36 years young

Since my birthday is on May 31st, it falls on or near Memorial Day each year. I have a friend in Germany whose birthday is at the end of May, too so we all try to get together over memorial day weekend. Last year, they came up here and we went to the coast. This year, we were all suppose to go to an awesome bed and breakfast in Belgium, but for a bunch of different reasons, we were unable to go.

To make me feel better, we at least decided to go for an overnight somewhere in England. We ended up booking a two day getaway to Alton Towers. Alton Towers is basically the Disneyland of England. It's 3 hours from us.

Well, as soon as we booked, I had an ovarian cyst burst and got really sick. We debated whether or not to cancel but we ended up going anyway. I spent a lot of time resting but Curtis was a star and we ended up having a great time. It was better than staring at our four walls for the entire weekend!

There are two resort hotels there. We stayed at the Splash Landings hotel. It has the biggest indoor Water Park!


This is the water park. It is in the middle of the hotel. It was spectacular.

Bella and Daddy were checking out the Water Park through the window.

We had to wait to check in so we sat down to color.

Then, Bella found the Lego pit.

Uh-oh, brain freeze!

Finally, we got checked in! Bella ran to her bunk beds! She was so excited she jumped right in and said "Night-night"

The whole hotel and rooms had a caribbean theme.

Bella was playing with P.B. (her bear)

Morning breakfast buffet! Yummers!

Blueberry mufiins...Bella's favorite.

Alton Towers Day! Bella is ready!

Right outside our hotel, you catch the monorail to the Amusement Park. Here's Bella on her first monorail ride.

They all were decorated. The one we rode to the park was a strawberry one!

There were a few areas just for Bella-sized kids. The first one is Storybook Land. There were a few rides here.

While we were waiting for the rides to open, we were playing on the playground. There was this round thingy that moved around. Well, Curtis thought he was cool and tried to walk on it....this was the result! Ha!

Bella was whining to get into the first ride....The Acorn Ride. The attendant closed this gate to put another family in the ride before us and I thought Bella was going to have a heart attack. Nothing like learning patience.

Riding on the Acorn Ride through the trees.

The Amusement Park is called Alton Towers because it is built around an actual castle called Alton Towers. It's actually very picturesque.

Next up...Old MacDonald's Farm...Bella on the Tractor.

Then, Daddy and Bella rode on this Farm animal ride. Bella went on the pig first, then the chicken and then the cow. They each had a button to push for sound effects.

Then, there was a little boat ride and we had to guess these little riddles along the way.

Then there was this cool indoor place...can't remember its name...but it was a room with balconies. You had to collect all of these soft balls and then go up and shoot them through these launchers. The idea is to get the family in there and shoot at each other. But, we just kinda played around. Here's Bella collecting balls at first.

Ready! Aim! Fire!

In the midst of it all, she wants to slide down the slide on the bottom floor...balls are being fired everywhere...but the girl has to get her slide on!

Then, we found another playground outside and slide.

We went to the section c alled Cuckoo Cuckoo Cloud, next. Here we went to The Go, Go, Go Show, which is a kid's song and dance show. This is the neat little theater.

Momma had to have a wheelchair because she was so weak. But we had lots of fun regardless.

Pirate Monorail back to the hotel.

Finish off the day with a popscicle.

She'd rather play legos than go to the Water Park!!!

Are you sure you don't want to go to the water park again, Bella?

Nope, just wanna play legos! Glad we came to the waterpark, then!
Bye-Bye Alton Towers (in the singing Elevator)