Weekend Getaway

Mike and I decided that we would get away for a night this weekend for our anniversary. (It's coming up this week). We decided that we would take Anne Marie with us. Since she missed both of her August vacations (our China-family reunion & end of summer camping trip - boohoo!) we thought having her come along might be something fun for her as well as for us.

We booked a night at one our favorite hotels. This is the kind of place that you show up early. (way earlier than check in!) Because if your room isn't ready then you get them to hold your bags and head out to take part in all the fun things they have available. This weekend, we were able to check-in early...so off to our room we went to get ready for some fun. This weekend they had quite a few kid-friendly things going on, so we knew that we'd be on the go the whole time!

The 1st thing she does is run into the room & jump on her bed. She make sure that Ling (her baby) and Jack (her puppy) liked it & had room to rest while we were out!

We then checked out the balcony off of our room...and the great view. If it wasn't SO STINKING COLD this weekend, this would have been a GREAT addition to our room, but we could only enjoy this for short periods of time.

Then, it was off to the pool we went. This is a beautiful pool that is naturally fed & heated by natural spring waters. It's sooooooo relaxing!

Then, back to our room to get ready for afternoon tea. (One of Anne Marie's favorite things about this place....she just loves the tea!)

Anne Marie enjoying her tea (with lots of cream and sugar mind you), cream-cheese tea sandwiches & cinnamon scones w/ raspberry jam.

She even enjoys the rides in the elevator -- I'm sure that everyone gets a little put-off, but she always has to press the buttons for our floor...and we let her...such simple pleasures!

Then, it was off for kids crafting and a special fall-buffet dinner!

There was fall face-painting..she really didn't like any of the fall things other kids were getting (pumpkins, orange & black tigers, black-masked "hero's" , bats) she asked for a pink butterfly and a red and black ladybug..they were happy to do so!

Then, it was off to carve pumpkins. They let each child pick their own pumpkin and let the parents help carve them. They also had a duck pond (w/ prizes to win) and a GREAT buffet dinner w/ a huge table full of desserts to choose from. For the record out of about 20 different desserts (chocolate-white-chocolate cake, turtle cheese-cake, coconut pies, mini-tortes, ice-cream w/ fresh fruit topping w/ wet-walnuts and sooooo on) she chose the chocolate chip cookies! I'm sure they were good, but I was surprised!!

So proud of her pumpkin!

After crafting & dinner we headed to the theatre for the free kids movie - Madagascar-2! She loved it! And it's always fun to see it on the "big-screen".

Then, it was off to bed --- Whewwww what a day!

The next day was check-out day, but as I said, we make sure we make the most of our stay. After we get up for a wonderful breakfast, we pack up & ask for our bags to be held again. We spend the day at the pool, playing checkers, putting puzzles together, and playing around the grounds. We end up usually staying for the afternoon tea one more time before finally leaving for home. I always wish we could spend more time..but hopefully soon!

Playing around in the halls.

Trying to put the puzzle together.

Mike and Anne Marie playing checkers -- she's actually catching on & doing well!

These were some of my favorite pictures -- we went outside for a little "air" and she starting running around (she needed to get energy out after a quiet game of checkers) - she was running up and down the walk-way. She ran in and out of the columns -- she had a blast!