Fall break came with one request from Charlotte: a waterpark, and friends to go with. Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale covered both, and it turned out the whole place was mid-costume for Howl-O-Ween — a balloon spider the size of a car in the lobby, a scarecrow at the Adventure Park, pumpkins stacked on every shelf. Three days, three very different speeds. The official poster. Rated PG for pizza, goggles, and one balloon spider. ...
The fair opened Thursday, and we were there on day one. The plan was a two-act night: Charlotte and me early, everybody else after 5:30, and the SkyRide before anything else. What we actually did was whatever the kids wanted, in whatever order they wanted it, and the SkyRide ended up being the last thing instead of the first. Nobody minded. The whole night on one wheel. ...
Two low-key, high-fun days back to back: an evening bouncing off the walls at Sky Zone, then an afternoon at the movies for the new Moana. Abby and Lucia came along for both, and it turned into exactly the kind of stretch that doesn’t need a plan to be a good one. 👪 The Crew Me — driver, ticket-buyer, and designated seat-picker. Charlotte — age 8, equally all-in on trampolines and animated musicals. Abby and Lucia — Charlotte’s friends, and very good company for both a jump session and a matinee. 🤸 Sky Zone First stop: Sky Zone, with a Fuel Zone pit stop for Icee’s before anyone was allowed near the trampolines. ...
The circus came to town. The actual, capital-C circus — Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey rolled into downtown Phoenix, and Charlotte had never been to one. I remember my first. It was her turn, and she didn’t go alone: GiGi brought Sammy and Nathan along, so it turned into a six-person outing in Section 115. We’d booked the opening weeknight to dodge the weekend crowds, with the bonus of a day off right after for the cabin. Here’s how it actually went — the pick, the seats, the food, and what turned out to be the best act of the night. ...