Pt 2 of them (continued ver)

Chapter 248

As the final day of their month-long water park adventure arrived, the family woke up to a mixture of emotions. The kids, especially Caitlyn and Colleen, were excited to spend one last day splashing around, while Liam and Carter were already showing signs of exhaustion from the packed schedule. Carter, still a little fuzzy and frustrated from his sickness earlier in the trip, clung to Colby as the family prepared for their last outing.

Morning Routine

The morning was filled with the usual chaos of packing and dressing everyone. Malia and Colby had already started organizing the luggage, ensuring all the essentials were packed for the trip back home. Carter was particularly resistant to leaving his crib that morning. He sat in the middle of it, clutching his favorite dinosaur and refusing to budge.

"Carter, we have to get ready," Colby coaxed, crouching by the crib.

"No," Carter mumbled, burying his face in the toy.

Malia stepped in with a small bottle of milk. "Here, baby, let's have some milk, and then we can go play one last time," she said, lifting him out. Carter reluctantly took the bottle and leaned against her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Liam was being his usual stubborn self, insisting he didn't want to wear his swim shirt. "It's itchy!" he whined, stomping his foot.

"You're wearing it," Colby said firmly, sliding the shirt over Liam's head.

The Final Swim

The family arrived at the water park mid-morning, securing a cabana as their base one last time. Carter, now a little more energized after his milk, perked up at the sight of the pool.

"I wanna go!" he squealed, reaching for Colby.

"Alright, buddy, but we're taking it slow," Colby said, carrying him to the shallow pool while Malia got the girls settled with their floaties. Liam, of course, was already sprinting toward the slides.

Carter giggled as the cool water splashed his legs. For a brief moment, his energy returned, and he started kicking and splashing, much to Colby's amusement.

"You're having fun now, huh?" Colby said, bouncing Carter gently in the water.

Lunch and Packing Up

By noon, the family took a break for lunch. Malia had packed a few sandwiches and snacks, knowing the kids might be too tired to wait for the park's food. Carter refused to eat much, sticking to his bottle and nibbling on a few crackers.

"I think someone's ready for a nap," Malia said, brushing a hand over Carter's damp curls as he rubbed his eyes.

"We'll head back to the cabana soon," Colby said, noticing Liam yawning as well.

After lunch, they returned to their cabana to dry off and change. Carter protested being taken out of the water, kicking his legs and letting out small cries, but Colby managed to soothe him by promising a "big hug" and his favorite blanket back at the cabana.

Saying Goodbye

As they packed up their belongings, the kids took one last look at the park. Caitlyn and Colleen waved goodbye to the lazy river, while Liam muttered something about coming back "next year."

Carter, now bundled in a towel and half-asleep in Colby's arms, let out a soft whimper.

"What's wrong, little man?" Colby asked gently.

"Don't wanna go," Carter mumbled, resting his head on Colby's shoulder.

"We'll come back, buddy. But it's time to go home," Colby assured him, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

The Drive Home

On the drive back, the van was unusually quiet. Carter was asleep in his car seat, his dinosaur tucked under his arm. Liam was nodding off next to him, and the girls were watching a movie on the van's screen.

Colby glanced back at the peaceful scene and smiled. "Think they'll miss it?" he asked Malia.

"Oh, definitely," Malia said, leaning her head back against the seat. "But I think we're all ready for our own beds again."

As the van rolled toward home, the family reflected on the memories they had made during the trip. From Carter's ups and downs to the laughter and bonding, it had been a month they would never forget.