Anniversary Get-Away

 Last Friday was our 15th wedding anniversary, so I surprised Joe with a trip to one of our favorite places....Big Cedar Lodge.  We have always loved going there since the first time we went probably 12 years ago.  It takes about 2 hours to get there, so its an easy weekend trip.  On the way, Joe surprised ME with this really pretty necklace!  

 

 I had no idea he had gotten me anything.  Earlier in the week he sent me 15 red roses, so I never thought I'd get  something else.

Our first stop...ALWAYS...on the way to Branson, is in Boxley to see the elk.  As many times as we have seen them, it still amazes me how beautiful these animals are in the wild.  

 

This was our cabin

On the inside

 

This cake, along with 2 wine glasses (engraved Big Cedar 2010) were waiting for us when we arrived.   

 When we first got unpacked I could tell Joe was really tired, so I told him I was going for a walk and left him to take a little nap. I enjoyed just walking around the property snapping pictures.

Great Sunday Brunch at The Worman House

Small place for coffee and baked items

On Saturday, Gran and Papa came up and we spend the day shopping and eating, eating and shopping!!  It was a really good weekend...

Bye for now.....

Big Cedar Lodge

 

Last Friday, Joe and I went to Branson, Missouri, and stayed at Big Cedar Lodge.  It only takes about 2 1/2 hours to get there, but it seems a world away.  On the way to Branson, we go through a community called, Boxley, Arkansas, that we always stop to watch the elk.  Several years ago, the park service put some elk there and they seems to just stay in a few select fields that you can always see from the road. Boxley is only 30 miles or so from our house. 

We got to Big Cedar around 3 o'clock Friday afternoon.  We met Joe's nurse, Cathy, and her husband, Todd, there.  We had reservations at The Devil's Pool restaurant for dinner.  It was really good...Joe always gets the smoked prime rib and me, the filet.  Saturday morning it was snowing the most beautiful flakes.  It was a little warm to stick, but with the surrounding mountains, it looked like a post card.

Gran and Papa brought the kids up Saturday afternoon and we spent the rest of the day at Branson Landing.  Had a really good supper at Joe's Crab Shack.  Sunday, we all exchanged Valentine's stuff and ran off to brunch at The Worman House.  Champagne mimosas, chocolate-covered strawberries, omelets.....yummmmy.  There was so much food, I couldn't try it all!  We shopped some more Sunday afternoon and were home to watch the last couple laps of the Daytona 500!  What a nice get away.  

School is out for winter break until tomorrow.  I've been playing around with Photoshop Elements that I got for Christmas....

This is a picture before......

and after......

Jake has a ballgame tonight and Anna has an orthodontist appointment this afternoon.  Will be back in our "normal" routine soon, but it was a nice LONG, restful weekend!

Bye for now.....