Birthday Getaway

Stephen's birthday wish was for a relaxing night away with me at the Common Man Inn in Plymouth.  We had visited there once when I was several months pregnant with Tert (just before our 10th anniversary), but this was our FIRST, BABY-FREE night away since our honeymoon.  No maternity clothes, aching feet and pillows to prop my large belly. No small children in our bed or babies to nurse through the night. Stephen and I had anticipated every detail of this long-awaited trip, and the timing was perfect.  It followed an exhausting "vacation" week of replacing our own roof and preceded the season of crazy overtime hours to pay for Stella's braces.  Never have we needed or appreciated a break more...

We began our date with a hike up Mt. Kearsarge and shared a picnic lunch with a breathtaking view.  After a quick stop home to nurse Filia and check on the slow cooker, we kissed our little ones goodbye and headed north.  Our spacious room had a fireplace, a lovely view, and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from my romantic husband. I could scarcely wait to present him with his birthday gift, so we opened a bottle of champagne and some fancy chocolates I had packed and settled into our cozy love seat.  Stephen was delighted with the album I had made for him.  It was a compilation of all of the letters, cards, and sentimental notes we've exchanged since we met.  What fun it was to relive the shy days of dating as we read our earliest letters aloud.  These captured memories sparked so much wonderful conversation through the special dinner and evening that followed.  Stephen and I agreed that this getaway was the most refreshing and delightful time we've shared in over a decade.  As wonderful as our honeymoon was, this 24 hours together even surpassed our first days as newlyweds.