"We are going on A-Cation!!!!"

**Insane amount of pictures warning** So now that that is out of the way, as you may recall last year we took the motorhome to Florida.. We had a blast but this year quickly decided not to do the beach ...for a few reasons 1) what am I going to do with a two year old at the beach. it may be fun for an hour here and an hour there but soon it would become boring for him 2) you can only keep a 2 year old out in the sun for so long.. then they become hot, sweaty and very irritated 3) there isn't really much to do.. NOW do not get me wrong I LOVE the beach and we WILL go back.. just not now..
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We left the choice up to my dad with a few "rules" 1) we did not want to travel far, last year was a little trying (remember we have 6 adults and a kiddo) 2) we wanted something relaxing 2) we wanted something with outdoor/water activities..... so he decided on Tan~Tar~A.. When we were little we would go often. They have continued to update the resort over the years and all in all it is a very cool place! Chaz repeatedly told us for weeks "We going on A-Cation.. Where is A-Cation???"
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We figured since we would be traveling through Springfield anyways we might as well stop at the aquarium...unfortunately we did not realize it was closed for renovations until the night before we were to leave... Oh well we happened upon this really good zoo... Chaz had not been to the zoo since our visit to Richmond a few years back.. Typical kid, he didn't care where we were going.. just as long as we were going somewhere!!!
My brother being a ham.. which doesn't happen too often so I had to get a picture..
As soon as we entered the zoo a peacock like the one below started SQUAWKING at Chaz.. He started bawling and screaming..it was awful!! Great, way to start off the trip!

He was quickly past the "incident" and we continued on.. I mean heck by the time we got to the zoo we only had an hour and fourty-five minutes to get through the zoo.. There was a goat petting spot.. which I am not really a fan of but whatever... Chaz was perfectly content sitting in his stroller and watching the world around him ....It was hot..VERY hot so I can't really blame him.

at one point I look up and see this... I think to myself "what could they be looking at... there is no fence...my dad literally has a hold of Lisa.... this cannot be good." I go up to see what is going on and I am quickly informed by the other tourists that there is a snake wedged between the rocks.. Which my "city boy" husband quickly reaches down to pet... Seriously people I cannot make up the stories of my life.. they are real...
one of the most common phrases in our house is "I a little guy. I can do it all by myself" Today was no different.. He wanted to climb up and sit on this fence...He was so irritated that Dad was holding on to the back of his pants. "no,. Papa I can do it all by myself"
and he did...Notice the sweat and curly hair.. this is normal... this boy sweats like a pig!! but in his defence it was VERY hot!!Baby swans ..They were still "fluffy" Chaz told me "Oh Momma, they need to go find der momma!!"Memorized by the monkeys!
Lisa and Shane..

Flamingos... "Momma, why de only have one leg?"I'm pretty sure he was within moments of melting.. literally meltingElephants!!! If we only saw one thing It needed to be the elephants!!
and he was NOT a fan!! He was fine from a far.. but when the elephant came close to us NO WAY!!

We probably hung out at the elephants for the longest time. He was such a cool , interesting, old soulPapa wanted Chaz to be more comfortable with the elephant (BIG task)Me and the Hubs...
The giraffe observation deck was closed so you couldn't get too close to them.. However I figured I needed to take a picture. I wish it did them justice as they were some of the most beautifully patterned giraffes I have ever seen The peacocks were EVERYWHERE... much to the disappointment of Chaz.. but they were beautiful!!!
and my daddy wanted to pet them.. HA!!
Ugh.. seriously I HATE snakes.. but Chaz was amazed by this thing. It was so.close.to.his.head!!!! Uncle Shane picking up some of the duties.. so at the very end of the zoo we hear insane laughter from a group of kids.. Chaz immediately notices this and runs to were they are... it was one of those floor fountains that randomly squirts up water.. at first he was very nervous about it..
and then it all broke loose... I think he literally went insane. he took off his shoes and was running, laughing, and simply having a blast!! We spent about 30 minutes here and it was worth the heat, the walk, everything.. Ryan got sprayed in the bootie.. it was hilarious!!!
I am not real sure who had more fun.. Ryan or Chaz..
If you pushed the button the fountain would spray.. hence the wet pants of my husband.. Chaz thought it was hilarious..

We probably don't get the "Parents of the Year" award ....but we have fun!
not sure what this "run" is about but it makes me giggle every time I see it..
I thought it would be cute to put him on this alligator statue.. he did not..
This poor hippo was in a tiny little pool.. chaz loved him, it made me sad..
I wouldn't have posted this one but when Chaz saw it he said "momma, we so cute.. you so pretty." melt.my.heart
This one is a little better. :)
It was hot, but it was wonderful... Great start to the beginning of our A-Cation..

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Vacation ....DAY 2

We headed out of Springfield and into Osage Beach ... Let me tell you , this little guy is a WONDERFUL traveler! He thought he was so funny when he was putting the legs in his pillow.. We had very few stops.. and even a few potty stops right on the side of the road.. Heck--you gotta do what you gotta do! and then he crashed!!

Unfortunately, when we got to Tan-Tar-A we quickly learned we were about 4 hours early, check in was not until 4pm.. ooopsie. So we headed to the racetracks! GO KARTS!!!
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Unfortunately, I was too short!!! Seriously!?!?!?!?!? Naaaahh.. Just kidding!!
So since Chaz was asleep in the car Mom stayed with him and we jumped right on into the karts... I am pretty sure Ryan cheated somehow and got the fast car..
Shane looking to see who was behind him...me of course.. I ALWAYS get the slow carYep, that is me and my slow car.. YIPPEE!!!My husband laughing in the face of my brother as he is passing him.. I told you he cheated!!!
and poor Lisa.. I think her car was actually slower than mine.. Ryan almost lapped her..
And then.. we MAAAAAAAAAAAADDEEEE it!! YAHOOOOOOOOOO!
Chaz said.. "We at Tan~SARAH!" Of course I immediately had to to text My Friend Sarah and tell her . Her response "My heart just melted" Ahh I heart her!and our home for a week....our AWESOME view for a week... Day 3 began with "exploring" ....Chaz found his bike cart...

and we found the arcade.. I have a deep love for skeeball..
then I had to step it up and win some tickets for the boy..
Chaz found the sweet popcorn game.. He thought it was so cool
Daddy and Chaz played the skateboard game.. well sort of.. When they are two there is no need for money :)

and then skiiing

and then another mad dash to win some tickets
"I'm ready for my pie-zes!!" I wish I would have gotten a picture of the "prize" He had a whopping 40 tickets.. And he got a helicopter that you blew on to toss up a spinning disk--this was the hit of the trip and still resides in the toy bag!!
after a nap it was time to "explore" the pools!! He was SOOOOOO excited..hence the "happy pool dance" in the big pool we were lucky enough to have a little pool. Which he affectionately called "The Little Guy Pool" There was a little fountain in the middle.. he loved jumping off the landing spot..

He also loved placing his daddy on the landing spot only to knock him off into the water :)
He then decided to pull daddy up onto the "shore"...

and then it was time for the big pool. At first he wasn't excited about it .... but then he decided he could swim!! and then we were off to the other pool which as you can see had a sweet waterslide.. Chaz LOVED it!!! I tell you this kid has little to no fear!!

This pool also had a cool little wading pool.

after an interesting trip to the potty we had a major malfuncation in the body suit..

but that didn't slow him down.. I mean why would it? there is water and he is 2!!

no we are not in San Fransisco.. that is my hubby and my brother...

Oh wait!! :)
Day 4--What to do? What to do? Well the odd thing about this vacation is there was no agenda! What??? If you know my dad you undestand how insane this concept is for him..
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Random photo.. Chaz did this himself and I thought it was so cute just sitting on the end table..
That morning Chaz decided to put his helmet, knee and elbow pads on and go show Papa..
Love this shot.. He is so good with his Papa. .. And his Papa is kind of partial to him. Did I mention we hauled 4 bikes and a bike cart to the most hilly vacation spot ever???? Needless to say the below shots are the only ones you will see of the bikes.. they didn't get many miles put on them this trip.
Ryan took one for the team and rode a total of about 600 feet before he ws about to die.. HA!

Uncle Shane
Random wrestling match with Papa.. Chaz-2 Papa-1
Soon after the bike ride--if you can call it that.. It began to rain. So off to the indoor waterpark! This place was great. It was inside the resort and pretty big. Chaz was a little nervous at first because that HUGE bucket you see at the bottop of this picture...yeah, well it would fill up with water and then tip over into a GIANT waterfall. It dropped on a tin roof and was REALLY loud.. Chaz was not.a.fan.. Chaz wanted to be carried at first because he was scared of the big bucket.. The were also little ones throughout the tree house that would fill up and dump on our heads.. They also had a really cool lazy river.. I think this was Chaz's favorite thing.. Then we were invaded by this guy....

and then we switched rafts and I was attacked by this guy. His daddy taught him that "This is a BOY raft...No girls allowed" so he would yell the previous quote and push me off the raft..

and then my husband convinced me that Chaz could ride this.........Seriously?? I thought I was going to cry! No way was my baby big enough to ride this beast.. and I was certain he would hate it....

But I was wrong.. he LOVED it! I was floored. I was long, dark, fast and a little scary... But he loved it!Clearly I understand this picture is blurry but I love it.. We were going SO fast and he was smiling SO big... and so was I!This would be the three of is coming out of the big slide..

Again.. blurry but I love it!!! I am married to a big kid.. but I wouldn't have it any other way!and then we were spent... it was naptime.. he was so tired, he got mad at me for taking his picture.. After naptime we toss on swimsuit number 2 and we went down to the dock to feed the fish

Did I mention he was feeding the grossest, nastiest fish known to man????? Carp..ugh

Baby Feet!!! only my favorite thing in the world!
and then we were back to the waterpark! Chaz wasn't so sure about the floating beaver... but he agreed to get on it so I could take a picture..good boy!Then it was back to the lazy river. This time I got a clear double float and let him ride on it.. Where am I you might ask??? I am under the float.. you can kind of see my feet :)

and then back down the waterslides.. this time his daddy and him went down the little one.. the one without rafts!!!! This picture reminds me of the Orca whales at SeaWorld. ok so this might just be one of my favorite pictures in a long while.. let me walk you through the events... Chaz went up to Uncle shane "Hey Unc Shane, Shaaaaaaaaaaaane..... you wanna play football wif me?" My sweet brother says "Sure little buddy!" What he did not realize is I had not packed a football, and Chaz has an imagination... So Chaz "placed" Shane on the other end of the room... Put his fishing pole as the "line for a touchdown" and then pulled out his car shade for his "spot" Once all players were placed Chaz hurled a wooden play hammer at my brother, of course Shane had no clue this was going to happen. I mean the kid told him they were playing football... anyways, this was the shot I got.. CLASSIC!!So if you don't know, my brother is a closet chocoholic.. He went to the store for something and came back with a KINGSIZE Reese's peanut butter cup.. Chaz saw it sitting on the table.. ran into where my brother was and said "Unc Shane, can I have dis??" it was probably really hard for him but my brother abliged..

Chaz was a little confused at first.. see he had never had a Reese's
and then he was in heaven!! "I wub dis!!!"
after he ate chocolate and peanut butter he stole my Dr Pepper.. Yes, I accepted my "Mom of the Year" award with pride!

NOTE: This is only days 1-4... I tried to do one HUGE vacation blog.. bad idea!! The blog shut down multiple times and then would type about 2 letters a minute.. So I would advise all you bloggers out there not to upload a weeks worth of picture in one blog.. So stay tuned for the second half of the A-Cation blog :)