EIGHT YEARS! That's an anniversary and milestone worthy of celebration! Especially in this day and age when it's considered "Breaking News" that a celebrity couple made their marriage work for 72 days. Not only did we celebrate, we did it in style at a world-famous hotel, The Cloister Hotel. As the sight of the 2004 G-8 Summit, I'd say it was a pretty safe bet that we had a fabulous weekend ahead of us.
It's possible we over-hyped the experience in Baylor's eyes. As we walked through the grand entrance hall, Baylor muttered, "This isn't perfect." Jaxon, however, saw things differently. He exclaimed, "I bet our room is going to be nice!" I asked, "Why?" and Jaxon responded, "Because this room is super nice which means our room will be nice too." One could only hope!
The boys engaged in a chess match as Anh checked us in at the front desk. When I asked Jax where he learned to play chess, he matter of factly stated, "I saw it on TV." Oh...right! Of course! Allow me to introduce the next Bobby Fischer!
Situated on the Black Banks River, The Cloister offered amazing views of the surrounding low-country marshland. It was easy to see why this Sea Island is so highly regarded by generations of guests.
As soon as we exited onto the patio, Baylor retracted his earlier statement and declared, "Okay, it is perfect!" Yes, buddy, I'd have to agree. Perfection might not even scratch the surface.
As it turns out, Jaxon was 100% correct as well. Our suite was VERY nice and would serve as the perfect "home base" for our getaway. The living room was exquisitely furnished yet still comfortable. The boys seemed thrilled to discover there was a second bathroom just for them!
The bedroom was equally luxurious, but it was the grand master bathroom that really took top honors. As soon as the boys discovered the soaking tub complete with a TV, they promptly declared that was "their" bathroom. Anh and I could use the other one. Thanks!
As nice as the interior of the suite was, I'd have to say that the balcony was my favorite. With a view like that, you couldn't help but relax and enjoy the moment.
It was hard, but we eventually left our beautiful suite and started to explore the grounds of the resort. We discovered the breathtaking spa and marveled at all that it had to offer. All that pampering would have to wait for a future visit though. We had other activities in mind.
Although, we did make several visits to the spa so the boys could feed the Koi. Just more evidence that they are desperate for a pet!
Speaking of pets, the resort staff really goes out of their way to establish a family-friendly environment. Both boys received backpacks at check-in complete with some stylish shades and stuffed sea turtles that for the time being will work as a pets. Soon they'll have a little brother that will hopefully buy us a little more time. Unless, of course, Jaxon repeats his
request for a cat in the hours leading up to my delivery.
The resort Beach Club served as yet another luxurious spot to relax and unwind, but who had time for that?!
The boys and I had playground equipment to climb...
Shuffleboard to play...
And the beach to explore!
Oh! One can't for the pool either! Actually, POOLS is a more accurate description. That's actually were we spent the majority of our time. The boys made some new friends while Anh and I soaked up the warm rays of sunshine. Ahhh! It was certainly a "This is the life!" moment.
With the sun setting, we made our way back to the suite to get ready for dinner. To our surprise, the resort staff had delivered a bottle of champagne to complete our celebration. It was a thoughtful gesture on their behalf, but we decided it would be best to delay the bottle opening until after kiddo #3 is done baking. That'll be true cause for celebration!
Instead, we simply relaxed for a bit and watched as the sun dipped below the horizon. Even the boys got caught up in the beauty surrounding us, and that's saying a lot!
As tempting as it was to simply spend every waking moment on Sea Island, we decided it would be a shame to not venture out to the nearby community of St. Simons. With its quaint, charming streets and active fishing pier, we knew we were bound to have some fun.
The resort's extensive list of activities would have wait until our next visit. I can hardly wait to book our fishing expedition or enroll in the shooting school, and the boys seem eager to participate in the kids' camp. Anh will surely insist of a round or two of golf, and one must not forget that spa!
Moving on, we found a cute little cafe for breakfast, explored a few shops, and then made our way to the waterfront. The boys were feeling especially photogenic that morning which was a gift for their photo-happy mother.
Sadly, despite being crowded with fishermen, we saw very little "action" at the pier. I guess the fish just weren't biting that particular day much to the boys' disappointment.
Luckily, we did find some excitement at the community playground. It was actually an impressive facility complete with a community pool and waterslide. Sadly, the pool was already closed for the season. At least we now have a legitimate excuse to plan a return visit. That list of "excuses" was growing rather lengthy.
From the playground, we made our way down the waterfront to the lighthouse.
The boys were the voice of reason for that particular stop. I had high hopes that we would make the climb to the top, but I was alone in my excitement. All three of my comrades vetoed my suggestion. In hindsight, it was probably for the best given that in my condition I'm winded when I make the climb to the second floor of our house. I'm not sure how I thought climbing to the top of a lighthouse would be enjoyable.
Truth be told, I could go on and on about our fabulous little family getaway, but it wasn't really what we did that made the trip so memorable. It's the fact that we celebrated as a family. Sure a romantic getaway between husband and wife is the norm, but our family trip somehow seemed like an ideal way to mark the occasion. We'll see if Anh and I feel like sharing our special day next year when there's THREE looking to tag along...
Jaxon has the routine down, but Baylor hasn't quite memorized the script. Instead of echoing Jaxon's "Trick or treat," Baylor shouted, "Happy Halloween!" At least both boys said, "Thank you!" That's probably what's most important.
House after house, door after door, the boys were collecting quite the stash of sugary treasure. Just what we needed...more sugar! As if our candy bowls weren't already overflowing after trick-or-treating at the Alligator Farm and our various Halloween parties.
By the 20th house or so, Baylor declared he had "enough candy" and started to consume rather than continue to collect. Much to Jaxon's disappointment, we decided to end the evening on the early side. That's the consequence when Halloween falls on a school night. I'd say we made the most of the holiday though, and I can only imagine what Halloween 2012 will hold for us!
