MKY & Oboro

February 21-24, 2013:

We took a few days off work to make a long weekend away for a much needed visit with family & friends.

Our first stop was MKY to visit my brother's family.

We must have played about 5 games of monopoly over the course of the 2 and a half days we were there.....but we loved every minute - playing anything with the kiddos and having good quality time together is what we were there for.

The Tank is very competitive....and Uncle Brandon isn't nearly as conceding as Pawpaw (my Dad~who let's The Tank win at *everything*).

Goose is more like me, she likes to play the game, but isn't too upset if she loses.

 The Chief was on my team and helped me by rolling the dice and holding onto my money.

That evening, we went to my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant, a place we refer to as Los (the full name is Los Portales).

The Guys Side:

The Girls Side:

 And The Chief's Side:

We just so happened to be in town on Los Portales' 17th anniversary of business!  They had a Mariachi band to celebrate!

Here's a video of the band (including a portion where The Tank dances with them)

The Tank *loved* my CamWow photo app and took a billion pictures with it, giggling at each one.....here's a few of the really funny ones:

Poor Miss Boo wasn't feeling well a good chunk of the time we were there, so she slept a lot....but when she was up and at it, she was the life of the party as usual.  ;)

Sweet Goose and I  - our digital tradition.

Goose was in a play while we were there - it was Opening Night!

It was a Peanuts play and she was one of the school kids.  She did such a great job!  She is getting so expressive and theatrical.

It seems there's always a birthday or anniversary to celebrate when we see my brother's family, this time was no different.  The Tank's birthday was a few weeks away, but we wouldn't get to see him then, so we brought his presents with us (The Reds shirt he's wearing, Reds pencils & other small goodies).

One picture of all the kids with Uncle Brandon and Aunt Mel before we headed out.

Our next stop was to Oboro to visit my best friend, Alisha, and her family.  Alisha had baby LN on Valentine's Day and I couldn't wait another day to meet him!

Doesn't he look like a natural?  ;)

I brought my "good camera" and we did a little photoshoot of LN.

Even though this picture is a tad blurry, I love it!

Valentine's

As is our tradition (see 2011 {bottom of that post} & 2012), we went to Qdoba for Valentine's Day.  It's buy-one-get-one free if you kiss at the register.....and we never pass up an opportunity for a public display of affection.  :)

We were actually <briefly> on the video footage they took and compiled at our local Qdoba - you can see us around the 19 second mark!  (Watch the video here)

We brought our Qdoba home and watched a movie while we ate.

We also exchanged gifts.  I went the practical route and got Brandon some accessories for his bike....a lock and a pouch that attaches to the handle bars....

.....he got me a mini-rose bush and a kit-kat! 

Also on Valentine's Day - My Best Friend, Alisha, had a Baby!!!  Little LN was born in the afternoon that day....a little love muffin baked just in time for the sweetest day of the year!

The weekend after Valentine's Day (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 15-16), we were treated to a night away at Elk Creek (a nearby lodge & winery) by some sweet friends of ours (they gifted a Groupon to us).

The Main Lodge

We arrived Friday evening and ordered some very yummy sandwiches from the small deli at the lodge.....

......and listened to live music while we ate.

After our meal, we ventured to our "Estate Room".  It was one of 6 rooms in an out-building on the property.

It was very cozy and nicely decorated.

A view of the sink area.....don't mind the man behind the closet - do you see him?

The Groupon deal included a cheese tray, which the deli worker packed for us to-go so we could eat it in our room.  Brandon liked the cheese on the right the best (very stinky).

After a restful nights sleep, we got up and explored the property some.

Here's a view of the building in which our Estate Room was located ....

....and one a little closer.  There were three rooms on each side of the building.

Each room had double doors that lead to the outside......

.....where you could sit on the covered porch.....

.....and take in the beautiful views!

Also included in the Groupon deal was a delicious breakfast buffet in the main lodge.

I love lodges and their log cabin/rustic vibes. 

Directly outside the lodge (and just about everywhere you looked) were the vineyards.

Grapevines so close you could touch them!  But we didn't.  Instead, we pointed to them.

We got a quick and concise tour of the winery room too (no pics inside there) and then headed to the nearby thriving metropolis quieter-than-Mayberry-town of Owenton.  We walked the main square and window-shopped at the few stores that were open (one of which was a hardware/home decor/custom cabinets/kitchenware/gift shop/appliance store) and then headed back home.

What a fun, quiet, relaxing time away!  Thanks Leo & Sheila for the treat!!