Weekend Get-a-Way

The three of us got out of town with friends for the weekend.  We have been working on several extra "projects" in addition to work that have caused us to work longer hours and not be able to relax as much as we would like over the weekend.  Instead of waiting at the airport and have the horrible experience that a lot of people are having with the airlines these days, we decided to get out of town somewhere that a 4 hour or less car ride could take us to.  Friends of ours told us about a place they like going to, so we went there...and they joined us.  It's a cute little art town and not much more to it but we had a great time. 

We arrived Friday afternoon and had lunch at a local cafe and then stopped by to look at a few of the shops near the cafe.  Collin was fascinated with the jewelry and kept wanting to show me the shiny pieces.  If they felt "soft", those were is favorite.  Soft was really smooth...it look me a little while to figure that one out.  Then, we checked into the motel.  We took a nap which felt great!  Collin and I got up before Daddy and decided to swim in the motel swimming pool.  The pool was old school because the deep end was 11ft deep and the "shallow" end quickly got to 5ft within ten steps.  At least there were steps so Collin could play around these.  He swam back and forth to me until Daddy got up and joined us.  Collin swam back and forth between us before he got out and jumped in the pool from the side.  Daddy and I then took turns throwing him up in the air for him to land in the water and swim to one of us.  He LOVED this.  We swam for over an hour before the other couple and their kids, Alex and Ellie arrived.  They unpacked and we headed to dinner at a local German restaurant.  The buffet was great.  After dinner, we went to the biergarten in back and listen and danced to music until after 9pm.  It was hard to leave because the kids were having so much fun dancing with each other and then one of us.  We were all tired from the long day though and headed back to the motel.

On Saturday, we hung out at the local creek for a few hours.  It was Collin's first time to play in a creek and also chute down the small rapids.  He did not know there were fishes in there until about an hour into the fun.  Fortunately, he was having so much fun that he did not want to get out when he saw them.  He actually wanted his goggles so he could look in the water as he was flowing with the current to see the fish.  He did ask about snakes and occasionally would say that he saw one.  We were all on the look out for snakes and did not see one so I think Collin was just saying it for attention. 

The beginning of the chute

Alex and Collin flowing down the creek

Collin getting really comfortable in the creek

Collin and Ellie being silly with their sticks

Daddy cooling off in the water

Daddy joining in the fun with the boys

We stayed for almost three hours.  Fortunately, we did bring snacks and water so we did not have to leave when the kids, or we, got hungry...which was about an hour after arriving.  I got in to because it was hot out and the water was COLD.  It was probably 65 degrees.  It felt great once you got used to it because it cooled you down from the 103 degree day. 

We left so the kids could rest before we headed for the treat that night.  The men stayed at the motel to watch the kids or nap with the ladies went shopping.  It was good to get away and explore the cute little town.  We found an estate sale in a house that had a gorgeous view of the creek, went to a few antiques stores and then bought some fudge.  It was time to get back for dinner before heading to an outdoor theater.  We first ate at a local Mexican restaurant before heading to the outdoor theater. 

Collin heard the announcer say that there was going to be gun fire on the left side and to be aware of this for the kids in the audience.  He was VERY interested in the gun fire and wanted to know why they were going to do it and when.  I was shocked at how attentive he was through the entire play which lasted over 2 hours including the short intermission.  I figured out why he was so attentive....  After every act, he would ask, "Are they going to shoot the guns now?" over and over again.  By intermission, they had not had the war scene yet so he did not want to leave even though it was after 9pm.  He wanted to stay and watch the fight scene.  So...when the that scene happened, I did not expect him to be as scared as he was.  He wanted to leave the place.  Fortunately, it was over fairly quickly and we stayed the rest of the time.  When the play was over, the actors stood by the exit for the audience members to meet them.  Collin walked up to two of the army guys and told them, "I was scared of the shoots" (he meant shooting).  They told him it was pretend and that all of the guys were fine.  He seemed to be good with that explanation.

We went back to the motel to watch some TV for a few minutes because the boys were wound up from the show.  The next morning, we met our friends for breakfast and let the kids play on the playground on the motel grounds before packing up and heading back home.

Grandma H came over for dinner and to hear about our trip.  Collin was rude to and did not want to talk to anyone and especially about the trip.  Within 15 minutes, he was sleeping on the couch.  This was before 7pm.  When Daddy went to move him after we had dinner, Collin did not wake up at all.  He was out for the night.  Guess he had a good weekend too.  :)