A great getaway!

Layne and I were able to celebrate our anniversary this year with a little overnight stay at the Homestead, up in Midway!

It was so wonderful to be able to spend time together and especially a night without the kids! We headed up around dinner time and checked in. Layne surprised me with an upgraded room just like on our Honeymoon! Before dinner we were able to go swim in the 'Crater'. It was a little creepy to me but it was relaxing and just like going swimming in a lake or pool. Its a warm mineral spring and runs about 90-95 degrees and it is about 65 feet deep. You can either scuba dive or swim, we obviously chose to swim and it was a cool experience.

Outside the Crater...kinda looks like a volcano.

The entrance way into the Crater.
You have to walk a little tunnel to reach the water.

A view of the top from the inside. You can also
hike a bunch of stairs to look from the outside down inside.

Layne with all the scuba divers! We went back the next morning to
get the pictures...I didn't want to risk getting the camera wet.

Next we headed off to dinner. We were both starved! Dinner was DELICIOUS! The best steak and mash potatoes I've had in a long time. Layne didn't even need condiments for his steak. We couldn't stop saying how good it was. Layne even thanked the cook and said it was the best!

We had a free breakfast the next morning and I had to get the orange cranberry scones! We ate until we were stuffed and then headed out. We got a few pictures and just drove around the area. Lots to do with all the golf courses, horse back riding, trails and paths to walk. Julia would have loved it will all the deer and ducks we saw.

Breakfast and my scones....yummy!

It was time to head  home and get the kids. We had to make a stop at home before we picked them up so we got home and I walked in the door and saw this................

It was the bench from Kohl's were we first met. I was really surprised and thought it was a very romantic gesture. He told me he had been trying to get the bench since about Christmas but the store wouldn't let him have it. So after a call to corporate headquarters he was able to get the bench. The lady said that it was the best story she had ever heard and because they were going to redecorate that store he was able to get the bench and for free! I love it when Layne surprises me......he is so sneaky and good at keeping things very secret! Thanks for a great weekend and wonderful memory surprise!