Port Zelande

The kids have a much needed break from school each February.  It is so nice to have a little break from the dark early winter mornings of rushing around and getting ready for school.  Since Ryan's busy season is still going strong in February, it is pretty much just me and the kiddos.  Last year, I thought we could just hang out in our pjs everyday and maybe take the occasional trip to the park or zoo.  Wrong.  Low and behold, my little people are like those cheap wind-up toys that you get in your McDonald's Happy Meal (only they're not cheap).  Everyday that they don't have maximum entertainment or brain stimulation, they get wound up once or twice.  By the end of the week, they are bouncing all over the place...and driving me crazy in the process.

So this year, I decided to do a little research and book a trip for just me and the kids.  They have these mini-resorts all over Holland (and other nearby countries) with modest condos and fun activities.  I found a last minute deal online and decided to take the gamble.  We spent the week at Center Parcs in Port Zelande (only 1 hour away from Rotterdam, intentionally chosen in case it went horribly and we needed to book it home).  Luckily, my gamble paid off.  I was dealt a pretty good hand with this resort (nice house, plenty to do and see).  By the end of the week, we all agreed that on this vacation we hit the JACKPOT!

Here's the outside of our little condo.  3 bedrooms, nice kitchen, only one bathroom, and (surprisingly) a Sauna.  I had to pay extra for linens and bedding (which I did gladly to avoid laundry) and brought my own groceries from home.

Each day we walked to the indoor water park.  It was pretty fun - 3 big slides, a lazy river, wave pool, and kiddie pool - not too big, not too small.  Kaydree is a proficient swimmer, so that helped a ton.  Carver thinks he is a proficient swimmer, but actually he's not quite there yet.  Elsie is a little too brave for her size.  And Ava is straight up terrified and clinging for dear life in the water.  It was an interesting juggling act.  Thank goodness for lifejackets.

Every evening we worked on this puzzle.  I thought we were in way over our heads at first...

But by the end of the week, we got 'er done...

Each night I made a roaring fire and we had smores.  Okay, so maybe the easy burning wood and fire starters helped a little. 

I signed the kids up for an art class and got a little free time for myself.

Aren't they adorable artists?

On 2 days 2 separate friends came to swim with us.  First, our Dutch friends from the Dutch school, then our Greek friends from the international school.  Maria brought me a bottle of her family's olive oil that they produced for the year, some greek yogurt, and feta cheese...yum!  The kids had a blast together (even though we had the occasional terrifying moment where we couldn't find one or the other, they all made it out alive).  What more could you ask for?

I love my four little people and all of our many adventures together.  BUT, make no mistake about it - I maintain my resolve to never be a single mother (if I have any say in it).  We were glad to come home to Ryan and a 2 parent household.