Maisy and Sophie did not have school last week. It was the February school vacation for Northern Holland. The girls and I spent the week with a friend and her two children. My friend organized the trip which was a welcome relief since I am always the one organizing our family vacations. She picked one of the Center Parcs destinations in Southern Holland. Center Parcs are family oriented vacation parks with modest facilities so the trip was very affordable. The location we chose had an indoor water park, Chuck E Cheese play area for kids, indoor sport facilities including a small ropes course, and outdoor skating rink, petting zoo, climbing wall, and during the summer it has numerous other outdoor water sports and activities.
Families stay in bungalows with kitchens. The bungalows were not fancy, but ours was clean and comfortable. Since my friend and I both cosleep with our children, there were two spare bedrooms which the girls turned into their special play areas. And one night they even attempted a slumber party in one of them.
Unfortunately, it rained all week and the weather was cold so we couldn't enjoy the outdoors as much as we would have liked. But the sun did shine long enough one afternoon for me to take the girls ice skating for the first time. The rink rented those horrible double bladed skates that you strap over their shoes. Maisy was able to use one of those metal walker devices to help her keep her balance and I ended up just carrying Sophie because she was too small to effectively push the metal stabilizer around the ice and my back wasn't strong enough to bend over and pull her around the arena for any real length of time. She prefers high speeds anyway, so we whizzed around the rink together until she got cold and wanted to quit. (which was about 15 minutes into the activity!)
We had a fun week and the kids did a good job of getting along with each other considering the highly stimulating activities and infrequent breaks they got from playing with each other.
This first photo doesn't need much explanation. But I do want to note that it was pouring rain and very cold when Maisy had to take an emergency pee on our walk home.
The kids enjoyed eating their meals in this trolley car which was located next to a play area. I must admit that even though the food wasn't the best, I did get to relax and enjoy my meals while the kids played together on the playground equipment.
Sophie at the end of a tunnel in the HUGE climbing maze for children.
Sophie and her buddy Asher who is one year younger than she is.
Maisy and Alana were very excited to try a slumber party and insisted on sleeping together in the spare bedroom. This arrangement didn't last more than an hour. Maisy chickened out first and unsuccessfully tried to convince me that Alana should come join our family bed so that her slumber party could continue!
Maisy, in her true element.
Enjoying the attention from the animals.
Sophie and Asher couldn't quite reach the peddles on these tractors. I tried to divert Sophie's attention from "Papa John's" tractor, but she won and I ended up pushing her around the farmyard.
Maisy and Alana enjoyed driving the motorized cards around the playhouse.
On our last full day we enrolled the girls in one of the children's classes. Maisy and Alana were reluctant to participate, but they both seemed pleased with the final product. I loved the outfits and am so happy to have a piece of her artwork to hang on the wall at home.
The kids had a wonderful week and I anticipate that we will return to Center Parcs next winter for another Moms and Kids week during the February vacation.
Maisy has mastered her "lopefiets" or walking bike. 
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