Weekend at the Lodge

Birthday week has come to a fun ending...even though I told Alex this really is the last year for birthdays!  There is no way I'm letting him hit the double digits next year!  ...sigh...

We planned a fun night stay at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County so the kids {and big kids} could enjoy the big water slide in the Aquatic Center!

{yes...I went down too...relunctantly at first...but had a blast after that!  ...Emily had to hold my hand...ha!}

Ellie had a great time splashing in the little fountains...

And Alex and Emily had fun letting the buckets of water pour down on them...

They enjoyed splashing and sliding the next morning before we checked out...

...and stopped to enjoy all the beautiful flowers they have around...

....and before we headed for a hike around one of the lakes!

{we love coming in the fall when the leaves are so vibrant...but it was still a fun...but sweaty, hot, and buggy...hike!  ha!}

{we try and find all the stumps the beavers gnaw down...but have yet to see an actual beaver!} 

{over half-way around...do they look beat?!} 

{never too tired to stop and throw rocks!}

...and definitely not too tired to ride the ponies before we go!

Emily was upset because Alex ran in front of her first to get the big horse...but then we decided Oreo was a perfect one for her to ride!  Isn't he cute!

It was such a great way to end the week celebrating Alex's birthday and to spend a little fun time away...and after a very busy week at that! 

A fun time was definitely had by all!

{haha!  this was the very last picture I took...and it sums it up perfectly!}

{today is also our twelve-year anniversary!  whoa...where did that time go?!  happy anniversary to my sweetheart!  here's to many many more years with my love!}