We left Conroe for home, tired and relieved that we had emerged unscathed by the sales pitch and the lure of world travel on the cheap. Our minds were full of the wonders of a real family vacation. What would it be like? Would we have fun? Beyond our wildest dreams? Hmmmm.
The documents came with detailed instructions for booking said vacation. Warning: this exercise is not for the faint of heart (meaning anyone not well-organized). The first task was to send an email to the site listed and fill in our names and vital information. I did that. Easy. Then I was told to await another email which would contain the next instructions. Um, okay. That's kinda weird, but I'm game.
Several weeks later the long-awaited email arrived. Choose your destination. We, of course, selected the much touted Great Wolf Lodge, filled out the other survey questions and hit, send. A box appeared, "Thank you. Your vacation specialist will contact you soon. Be ready with travel dates that will be selected at the next communication."
Whoa! I have to pick travel dates nine months in advance? That's asking a lot. I don't know what we're doing next weekend much less nine months from now. I panicked for a moment. Well, no use worrying until the email actually arrived, so I went about my business.
Months go by. No email. The kids want to know when we are going on this grand illustrious stupendous vacation. It seems the communiques are lost in the void, I begin to worry a little.
Then one day, boom, there it is in my inbox. A message. Choose your stay, one or two nights, pay up the taxes and fees (remember the part where I said "Nothing is EVER free?"). Done. Choose your dates. Now things are getting tricky.
We joined speech and debate this year. All of the competitions are in the Spring and I have NO IDEA WHAT THE DATES ARE! I was given three options and THEY got to choose which of the three dates we would go. Nothing like surrendering your life to the monsters living in the void who dictate when your free vacation can be booked. Oh well, here goes nothing. I chose. One in March, one in April, one in May. Please let this work out. Please!
You know, sometimes things just fall into place, and other times they don't. God was watching over this vacation in many ways. I see that now that I'm on the other end of it.
May. We got May. We couldn't have gone ANY of the other dates I chose. Speech tournaments. Wow. Awesome. Problem? It's January. Can my kids stand the wait?
I was hounded daily as to when the auspicious date would finally arrive. We got through speech and debate season, went to regionals (woo hoo!), and finally landed back home ready for some relaxation and fun. There it was, looming ahead. Two weeks. I had two weeks to get ready. Ugh oh. I have done no research on what else there is to do there. I have not booked additional hotel stays elsewhere. Crunch time.
The infamous day of departure finally arrives. My daughter is taking an online class, so we pack up the Expedition with five suitcases plus laptop and hotspot and head out for Dallas. It sure is quiet in the car when the kids have to be so that sis can listen to her class. Insert smile.
The trip went smoothly. The truth is, I still haven't had much time to research Great Wolf Lodge until this very moment, in the car, with nothing else to do. What has all the fuss been about, anyway? I was about to find out.
Tune in for part 3, coming soon!
The documents came with detailed instructions for booking said vacation. Warning: this exercise is not for the faint of heart (meaning anyone not well-organized). The first task was to send an email to the site listed and fill in our names and vital information. I did that. Easy. Then I was told to await another email which would contain the next instructions. Um, okay. That's kinda weird, but I'm game.
Several weeks later the long-awaited email arrived. Choose your destination. We, of course, selected the much touted Great Wolf Lodge, filled out the other survey questions and hit, send. A box appeared, "Thank you. Your vacation specialist will contact you soon. Be ready with travel dates that will be selected at the next communication."
Whoa! I have to pick travel dates nine months in advance? That's asking a lot. I don't know what we're doing next weekend much less nine months from now. I panicked for a moment. Well, no use worrying until the email actually arrived, so I went about my business.
Months go by. No email. The kids want to know when we are going on this grand illustrious stupendous vacation. It seems the communiques are lost in the void, I begin to worry a little.
Then one day, boom, there it is in my inbox. A message. Choose your stay, one or two nights, pay up the taxes and fees (remember the part where I said "Nothing is EVER free?"). Done. Choose your dates. Now things are getting tricky.
We joined speech and debate this year. All of the competitions are in the Spring and I have NO IDEA WHAT THE DATES ARE! I was given three options and THEY got to choose which of the three dates we would go. Nothing like surrendering your life to the monsters living in the void who dictate when your free vacation can be booked. Oh well, here goes nothing. I chose. One in March, one in April, one in May. Please let this work out. Please!
You know, sometimes things just fall into place, and other times they don't. God was watching over this vacation in many ways. I see that now that I'm on the other end of it.
May. We got May. We couldn't have gone ANY of the other dates I chose. Speech tournaments. Wow. Awesome. Problem? It's January. Can my kids stand the wait?
I was hounded daily as to when the auspicious date would finally arrive. We got through speech and debate season, went to regionals (woo hoo!), and finally landed back home ready for some relaxation and fun. There it was, looming ahead. Two weeks. I had two weeks to get ready. Ugh oh. I have done no research on what else there is to do there. I have not booked additional hotel stays elsewhere. Crunch time.
The infamous day of departure finally arrives. My daughter is taking an online class, so we pack up the Expedition with five suitcases plus laptop and hotspot and head out for Dallas. It sure is quiet in the car when the kids have to be so that sis can listen to her class. Insert smile.
The trip went smoothly. The truth is, I still haven't had much time to research Great Wolf Lodge until this very moment, in the car, with nothing else to do. What has all the fuss been about, anyway? I was about to find out.
Tune in for part 3, coming soon!
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