I have a very loving, caring, and patient husband. He's also the best gift-giver {he pays attention to what you say you like and surprises you with it}, but romance has never been his strong suit...and he willing admits that.
We try to have small weekly date nights, and one big monthly date night, and July's big date night was a huge surprise! I had an idea that Bryan was up to something, but I was totally astonished by this romantic surprise!
On a random Friday in July, I woke up without rushing to go to work {I had taken the day off} and Bryan instructed me to pack a bag and get ready to leave at 12pm. I knew we were going somewhere {I was kinda hoping for San Antonio because I had been craving fajitas and sopapillas from Mi Tierra}, but I didn't know where. Hubby arranged for my sister to arrive at 12pm and stay the night with Caleb, and then my MIL to arrive Saturday at 12pm for back-up.
With Caleb well taken care of, we took a short drive down a familiar road, and I was getting very excited to see where we were headed...
"WE'RE GOING TO THE GAYLORD??? TO STAY?" that's what I shouted when we turned into the entrance! Ha! It's a tradition for us to spend a day during Christmas at the Gaylord eating, going to ICE!, and doing all the touristy things, but we've never stayed the night so I was very excited!
Be prepared for photo-overload! Consider yourself warned...
I don't think I've ever seen the lobby this empty. Normally it's crammed with Christmas decorations and a mob of people.
This is what I like to refer to as, "the city of Gaylord"
Yes, that's right people, you are looking at the inside of the Gaylord Texan Resort! The inside!
Can you tell that I'm a little bit excited???
My hubby asked my sweet friend to help with the staycation plans...and both were super sneaky!
Hey, it looks like San Antonio!!...nope, it's the inside of the Gaylord!
Yes, every picture is still the inside!
San Antonio Riverwalk time...Gaylord style!
The Gaylord has 4 restaurants in the inside, and we chose to immediately satisfy my craving for Tex-Mex with some fajitas and beeritas!
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Ok, please tell me you think the inside of this hotel is super cool! I sure do!!!
This summer the Gaylord is having a Dreamworks theme with lots of activities for the kiddos and I kept asking Bryan to let me go join the fun every time I saw the signs. He said no...this was an adults only weekend.
My sweet friend KT sent us some treats later that day...
...wine, cakeballs, strawberries, yum! So sweet of KT for sending the extra treats for us!
On Saturday we woke up early {hey, it's hard to sleep in past 8am even when Caleb isn't there}, and we headed to the Gaylord's new Paradise Springs Waterpark.
We spent Saturday acting like kids and sliding down the slide, playing on the zipline, and floating the lazy river...it was perfect!
We had a blast at Paradise Springs!
This was the best date night ever!!! I love a good surprise for no reason, and love my hubby for getting creative!
Gaylord Texan, I already miss you! See you at Christmas!
DFW is a GREAT town for staycations...with the Gaylord, Great Wolf Lodge, Hotel ZaZa, and more! What's your favorite staycation?
linking up at:
Score one for hubby! He did a great job! That place looks amazing and so fun! Glad you had a wonderful staycation (love it!).
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy! Love a good staycation, and love the Gaylord Resorts! ;-)
DeleteSO sweet of your Hubby! And definitely well deserved, I'm sure. That place looks pretty awesome too!
ReplyDeleteThe next time you're in the DFW area you should check out Grapevine! They have so many hotels and things to do =) perfect mini-vaca!
Deleteglad you liked it Cristeen! =)
ReplyDeleteParticipating in Mom's Monday Mingle for the first time! :) I'm your newest fan. Please follow back
ReplyDeleteKristina
http://www.yomichaelmichael.com
I'm not too far from there and I still have not made it to see the grandness that is the Gaylord. ;) Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! :) Adding you to my reader. :) PS...I hope you are able to come to the DFW Blogger event!! We'd sure love to have you. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, you'll have to go to the Gaylord during Christmas then! So much to do there (without staying the night)! =)
DeleteYou should link this up to "Texas Tuesday" at http://www.princessofthepanhandle.com/ ! It's perfect! Hope you had fun.
ReplyDeleteawesome link-up! love all things TX so I'll for sure link up!
DeleteSoooo awesome! Excuse me while I go put the idea of a date night at the Gaylord in my hubby's head :)
ReplyDeletehahahaha...I like your thinking!! =)
DeleteIt looks so cool! Thanks for following me, I have followed back. Enjoy the rest of your week :)
ReplyDeletethanks michelle!
Deletethis looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeletejust found your blog from the hop and excited to be your newest follower!
love,
elisabeth
ps. stop by and say hi @ lavitaebella-elisabeth.blogspot.com
thanks Elisabeth! I'm following you now too! =)
DeleteJust stumbled across your blog... I am so jealous that you got to the Gaylord... Like Myra, i'm gonna whisper it in Hubbys ear!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Did you get your coverup at Target? Because if you did, we are twins :)
I did get it at Target! Great minds think alike!! ;-)
DeleteHey Viv! Fellow Texas Blogger and new follower! I love the Gaylord. I haven't been since they added the waterpark but I did hear they do fireworks every Friday- I'd really like to go for that! We went for our 1st year anniversary and have done the ICE tour too. Its really a great get away!! How can he top this!? Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHey Janette! I'm your newest follower too =) Yes they do shoot fireworks, I think you can park there and walk up the hill (to the right of the hotel) and watch them (and it would only cost the parking fee)! hehe!
DeleteNew follower from the Texas Tuesday linkup! I love these pictures. I've only ever seen the Gaylord at Christmas time, so it's nice to see what it looks like during other seasons! I'm glad you had such a good time.
ReplyDeleteWe did the "ICE" exhibit when I was pregnant with my little Mason and I almost passed out while waiting in line. We were getting close to the entrance so we were putting our parkas on and I hadn't eaten and I came seconds from passing out! So, that's my memory from Gaylord! ha
Oh no! That's not a good Gaylord experience! Are you thinking of going again...and taking Mason? I wonder how young is too young...I kinda want to take Caleb?
DeleteHow amazing is that?! He's so sweet! I haven't ever been to the Gaylord, but really want to go really bad! My family went to ICE last year but I was huge and pregnant, so I skipped out. I regret it now that I saw all that. Looks like you had so much fun!! (I love your sandals in that pic you took of him sitting on the bed)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely go to ICE this year! So much fun (I love the slides)! Thanks, my mom got those sandals for me ;)
DeleteOh and thank you for linking up with us! I hope to see another post next week! :)
ReplyDeleteFound your blog via the Texas Bloggers FB page. I've never been to the Gaylord but WOW!!! It totally looks like San Antonio! haha (we just went to San Antonio last week).
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! Excited to follow your blog! :)
The inside amazes me! I'm headed over to your blog now!
DeleteHi Viv! I found you via the Texas Bloggers page. Cute blog! I just joined the group a few days ago and actually just moved to Texas last week from Georgia!
ReplyDeleteHey Lauren! thanks! I'm your newest follower and welcome to Texas!! =)
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