Mr. Moose and Mother Goose

We don't get away much, especially as a family. Last weekend we spent three days up north with another family that we don't get too see often enough. Four adults and four children in a chalet-type condo right next door to Storyland. I spent the week prior to our getaway wondering how it would go.... what food should we bring for D? Were there any safe restaurants nearby? Did Storyland have any food he could safely eat? How would B do sleeping in a 'big boy bed' in the same room as his brother? Would any of us get any sleep?

Not only did we survive, but it couldn't have gone more smoothly under the circumstances (food allergies, kids getting along, B transitioning to a bed, D's behavior issues). An added bonus was sharing a condo with our friends, allowing us to hang out together after the kiddos went to bed.

The boys got a weekend jammed-pack full of activity, with new sights to see and new adventures to be had. We hiked a path near Echo Lake that led us to the rocky, beautiful waterfalls of Diana's Baths. No sooner had we started up the trail when--literally FEET away--we spotted as moose. We felt safe observing this quietly majestic creature because he was on the other side of a small creek. For the first few minutes. Then he decided he wanted to get a closer look at us and crossed the creek onto our path. Moose are typically gentle by nature but will charge if threatened, and there we stood, all eight of us, stumbling over each other as we backed up ever so quietly (which,if you know my boys, is fairly inconceivable) onto a nearby footbridge. We found our way safely to the waterfalls and spent the afternoon enjoying the icy-cold water.

The highlight of our weekend was our day at Storyland. The kids were just the right age to enjoy the attractions, with the little ones loving the storybook character area and the bigger ones riding every ride in the park. To "close the chapter" (so-to-speak) on our weekend getaway, we ate breakfast at Glen Junction, a fantastically kid-oriented restaurant with a toy-filled waiting room and an electric train chugging along the walls. It was the perfect warm-up to our visit to Hartmann's Model Train Museum, which included a ride on their miniature train. It was a great time, especially getting to witness the excitement and laughter of my boys as they shared this time together.