A little Leavenworth

We took a little adventure to Leavenworth. Just the little kids and I.

Kevin couldn't take this specific time off, and Karman couldn't take the time away from school. So we just took a road trip...and it was great!

We bonded in a way that we have never been able to before. We played all day, and stayed up late. We had no where to be at any specific time, and we had no time limits...we could take our time, and just focus on playing. Plus there has never been a time, where I could focus all of my attention on them ALL day! No cooking, no cleaning. It was great, they LOVED it!

All of the colors were changing over, and it was gorgeous! I have never been there before even though I grew up in both Spokane and Bellevue. The drive was very pretty!

There were flowers everywhere...the town is very kept up and clean!

The flower pots were overflowing...they are unbelievable! I have never seen such amazing gardens.

There were hundreds of picture opportunities.

Plus, the whole town is designed for tourists. There are a ton of painted murals to take pictures in front of...and beautiful trees...and rockeries.

The kids hammed it up at every turn.

It is such a quaint little town...Bavarian in style and feel. There are a ton of little shops, very touristy, but homey too. Everyone is friendly, every shop has Christmas ornaments in it all year long, and it is filled with Bakerys, oh sooooo many bakeries. Not a good thing when you are trying to lose weight.

Our hotel offered a continental breakfast like none I have ever seen before. This is the waffle bar, where you could make you own belgian waffles. Tyler LOVED it!

Here we are on our night out to dinner...all dressed up.

We went to the arcade, which was a big hit. These are all of the tickets that the kids won.

The favorite game was ICE BALL. They could have played it all day long!

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Everyday I watch my kids as they morph into little people. They have their own thoughts, and are certainly developing their own opinions. It makes me so happy to know I am a huge part of who they are becoming. That somehow, everyday, I am touching their lives in the way that they have changed mine.

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We went mini-golfing.

This was CERTAINLY the highlight of the trip for the kids. They had so much fun. They could have played again and again. We were there for two full hours, but we could've stayed all day long.

When we were done...the kids just seemed different. They had spent time with me, and with each other, and it seemed, it was just what they needed. They were just plain happy! Happy with every single minute.

I took every minute of them in. They were nice to each other, and they were laughing and joking. They were really good company. I couldn't have said that a year ago. I mean I loved them just as much and all...but they would have been a lot more work a year ago.

Here we were alone, away from home, and daddy and Karman...and yet, I was never lonely.

It was fun. All of it.

The golf course, by the way, was one of the nicest I have ever seen. There were bridges, and benches, and waterfalls, and fountains. All of the water was colored blue. Not to mention, the flowers and the trees.

Maky's ball was pink, and she was proud of it!

She picked up on how to play after about 3 holes. And really did pretty well, considering she is three.

Tyler got it right away. He thought the real thing was better then the Wii. :)

This is the fountain that we could see from our hotel room.

It was really pretty.

So I had it all planned to go to this place that I found downtown that takes "Old Time" photos. The kind where you get dressed up and all.

The kids had a blast! They chose cowboys, and they did really well.

The husband and wife who own it, said that Tyler was a natural.

Here is a picture of the picture.

It really is VERY cute!

Here is the local Starbucks. Everything is made to look authentic.

Here is a beautiful bench that is handpainted. They are all over the place, and really nice!

No seriously, could they be cuter?

Below, they each flattened pennies for souveniers.

It was a fun trip....not so much for where we went or the town, or the events while we were there....but for the trip itself. Being alone with them for the first time ever in this way.

I am a stay at home mom...and though some hear that and think..."cake-job"...it very much is not.

All day long, WITHOUT the shopping, cleaning, organizing, or cooking, I also get kids dressed, make meals, take to school, play-with, clean up, brush, wash, pick up from school, hug, love, answer a million questions, break up fights, listen to gossip, help with homework, bathe, play with some more, feed more, get ready for bed, read to, tuck in,...etc...

While I wouldn't change a thing about it...

(well most of the time)

it was wonderful to get away, and do nothing but play with them,

and love them.