Thankful for an Escape from Reality

The Fairmont Princess Resort did not disappoint.
Beautiful grounds and super friendly staff

Don and I got out of the crazy marathon we run everyday and strolled for five days in Scottsdale, Arizona! I can't believe it has been four years since we got away together. I have taken girl trips, he has taken guy trips, and we have taken the older kids on trips, but it was exactly four years since a trip with just the two of us. Is it a sign of how busy you are when it seems more like eighteen months, not four years?!? A destination Family wedding seemed the perfect reason to escape reality. 

It is about 10am and we were sitting outside...doing NOTHING!

 Scottsdale, Arizona here we come! A second honeymoon. A long overdue vacation. Time away with my favorite friend, my teammate, my hot husband. The trip exceeded my expectations. It was more relaxing then I could have dreamt, record high temps, a beautiful wedding that made for a great time, just enough people on the trip to make for great conversation and low maintenance bonding time. A trip that will go down at the Top of my list of greatest trips! It was worth waiting four years!

Stepsisters Wedding made for a perfect amount of fun added to our trip

He is so cute! I think it might be the reason I didn't miss the kids too much. I could see them in Don!

 I will list Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale as my greatest trip away. Unfortunately, it will also be listed as my worst trip home! Who knew reality could be so hard to get back into! There is something to be said for "you can't miss what you don't have." I went years without hours of alone time, hot coffee, quiet mornings, attention from your spouse, showers followed by getting ready and dressed cute (in that order, no disruptions), sleeping in, shopping without worrying about when school gets out, going out to eat without texting a babysitter..the list could go on!

Allison was a Gorgeous bride in an Amaaazing bridal gown!!!!

There is a little person in our house who likes order. He prefers a schedule. He eats the same two things for lunch and dinner. Likes the same books read everyday, same babysitters, same sippy cup, same shoes and coat and hat. Switching from summer to fall was an ordeal. No school to kids in school took days to work through. His Dad should be at work everyday or he thinks we are going to church, he looks at me funny when I put my hair in a ponytail, questions where we are going when I take a shower (cause it only happens if I'm going out). Leave a child like this for five days and there is hell to pay when you get home!

My brother Mike is a best friend to me.
 And the other Mike, is my goofy Dad who thinks I do no wrong!!!!

My almost three year old, Austin for those wondering who I am talking about, did not handle my return home very well. I guess he was fine for the sitter or everyone has been sworn to secrecy to make me think so. After twelve days home I finally feel like he has somewhat forgiven me for leaving. I questioned once last week whether it was worth it. I called the Doctor today for advice on his emotional needs. Don thinks we shouldn't leave him again for our ski trip in February, which I firmly replied, "that is how he will learn, we will leave and we will come back!" 

The food was amazing!
 Don wasn't hungry, but I was, so I ordered Room service!
Sat on the patio and ate the whole thing without interruptions!!!

We got a free room upgrade, which meant a pool meant for the "fancy" rooms only!!!
Super quiet!

Escaping reality was great. Coming back to it has been tough. I miss Don even though I live with him. I miss the Arizona weather, although I couldn't leave my seasons. I miss sleeping in, but it just makes you feel lazy after so long. I'm looking forward to the next escape from reality, which will not be in four years! I will give the memories of this trip some time to fade before I start texting babysitters for the next one! Which, I must give a huge shout out, I have the most amazing, beautiful, sweet, trustworthy, woman any mother of four could ask for to leave with my kiddos! No, you cannot have her number!!! She is the reason I had no meltdowns or anxiety over being gone from my children. I got to truly escape my reality and absorb paradise! Something to be very Thankful for this November!

This was our view from the patio. That is the PGA Tour Golf Course on other side of tree.
We overheard two golfers commenting on "wind in their face." Don and I turned to eachother and burst out laughing!
The branches were barely moving. These AZ folks are weather spoiled!!!!

Only person I had to share dessert with was this handsome husband!

Beauty of Autumn

November is here! Thankful, grateful, blessed, overwhelmed, all words used more in our vocabulary this month than any other. I put away my Halloween decor and am chomping at the bit to start decorating for Christmas! This would be my favorite Holiday to turn my house inside out and go crazy with decorating! The twinkle of lights, the smell of fresh balsam from my candle, and a house all ready for all the events I want to host, the shopping I get to do, and the shrieks of joy from my kids as they look for their elf. That will have to wait a few more weeks, because it is November and I don't have enough days in this month to list all the things that make me say, I am so overwhelmed with Thankfulness.

My kids had the Friday after Halloween off from School. This has never happened before and it was awesome! The entire morning spent sorting candy, counting candy, putting prices next to candy and having Mom come to your Candy Store and make purchases! It doesn't get much better than that for a kid. The candy wrappers I have been finding all over my house had me mumbling unkind things about candy. The tantrums that came out of Austin over the weekend, well that had me using extreme self control to keep me from dumping all the candy in the trash can. I haven't seen tantrums this terrible. 

So, I let the the candy sit out on the counter and the wrappers lay on the floor and the candy store to be open for business for three days. Then when they all went to bed I bagged all the chocolate for the freezer, threw away the whoppers and jaw breakers, and hid the sweet stuff in a rubbermaid high on a kitchen shelf.

She loved throwing the leaves up in the air!

Most pictures Austin refuses to be near his siblings. Heidi has a crazy fear of stairs, which I didn't realize was making her cry until I stepped back and I thought, "I wonder why she is so upset?!" I couldn't resist snapping a picture!

Molly shouted, "these leaves are easier to pick up Mom"

I am working on an event at our church right now. We have this 'Brave' theme going around. Women have this idea of what they think they should be or how they should act or what they should be doing. God has each of us designed a certain way. We need to be brave enough to step outside what we think we are suppose to do and find out who we are in God's eyes. How does He see me, what is His plan for me? Am I brave enough to trust Him. Or will I stay where I am and rely on myself? 

I haven't seen the Disney movie "Brave." During naptime this weekend I asked Molly and Grant if they wanted to watch it in our movie room with me. Grant said No and Molly said yes! It was the first movie I watched with my daughter curled up in my arm, enjoying chocolate (from the halloween stash) where we cried at the same time. This wasn't just some tears to wipe away. It was sobs coming from Molly and me crying. I haven't cried over a movie in years. Molly has never cried over a movie. She is 9 years old and we shared a good cry over a good movie, together! I loved the movie. What a well done story about the innocence and immaturity of wanting what we want and if someone doesn't agree then we want to change them or run from them. 

 In the movie Princess Merida says,
"There are those who say fate is something beyond our command. That destiny is not our own, but I know better. Our fate lives within us. We just have to be brave enough to see it."

He took notice of all the shapes and colors of the leaves

 After spending the 'no school' day watching TV and eating/playing with candy I decided fresh air was what we all needed. The wind this season has been even stronger than usual, so to me the best choice was a wooded area to block the cold wind. Schram State Park is one of my favorite places. We are blessed because it is only ten minutes away from our house....and they installed a new playset in the park!

We were all walking around the side of the gate. She had to do it her own way, go under!

We are thankful for Autumn and the beauty it brings to pictures!

Reasons I Love Halloween

 Autumn came late this year in Nebraska. It seemed as if the trees were being stubborn and not turning all the fall shades. I'm not sure if this is why I took notice of our yard this year compared to years past. Or maybe it is because our trees are finally to a size where I could rake the leaves and let the kids jump in them! As I type this I am wondering why we haven't done this, something to do today! 

 I'm sure my kids will roll their eyes and tell me I always say, "Halloween is my favorite Holiday." But it won't stop me from saying, "Halloween is my favorite." Here are some reasons why;
~Fall is in full effect by October 31st. 

~Toddlers in costume is the cutest thing ever.

~Adults in costume makes me laugh out loud. How can you not love a Holiday that brings laughing out loud!

Yes, he is making balloon animals! 

~People turn on their porch lights. They are eager to answer the door. They hand out treats for free! They are friendly. Adults walk the streets with their kids. It is the only Holiday where this happens. Neighbors become neighborly!

My kids don't weigh their candy...they count each piece!!!!

One of many tantrums...He was refusing to be apart of another picture!

My Grandma loves Halloween. I think she loves children in costume, not Halloween!

The reactions from our kids when Don put on this costume was another reason I love Halloween!
Laughter, Laughter, Laughter

 Most Holidays bring Families together that don't normally see each other. Halloween, well it brings friends together who normally spend time together. It is the Holiday that is fun and silly and low key and forces you to be creative and step outside your comfort zone!

Molly and Grant's 6th year attending Boo at the Zoo in Lincoln.
A night my kids look forward to with their friends!

 What would Halloween be without Classroom parties!?! It is the first one of the School year and definitely the best of the three parties of the year! Seeing teachers and peers dressed up has everyone smiling!

I think I love Halloween the most because I know it will quickly become a Holiday where I see my kids being 'too old' to trick or treat and 'too cool' to dress up. As a mom to these little ones I savor the days where everything about being a kid gets to be celebrated!