Swimming at the Crowne Plaza

In September, Joel and I sat down with our calendars to schedule his days off when Samuel comes. Through the process we realized he had 11 vacation days and 9 sick days left for 2008. Sick days roll over. Vacation days are gone forever if you don't use them!

So we decided to find a hotel with an open indoor pool (we called this time!) to enjoy for at least one night. (You may recall that the major disappointment from our trip to New York in August was the lack of swimming.)

As I looked on the internet for places to go and things to do within an hour or so of our home, I discovered The Big E. After living in Rhode Island for 11 years I had never heard of the New England Exposition (or fair). We decided to make 3 days 2 nights of our family trip and not only swim but also attend the fair.

We made reservations at the Crown Plaza in Enfield, Connecticut and were NOT disappointed in our accommodations this time. We arrived Thursday afternoon, changed into our swimsuits and spent several hours in the pool. We had planned to attend the Big E on Friday but it poured down rain all day so we swam some more and watched t.v. all day. We made it to the Fair on Saturday but more about that in another post.

Here are pictures from the pool. Ellie had never been swimming in a pool and the boys haven't been in over a year, maybe longer than that. You will notice there are NO pictures of me. I told Joel just putting on a bathing suit when 8+ months pregnant was "taking one for the team."

Are you sure about this, Dad?

Benjamin was very hesitant to get in the water!

Will took to the water like a fish!

Most of the pool was 3.5 feet deep. It deepened in the middle and toward one side.
I've never seen a pool like it. It was great for me to be able to stand the whole time
and tend to a child in shallow water.

Ben clung to Daddy most of the time. See the hot tub? It felt great on my legs.
Don't worry. I sat on the edge and dangeled my feet in the water.