A Water Park & a Football Game

The new year is off to an exciting start! We have packed a lot of fun into the first three days of 2026. We rang in the new year once again at the Houstons' with the Williamses and the Whites. I've lost count how many years we have had this tradition of celebrating the new year together. As in years passed, Zack made his low country boil, and we all chowed down on the delicious food. Zander organized a ping pong tournament, complete with a bracket for the kids and the adults. There were only a few tears from the youngest Kennedy, when he was beaten by his big sister. Around 8:30PM, we counted down to the new year using a Youtube clip from Sydney, Australia, and we all toasted to 2026. Happy New Year!

On New Year's Day, we hit the road around 11AM heading toward Concord and Great Wolf Lodge. We stopped along the way at Waffle House in Salisbury. Given that it was a holiday, several restaurants were closed, but thank goodness for the Waffle House; we can always count on them to be open. We arrived at Great Wolf Lodge a little after 1PM, and to our surprise, our room was already ready. We got our wolf ears and our bracelets and headed to the room to change into our bathing suits. With our one-night stay, we were able to use the water park on the day we checked in and on the day we checked out, and between the two days, we spent about 10 hours total going down all the slides, splashing in the wave pool, standing below the big bucket in Fort Mackenzie, and playing basketball in Chinook Cove. We did it all! The kids were the perfect age for enjoying all the rides and thrills. A crowd favorite was River Canyon Run, which we could all ride together in one big tube. Daddy's favorite ride was the Mountain Edge Raceway, which you rode down on your belly on individual mats. The most exciting ride was the Howlin' Tornado, and both days, the kiddos got their bravery up to the do ride one time. It's similar to River Canyon Run with a single tube for four people, but it has a big drop into a spinning drain. We all had to catch our breath after that one. Around 7:30PM on the first day, we headed to the room for showers and pjs, and then we went down to the Main Lobby for storytime and the dance party. When we got back to the room around 9PM, it didn't take long until we were all asleep. After more time in the water park on Friday, we left Great Wolf Lodge around 3PM. We stopped for a late lunch/early dinner at Talkin' Tacos and then checked in to our hotel in downtown Charlotte. Even though the kids were excited for another hotel, we enforced a little bit of rest time before setting out into the city around 7PM. Our hotel was within walking distance of Bank of America Stadium, and we met up with our friends Matt and Virginia Olson just outside the gates. Kickoff was at 8PM, and our group of six was excited to cheer on the Deacs as they took on Mississippi State in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. We watched the 1st Quarter from our seats, which just so happened to be in a MSU section! In the 2nd Quarter, we moved to a section with black and gold and watched the rest of the game there. It was an exciting game, and Wake led for most of it. In the last few minutes, MSU came within 3 points, and we thought for sure we were in for heartbreak. But luckily, Wake held strong and pulled off a 43-29 victory. Go Deacs! We arrived back at our hotel around midnight, with two very tired kiddos and two tired adults too. From a water park to a football game - what a full day! We came back to Kernersville today and have been enjoying the time at home. With school starting back again on Monday, we are preparing for the return to routine and schedules. We are sad to see the Christmas break end, but we have loved 2026 already!