Leavenworth...

We decided last minute to take an overnight trip to Leavenworth. Our good friends, Doug & Sadie called us up during the week to tell us that they were going to go for Leavenworth's annual tree lighting weekend, and to see if we wanted to go. Leavenworth is a little Bavarian Village in the mountains somewhere in the middle of the state. They go ALL OUT at Christmastime. I am so glad we decided to go even though it was so late. We had a great time. I was thinking as we were there how we used to take weekend trips all of the time when it was just the four of us. We had so many fun excursions, and how different life is now with the little ones. Definitely not as spur of the moment and they definitely don't happen as often, but so fun to enjoy these fun type of things with kiddos!

We stayed at the Bavarian Lodge:

We got there late on Friday night, and basically just went to bed.

Doug & Sadie got there after we did, and the boys went out to get a bite to eat, but we decided to stay in a put the kids to bed.

The next morning, we headed out to the little town center for some shopping and some good old fashioned Christmas spirit!

Jacob & Taylor were little buddies the whole time and it was so cute to see them together!

Everyone in town really embraces the Christmas spirit and theme there around the holiday's and there were many characters just wandering around, talking to kids, taking pictures with people.

Here, we met Father Christmas:

Taylor wasn't excited at all about all the characters:

Here we are with Father Christmas: (That's the only name I can think of for this man, that's who he is, right?)

We finally got her to perk up a bit when we saw Santa & Mrs. Clause wandering around:

After a morning of shopping at the candy shoppe, touring the nutcracker museum (riveting), sampling the chocolate, sausage and cheese shops, and a delicious lunch, we headed back to the hotel for some down time.

Playing a family game of boggle and doing some coloring:

Reading a few Christmas books by the fire:

Tucker was excited to see one of his pieces of art hanging in the hallway of our hotel:

After a little rest, we headed back out to the town square for the lighting ceremony:

The kids thought it was pretty cool that just randomly people would start fires and grab a chair and warm up. This one was right outside of our hotel, right outside our window, actually!

Then we waited among the throngs of people for the town to be lit in Christmas lights. The mayor spoke, some carols were sung, and even Ms. Washington spoke to us!

Here are the Agurkis' waiting for the lights: (Doug coming fresh off of No-Shave November)

Finally the lights were turned on, and literally there was not a tree branch not covered in lights, it was so fun and pretty!

Tucker & Taylor joined in the dancing in the streets:

The town center:

After a bit more window shopping and some dinner, it was time to head home.

I am so grateful for good friends and that cute little family of mine! It was the perfect weekend getaway and a perfect start to the Christmas Holiday!