UWWG here we come!!

We are getting geared up for the 3rd Annual UWWG; Unschoolers Winter Waterpark Gathering. Each year hundreds of Unschooling families from all over the world converge on the the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio for a week of fun. This year, the keynote speaker is John Taylor Gatto, and I have to say I am really excited to hear him speak.

We have met some wonderful families at this event, and it is wonderful to reunite with them in the bitter cold of winter. The warmth and sunshine of the indoor waterpark help too! This is a trip we look forward to all year, and we feel extremely blessed to be able to do it again.

This year we have decided to drive. In years past Kenny has not wanted to take too many days with both of us away from work, but he seems to be over that this year. We are leaving the house Saturday morning as early as every one's sleep schedule will accommodate. I am hoping for 7:30 or no later than 8:00. We will make a quick stop @ Bagel Lovers for road provisions and be on our way. The first leg of our trip will take us from home to Leesport, PA to Ozzy's Family Fun Center. There we will have lunch and let the kids blow off some steam in either the roller rink or the indoor play structure. Once we are fortified we will get back in the truck and head to Pittsburgh for the night. Sunday we plan to have breakfast on the strip and then make our way to the Pittsburgh Zoo. My baby boy is really into Polar Bears so this will be a special treat for him.

Sandusky is a short 2.5 hour drive from Pittsburgh, and we plan to spend Sunday to Thursday at the resort. There are some fabulous activities planned, including a winter carnival and lots of interesting funshops. The kids love to be surrounded with tons of friends, and since nearly the entire resort is booked with our group the parents can be assured someone always has their eye on their child. And the kids are always in a group, so the atmosphere is super relaxed.

We leave the resort on Thursday and I have no plan for our return journey. I want to stop at my mother's and visit with she and my sister. And I have every one's Christmas presents to deliver since we were unable to be together for the holiday.

All in all, this has the makings of another perfect family vacation. Wish you could join us!

Vacation

We are taking a vacation to the beach... silly, right? My cousin is graduating from Ocean City High School so my whole family and some long time friends are renting a house for a week. There are not enough beds for everyone, it is a 5 hour drive and I have to board my dog...all to go to a beach exactly like the one we have a few miles down the road? I must be nuts.

I am taking all of our bikes and very much looking forward to riding every place we need to go. It will be nice to sit on the front porch and see the ocean rolling along, and there are dolphins jumping every morning just after sunrise. The boardwalk will provide limitless entertainment for the kids as will their cousins and honorary cousin. I will have other grown ups around in case I feel the need to shower without an audience or, God forbid, take a bike ride alone! I really enjoy my sister, and it will be nice to sit on the beach with her like we used to do as kids. Ironically, in the 8 years I have lived here my family has never visited in the summer! Apparently the thought of battling Long Island traffic in the summer does not appeal to them. Funny how I always manage to get to PA a few times each summer unscathed...

Anyway, I am making lists and trying to figure out how to pack up everything a family of 4 (no Daddy this trip) will need for a week, including bicycles. I also have to take a 2 month supply of Monavie and Tastefully Simple products to everyone I will not see again till August! I hope to come home with significantly less, but somehow that seems unlikely!

Summer has arrived, I can't wait to enjoy every minute!