Las Vegas!

So Steve and I headed out to one of our favorite places...Las Vegas...for a special anniversary getaway. While Steve has been there on business several times recently, I had not been for nineteen years! We used to visit almost every year before we began our family, and always enjoyed the excitement, elegance, food, and fun of that remarkable city. I know, right? Me. Las Vegas. Who knew? In any case, our littles...not so little anymore...encouraged us to go and enjoy ourselves. And that is exactly what we did.

All ready to go...

Saying goodbye again with a quick selfie when we were at the end of our road. : )

Selfie for the kids on our way to the hotel.

Just the two of us meant a lot of selfies.

Steve was thrilled. ; )

Steve chose The Venetian Resort.

And it was stunning.

From the lobby...

Through the shops...

And even past the gondolas that floated right through the center of the square...

The authentic feel of Venice was everywhere.

At least as I imagine it is.

You know, since I've never been there. : )

But enough about that.

On to what's more important...

Our room.

A gal has to have her naps, you know. : )

All the rooms at The Venetian and The Palazzo are suites.

And that was nice. : )

We enjoyed a late dinner the first night.

And notice the black and white filter?

It does wonders for the "I'm super tired from being on a plane all afternoon, but am too lazy to freshen up and change" photos.

Breakfasts at hotels are nice...

Especially when they have The. Best. Hot. Chocolate. Ever.

And that's my cranberry juice there too. : )

But most mornings my sweet hubby brought breakfast back to the room for me.

After a few rounds of gambling, of course. : )

We spent some days at the pool...

And others walking through amazing shopping centers in the midst of beautiful hotels...

Where...if you looked hard enough...you could find a pretty normal spot for lunch. : )

Evenings found us dressed up and heading out to see amazing shows...

like ONE, a tribute show featuring Michael Jackson's hit songs with amazing dancers.

At one point, a hologram of Michael himself appeared and danced an entire song.

Amazing.

Another night. Another selfie. I mean...show.

This was incredible.

His magic is...well...magical.

But honestly, I was most struck by his demeanor.

He is actually very kind, sincere, funny, and generous.

But still. Crazy good!

(No photos allowed, so I got this from his website.)

Our last night, we had dinner at a beautiful restaurant right in our hotel.

We ate. And talked and...

Did I mention we ate?

It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful trip...

As were the sweet little bags filled with delicious chocolates waiting for us before bed.

Which...as any mother will tell you...went right inside her purse to be taken home and passed out to her children.

Our last morning came quickly...

And although we were sad to see our special trip come to an end...

As we flew through the beautiful skies back to the place we belonged, we were happy.

Happy that God blessed us with twenty-five beautiful years together, four amazing children, a cozy place we call Home, and two cute- as- can -be pups.

Awaiting us at home?

This.

This precious sight.

And this.

Yes.

My children, along with Nicolas, cleaned our house from top to bottom.

They dusted, scrubbed, did laundry, and even Swiffered floors.

All so we could come home to a clean house.

My heart was so full at that moment.

And I realized...They could do it.

They could survive without me.

At first I felt sad...

But then, I thought of something the lovely manicurist said to me as we chatted.

She told me that I had done that.

I had raised them to be responsible enough to be left alone.

And I should be happy.

So...I was.

So there you have it.

The last of our anniversary.

Promise.

But if I could add one more thing...

Something that was not easy for me to do.

Not because I didn't want to spend time alone with my husband,

but because for so long, my place has been here.

In my home.

Nurturing, teaching, raising, and loving on littles.

Suddenly, those littles were old enough to be alone for a few days.

And I realized...with some wise words from my dear mother...

that something else needed nurturing.

Something that perhaps I took for granted.

My marriage.

I realized how important it is to keep connected with Steve.

As a person, As a friend.

Not only as "Daddy".

We spent those days as we had all those years before...

talking and laughing and teasing and napping.

And it was good.

And I realized that one of my biggest fears...

the day my home is empty of little ones...

is nothing to fear at all.

Because it will be me and Steve.

Just as it was at the very beginning.

Only better.

Because we will have the peace of knowing we raised our children together.

And we still have each other.

And that's what started it all.

All those years ago.