Homeschool Holiday Fun
As you all know, our family has a bit of an ongoing love affair with mini trips to Great Wolf Lodge, but December has always been a no-go zone. My life in December is usually a blur of photo sessions, and the budget is tighter than my favorite pair of jeans, trying to squeeze in gifts for six kids. We always saw the homeschool December trip available, but never considered it—until our co-op friends convinced us it was their essential holiday tradition. After some serious financial Tetris, we finally dove in. And I'm so glad we did!
First, the lodge was absolutely gorgeous. Throw in an enormous tree with twinkly lights, and I'm instantly full of Christmas joy. Add limited-edition holiday food items, and you've got me hooked.
We hit the ground running. Our room was ready early, so after a quick change, we were waterpark-bound. My wonderful husband bravely took all the kids (and a few extras!) onto the slides while I happily chatted with the other parents who had already secured our section of chairs.
In the evening, Grace was given glorious freedom to roam with the gaggle of teens—a real treat for her. Meanwhile, the rest of us went wand-whipping (Magic Quest), met Santa (hello, free hot cocoa!), hit both dance parties, and caught both Luna stories. Running into more unexpected homeschool friends was the icing on the cake.
The next morning started with my absolute favorite thing: silence in the lobby. I managed to get a little work done with my Dunkin' Donuts coffee, soaking in the serene beauty. After morning yoga, we hit the waterpark again with friends. We had a scare when one of the friends felt unwell, but thankfully, we all pitched in and successfully avoided the dreaded ER trip!
The afternoon brought triumph: Priscilla finally, finally, finished her game of Magic Quest. She’s been working on the same game since 2023! We then hit Santa and hot cocoa again, and went for ice cream with all the cute holiday toppings available. But did anyone get them? No! (Don't they know I need adorable photo opportunities?!). We celebrated two special birthdays in the largest room (thank you, Walmart cake delivery!) before I collapsed into bed while my husband played poker with the teens.
Day three started in the quiet lobby again. I got some work done while Priscilla joined me for schoolwork and puzzles. She then attended the Magic Quest ceremony, where she officially became an official member of the Order of the Magi. Well done, young Magi! After packing, we met friends for bowling, photo shenanigans, and crafts.
It was another great, unforgettable, and totally worth-it trip to the Wolfy Lodge. I am so glad we squeezed it in this December! Oh, and remember those ears Priscilla fell in love with in the Santa tent? Well, you can see in the pictures that they ended up on her head. However, they were less than $10, so why not?
