Double Digit Getaway

 Joel has been trying to come up with what he wanted all year.  A weekend with just Mom and Dad and no siblings.  At first he didn't want to be in the car at all so he wanted to stay in town.  But when we went to Blacksburg a few weeks ago and went kayaking and paddleboating he remembered tubing on the New River a few years ago. So he declared he wanted to go back to Blacksburg a few weeks later for his double digit getaway.  So we drove up and dropped off Colin and Norah with Mama-maa and Grandpa and headed to the river.

When we were waiting in line for our inner tubes Joel said it felt weird to be without Colin and Norah.  He almost wasn't sure of what to do without them. He is so used to having to compromise or fight for exactly what he wanted that when it was just him we had to really get him to make a decision.  For the double digit getaway they get to choose what we do and where we eat and make all the decisions. Joel was so patient, agreeable, and easy going the entire weekend.  Poor middle child needs time away with just him.

We were looking at hotels to stay in Blacksburg and Mountain Lake Lodge worked with our credit card points so I campaigned to stay there.  Joel wanted to go tubing and do some small hikes so Mountain Lake Lodge was perfect to stay at.

One day we hope the lake will fill up again and where Joel is standing will be all water. It was a massive lake when it was completely filled.  Joel loved doing the hike around the lake because the last time we did it a bunch of trees were down and covering the tail. This time it was clear and the rhododendron were blooming.

We had Joel take a bath to wash the river water off before bed.  He turned on the jets and was overjoyed at all the bubbles that the jets made.  He eventually drained the water and just played in the mountain of bubbles.

We spent the rest of the weekend walking the trails and swimming in the pool.  A lunch at Macados and then we were back to Mama-ma and Grandpas house to get Colin and Norah.

Its always fun and greatly needed to spend time with each kid one on one.  And 10 year olds are pretty special.  Such a great time with our Joel.

(Norah has 3 years until her double digit getaway.....she has her heart set on Hawaii! ha! that would be fun but our rules are within driving distance for a weekend)