Elliot the Great is now into his double digits! I was going to write that I can't believe it, but that's not true. I think I have consistently treated Elliot as older than he is because of how bright and independent he is. He's a great kid and a huge source of joy in my life.
Instead of a birthday party, Elliot decided on a family trip to the Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate this bigger birthday. It was a great choice!
We checked the kids out of school early on the Friday before his birthday to drive up to the waterpark in Scottsdale. We got to spend Friday and Saturday in the waterpark and slept there Friday night. Mimi came along to enhance the fun and take very helpful shifts taking care of Felix. Mimi is the queen of the lazy river!
Annie and Elliot were both tall enough to do all the rides, and they did all of them- even the "Wolf Tail" where you stand on a trap door that drops you into a steep and speedy tube ride! I love watching my kids be brave.
Here's a video of Elliot on the Wolf Tail. We were riding slides for hours and didn't get bored of it.
Ye Old Wave Pool
Felix did great napping in his stroller or in the towel cabanas that Mimi made for him.
Isaac loved the one tube ride he was big enough for, and happily spent hours by himself in the kiddie slide area. Isaac is such a happy kid. He's happy playing by himself, but will also stroll up to the lifeguards or other kids in the area and start chatting their ears off.
We had a crazy surprise- my cousin Amy Lacy and her family were randomly at the Great Wolf Lodge overlapping with us! They have a daughter around Annie's age. Naturally they hit it off and Annie was glad to have a buddy to play with. I love having Johnson cousins everywhere!
There was a Santa photo op in the lobby. The birthday boy was not too into it.
Elliot's actual birthday fell on a Friday which happened to be the ward Christmas party. He didn't want to miss that, which is why we did Great Wolf Lodge the previous weekend. He invited some friends over to play video games between school and the Christmas party on his birthday. He opted for Reeses Cheesecake for his birthday cake for family dinner on Sunday.
Elliot has been doing a lot of growing up lately. He's increasingly responsible, and spends less time pestering his younger siblings. He is incredibly sweet with Baby Felix, and is quick with witty remarks and victory dances. He's silly and competent. He's a great guy!
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