If you’ve been following me or checking in on my blog over the last few years you may know that my family has been doing what we call a “Staycation” every fall. It’s a time when my hubby and I open up our house and sort of roll out the red carpet for our kids and grandkids. A time where we treat them the entire weekend, celebrate being a family and just enjoy each other’s company. It’s not elaborate…..it’s just a whole uninterrupted weekend of being together and hanging out.
This year (2017) was our fifth annual Staycation. It was a little different this year because we had some other family things going on the same weekend, but it worked out just fine.
Unfortunately I was so busy with work that I didn’t get any of it posted last fall like I normally do. But, better late than never, right?
Normally I try to be creative with the Staycation Invitations and make something fun that’s a type of keepsake, (you can check out some of the precious ones here, here and here) but again – life and work was so busy at the time I had to go a little different route.
So fortunately when I found these sweet fall plaques at Hobby Lobby I thought – voila! It’s still a keepsake and perfectly fitting regardless of the fact that I didn’t actually hand-make them.
See? How cute are these?
All I did was add all the info to the back of them and there you go…..all done….without a lot of time and effort. Gotta love that!
Next I had to create an inviting little entrance…
Welcoming my little monsters….
To welcome the “grown ups” to each of their rooms I made little gift baskets. Since it’s right before Halloween I kind of went overboard with candy theme, but oh well….
Each of the grandkiddo’s received their own little goody-bowls in their bunk room, too.
I know, I know….too much junk, but I am the grandmother after all. And,what happens at Mimi’s house…..well…you know.
Next I added little Halloween touches to each of the guest rooms….
Color coordinated of course.
Too keep things fun, but cost affective we went to a free music concert Friday night. Doogie (grandpa) and I (Mimi) got there early and set up lots of chairs and picnic blankets. We provided dinner and wine and beer and dessert….you get the picture. A fun, fun evening…..and like I said…a cost effective one at that. The grandkids hooked up with other kids there and had a grand old time playing ball and running around. The grown ups were able to sit back and enjoy it all…music, kids giggling, etc. The best kind of evening.
We hung out till late before heading home.
The next morning we woke up nice and early so we could all cheer on my grandsons in their baseball (softball?) games. And event that can’t help bring a smile to your face. My grandson is the one in the middle.
Oh……be still this Mimi’s heart.
After the first game we came back home for birthday celebrations and the boys got in a little baseball practice.
Then time for gifts for the littles….
And, the “bigs”….
And, of course, the all important annual scavenger hunt…
That leads to their goody bags filled with prizes.
Next it was onto lunch at a pizza place….
And, then baseball game number two with my oldest grandson.
Great to have the whole fam there to cheer them on…
After all the baseball festivities it was onto my mom’s house for a mini family reunion with my cousins and uncle who were in from out of town. For some crazy reason we got no pictures AT ALL. Which is weird for me, because I’m generally the one who drives everyone crazy running around taking pictures. But, it was a great time (not our usual Staycation sort of evening, but fun nonetheless).
Afterwards it was GUKNO aka “grown up kids night out”. Each year Doogie and I send the grown ups on an outing so they can spend time together and we stay back and watch the grandmonkey’s. This year after the reunion/dinner we sent them off to a bar for a quick drink and then to the movies. Doogie and I stayed home to watch movies with the littles.
A perfect evening for all.
Sunday morning it was time for our annual family pictures.
