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Highlight of the Week
I’ve been hinting for a while that I had a special birthday present coming up & it took place this past weekend! About 6 weeks before my birthday, I told Derrick that what I really wanted as a gift, was to go away, overnight – just the two of us (meaning, without the baby). Braelynn is rounding the bend on 3 years old and we’ve never left her overnight before! She’s Mommy’s little snuggle bug and ends up in bed with us every night (a habit we’ve been so far unsuccessful at breaking). But, I really wanted some time away to relax and not have to worry about Braelynn.
So, that’s what we did. Derrick took this past Monday off work, and we went to Kalahari Resort out in Sandusky, Ohio for a little getaway.
Yes, I cried leaving Braelynn at my parent’s house. I knew she’d be fine & safe & very happy, I just knew I was going to miss her so much. The night before we left, as we were packing & getting ready to go, I had the thought: She could come with us. She would have so much fun! She could totally just come along. But, ultimately, I knew if I changed my mind & brought her along, that I’d always be slightly sad that I hadn’t’ made the leap to go alone.
Kalahari is an indoor waterpark and because we were staying there at the resort, we had full access both the day we arrived and the day we checked out. So, we arrived early in the afternoon Sunday & spent the rest of the day around the pool, in the lazy river, and on the waterslides. And then after we checked out of our room the next morning, we stayed for a few more hours before heading home on Monday.
It was such a lovely, relaxing, fun time away. Time that Derrick & I desperately needed (both individually & as a husband/wife). I unexpectedly cried during breakfast on Monday morning because Derrick was talking about how grown up Braelynn is to spend the night away from us. How is our little babe old enough for sleepovers already? I mean, technically she’s not, because she still can’t sleep all night in her own bed (she snuggled with my Mom all night I hear), but we’re getting so close! She’s getting so big! Overall though, it was a wonderful experience – we’d definitely go back to Kalahari! And I think Derrick-and-Kara mini-trips should be an annual thing.
Yes, This Happened
- We had our yearly family photos taken last night (Fall Bucket List # 7 CHECK)! YAY! My wonderful sister Ellen took our photos at Bushy Run State Park and we had so much fun! I can’t wait to see how they turn out! I know a lot of photographers cry at being in front of the camera, but I don’t mind it one bit (especially when the camera is in the hands of my sister who I trust implicitly)!
- Ladies Night in Irwin was this past week! Last year I took my camera & took photographs of the businesses and evening, but this year I left it at home so I could just enjoy. We had so much fun! Downtown Irwin has so many adorable little shops & businesses – we loved visiting them all!
- Braelynn can now jump off of the 2nd step of our stairs onto the landing. So, in case you can’t visualize what I mean, we have a landing at the bottom of our steps. Then, there is the first step, then the second – and she has figured out she can jump off of that 2nd step onto the landing. This kid & jumping, she jumps off of everything!
Feeling Blessed
My business is officially 100% caught up. I delivered the last of my October photo galleries this past week and suddenly, I feel strangely “bored”. I mean, I’m not bored – I still have personal photos that need to be edited & a whole long list of “off-season” tasks that need to be tackled. So, maybe the feeling would better be described as “like I’m forgetting something”. Like, I’ve been running full speed ahead for so long that now that I’m finally stopped, my legs feel like they should still be moving. Does that make sense? Am I crazy? Either way, it’s wonderful, and I’m loving it!
But even as wedding season is winding down, engagement season is heating up! I met with two adorable new couples this week about their 2018 weddings, and have more meetings scheduled next week! My 2018 calendar is getting fuller & fuller and it’s SO exciting!!
