Adult Pool Swim

After wrangling kids into all the different cars (a true group effort at this point!), we finally headed back to the hotel. Our car made a quick detour to Walmart for some dinner supplies — and we even managed to squeeze in a catch-up call with Kallie in California! Huge thanks to Jamie for taking Nick and Xander so we could actually hear ourselves talk for once.

Back at the hotel, dinner was casual and cozy — the perfect way to wind down the day. Then came the big event: swim time! The kids were buzzing with excitement... until we found out the indoor pool was closed for maintenance. Womp womp.

That left us with two options: the heated outdoor pool (which was great for the kids, not so much for us freezing parents in the wind) or the adult-only pool. Thankfully, the front desk gentleman was super kind and gave us the green light to let the kids use the indoor pool after all.

Everyone there was amazing — other guests didn’t mind the splash zone, and the kids swam their hearts out until 9 p.m. The night ended with one random hotel guy showing up to kick us out… but we were already packing up, so he didn’t even get the chance to say a word. Perfect timing!

It was chaotic, cold, and kind of hilarious — but honestly, one of those nights we’ll remember for all the right reasons. 

Virginia Living Museum

After a yummy breakfast of hot chocolate and treats, we braved the freezing cold for a quick adventure at Mt. Trashmore — yes, a park built on top of an old landfill (how cool is that?). Once we couldn’t feel our fingers anymore, it was time for some indoor fun!

We headed to the Virginia Living Museum, and it did not disappoint. The kids were in heaven — darting from one exhibit to the next, pressing every button, and pointing out every fish, turtle, and fossil they could find. The museum was this awesome mix of science center, aquarium, and zoo all rolled into one.

Just when we thought we’d seen it all, we stepped outside and stumbled onto a dinosaur trail — complete with life-sized dinos hiding among the trees! The kids were obsessed. We honestly could’ve spent the whole day there.

It was the perfect way to warm up, learn something new, and have a ton of fun all at once.

 

Mr. Trashmore

 After filling our bladders—I mean bellies—with hot chocolate, we headed out to Mt. Trashmore! I had no idea this park was actually built on top of a landfill, but wow, it was amazing! It had everything — a skate park, two lakes, multiple playgrounds, and beautiful walking trails.

The kids had an absolute blast, even though it was freezing. The wind cut right through us, but they didn’t seem to care one bit — just ran around with red noses and huge smiles. Thankfully, I had grabbed a few pairs of dollar-store gloves from my car, so we passed those around to whoever needed them.

Of course, in true adventure fashion, Xander had a little potty accident — but thankfully, we had left from church yesterday and still had his dress clothes in the car. So he spent the rest of the day proudly rocking his church pants at the park. Hey, it’s the little blessings!

We Get All Fancy!

 Sadly, Derek couldn’t be with us on this trip, but we definitely enjoyed all the amazing perks that came with his Hilton status! One of the best was access to the 10th floor — the Owners Suite. It had such a beautiful view, fun outdoor games (which we would have used if it hadn’t been freezing!), and best of all… bottomless hot chocolate.

Before heading out to Mt. Trashmore, we all went upstairs to load the kids up with cocoa — which, in hindsight, may not have been the best idea (let’s just say there were a few potty-related consequences later!). But in the moment, it was absolutely adorable. All the kids were sitting there with their feet propped up on the tables, sipping their hot chocolate and chatting like little grown-ups. My heart could’ve burst.

While they played with magnets and kept each other entertained with the sweetest conversations, Kylie, Jamie, and I got to plan out our day. It was one of those simple, cozy moments that just make you smile. How cute are they?!