She did really well again. We are just hanging out at home right now letting her rest and watch TV while her numbness wears off. She was a trooper.

Tomorrow we leave for the cities to go to Great Wolf Lodge and enjoy the waterparks. The kids are super excited. It should be a really fun time. On Friday we are going to MOA to do Nickelodeon Universe and Crayola Experience. The weather looks good, and we should have a great rest of the week. So, for the rest of today, packing and cleaning are on the agenda.

Emma and Elliott playing Vet Clinic 

Kindergarten Round-up ready 

Sertoma Park

Greenhouse work 

Bridges Bay Waterpark

In our household, we have been counting down the days until February 15th since Christmas. So, this past weekend was a big deal.

This past Christmas, instead of filling our house with more crap, my parents decided to give my children (and us) the gift of a night at Bridges Bay to enjoy the waterpark. The kids have been very excited about this trip, and they couldn't wait to go.

The trip did not disappoint. We left home on Saturday morning after breakfast and packing up. The kids bothered us about when we were leaving all morning. We got to Okaboji around 1:00pm. Our room wasn't quite ready yet, so we changed into our suits and enjoyed the waterpark. The waterpark was really nice, the kids could touch throughout the entire waterpark, so that helped relieve a lot of stress. We still had to keep a close eye on Elliott, but it was nice that we didn't have to be right next to the kids the entire time.

Emma was pretty much independent the entire time, and she loved it. She went down the tube slide, body slide, did the lily pads, and was pretty much everywhere all the time. That little girl played her little heart out.

Elliott also had a ton of fun. He was too small for the big slides, but there were plenty of other slides for him to go on. And he loved the lazy river. He would switch between riding on a tube or just "swimming" around in the lazy river. He swam himself tired over the two days.

After a few hours of swimming, it was finally time to check into our room. We got a suite that had a common living area, and then had three bedrooms coming off of the living area. We had one bedroom, mom and dad had another bedroom, and then Rachel and Elena shared the last bedroom. It was a really nice setup. There was plenty of room for the kids to play, and we all could be together, while still having our own space.

I think we decided that we will be doing this again next year. Everyone had a really good time. Mom and dad even went down the tube slide which was pretty impressive. We all also enjoyed the beer and snackies back at the room, and just being able to relax and hang out.

On Sunday, we went swimming for a couple hours in the morning, and then it was time to check out. We ate lunch at the hotel and then we parted ways. We joined Mom and Dad at a brewery in town, and then we headed home.

It was a really fun weekend with a lot of family time. The kids are already talking about when we can go back. I would consider that a success!

This week is another crazy one. I am still spending any free time that I have studying for the CNOR exam. We also just got done with week 4 of the Financial Peace University Class. This is a Dave Ramsey class about how to better manage our money, it's really interesting and super motivating. Also, Emma has to get some teeth pulled on Wednesday, so that will be interesting. And then this weekend Elliott is going to a birthday sleepover and Hannah is coming to our house for a sleepover, so there is a lot going on. Whew!!

Happy Valentine's Day 

Hotel Snuggles 

Ready to swim 

February Flurries.

Another couple of weeks have flown by, and I really don't know where they went. The weeks have been really busy between work, school activities, and just the normal hustle and bustle.

John and I are taking a Financial Peace University class right now, which is a Dave Ramsey class about budgeting and paying off debts. It's really interesting, and it's motivating us to ty to pay off some of our debt. That is occupying our Monday nights for the next 7 weeks. The kids love it, because they get to play in the gym with the other kids while we have class.

Last Saturday, Emma and I volunteered at the Lifescape Mall Walk. We ran a photo booth where people could take fun pictures during the event. We didn't have a lot of people who wanted to take pictures, but we had a good time. Emma was volunteering for hours for 4-H, and I was using the hours for professional development at work. It was a fun morning. After the mall walk, we headed to Great Life for a member appreciation party they were having which involved inflatables, kids golf, free bagels and door prizes. After the activities, I worked out while Emma went to the kids area. We also had a lunch date at Fizolis, which Emma thought was amazing.

While Emma and I were having our girls morning, the boys worked on Elliott's Valentine's Day box. They made an awesome Captain America Themed box, and Elliott is very proud of his box.

In the evening, John stayed home with the kids, and I went to a coworkers gender reveal party. It was a really fun evening, and we found out that Nicole is going to have twin boys, so that was exciting!

Last Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday. We enjoyed a nice party at the Polzins' house. It was a nice gathering of church friends, and we had a great time. The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl, so that was pretty cool.

This past week, was pretty uneventful, but busy. On Tuesday evening we had Parent-Teacher conferences, and heard mostly good things about how Emma is doing in school. Both teachers had good reports, and we are very proud of our second grader. We also talked about Kindergarten roundup for Elliott, which is coming up in a couple weeks. I can't believe he is going to be in Kindergarten!! He is so ready for school.

We spent Friday evening cleaning the school, and then we have actually had a kind of quiet weekend. On Saturday morning, John took the kids to the Bethel basketball scrimmage while I stayed home to study for my certification exam. I am trying to squeeze in study time whenever and wherever I can. After lunch, we took the kids swimming at Great Life, which they thought was pretty fun. Then we headed out to Jim and Barb's house to celebrate Jim's 60th Birthday. We ate a nice supper, and then had some ice cream cake. It was a nice celebration.

The kids begged to stay the night, so we got to go home to an empty house. Today was a typical Sunday. We went to church (without kids!), I taught Sunday School, and then we spent some time cleaning and organizing the house since we didn't have any kids at home. I put in a little more study time and then we headed to Famous Daves to have supper with Jim, Barb, Jeff and Sam, and to bring our kids back home. It was a delicious supper, and we finally got the kids wound down for bed and we are relaxing and watching the Oscars.

This next week is going to be another doozy. We have some fairly busy evenings this week, and then this weekend we are going to Okaboji to stay at an indoor waterpark with my side of the family. This is the Christmas present that my parents are giving to the kids (and really to all of us). The kids are super excited, and have been counting down the days since Christmas. I think it's going to be a fun weekend, and can't wait to go!

Happy 60th Birthday Jim!