5 Things That Made Our Getaway Special

After we first arrived!

Last weekend my husband and I enjoyed a little getaway to Las Vegas. It was our first extended vacation (alone) in seven years.

Ahhh... Just thinking about it makes me feel all warm and happy inside. Here are the top five things that made our vacation extra special:

1. The trip was FREE! What a great way to relax and enjoy each other's company. Even if you can't go somewhere for free, I highly recommend finding a destination that costs less. It might be going somewhere closer to home. It might mean watching prices online and being flexible with dates. Or it might mean having a Stay-cation. Whatever it takes, it's worth keeping the cost down. There were no worries about finances and that enabled us to really relax and have fun.

2. We had trustworthy (free) childcare. My parents agreed to watch all four of our children. Again, it might not be possible for everyone to have free childcare, but if you can find it, use it. You'll be able to leave your cares behind. If relatives aren't available, offer to swap childcare with another couple. It might mean a date night, an overnight, or a long weekend.

The show we attended

3. We compromised. Okay, this one was a bit hard for me - at the beginning. I'm a planner, especially when we travel, and I usually have a packed itinerary. But I know how much my husband dislikes having his entire vacation planned. So we compromised and I had a couple of things on my "to-do" list, but we kept the schedule free and enjoyed my activities when it seemed appropriate. I wanted to see a show, go on a city tour and learn a little about the history of Vegas. We did all three of those things, but we did them when we felt like it. Win, win!

4. We left our troubles at home. We made an agreement that we wouldn't discuss all those pesky day-to-day problems we face at home. You know the kind. The house related issues, the work related issues, the family related issues. Instead, we talked about our goals for our family in 2013. The things we want to work on as parents, as a couple and as friends. It was so much fun to be proactive, instead of reactive. Without the kiddos around to distract us, we were able to have great conversations.

 

Watching the Vikings - outside the Mirage

5. We laughed, a lot. We held hands, kissed under the Vegas lights, relaxed and slept in. The best part was just being a couple. It was so much fun to sit back and really look at my husband again. Life is busy. Children are consuming. Owning a business is overwhelming. Taking time to reconnect, and only think about each other for four days, was priceless.

What about you? What do you enjoy about getting away with your significant other? If you're not in a relationship, what do you like about having time to yourself, away from all the responsibilities of life?

Home Sweet Home

 

 

I just returned from a fun getaway with my husband to Las Vegas. I'm so thankful to be home - and I'm even more thankful that I live in a city that goes to sleep at night.

With the holidays, and then the trip just a few days after New Year's, I didn't plan for my blog post, so I don't have a Way Back When-sday to share today.

I'll be back on Friday with my regular blog - some faith-filled reflections on getting away with my hubby.

But I'd love to know: Have you been to Las Vegas before? What did you think? Do you want to go back, or stay far, far away?