We are home from our weekend away. It was a great weekend, very busy, and lots of information! We left town Friday afternoon, and arrived in Banff around 6ish, since we took the scenic route. It was a beautiful drive, but a little longer, and since being quite pregnant I found it difficult not having to stop all the time. But we got there and only stopped once (which was for and for me to pee).
The Banff Springs hotel was very nice. Huge, and like a castle, which is exactly how they describe it, as a castle. To be completely honest however, I dont think we'd stay there again. The rooms were not bad, and we had a basic room. They weren't anything special though. We got a discounted price for our hotel room since we went to the conference. The discounted price was $160. We didnt have much time throughout the weekend to go exploring and see the whole place, it was basically just to sleep that we spent time in our room. Maybe it'd be different if we had upgraded to a higher up room on the scale, and spent more time in it. We were shocked when we went to go get breakfast one more in their little cafe, and found that a small (I mean small!! Maybe only a cup and a half size) of cereal cost $4!!! Bagels were around $2, but we opted to head to McDonalds and quickly grab something there. I heard great reviews about the breakfast buffet they have which is $35 per person, but apparently its worth it because of the incredible food. We decided to go for a more expensive dinner than breakfast.
For Dinner anytime we're in Banff we usually head to the Maple Grill. This time we switched it up and tried something new. We headed off to the Grizzly House, which is a fondue restaurant. For a 4 course meal which includes an appetizer of soup or salad, cheese fondue or vegetable fondue, your meat & oil (which we had chicken & beef) and then your dessert which was chocolate fondue, your looking at about $45 per person. We had a few people tell us this was a great place to go for dinner, so we decided to try it. It was an interesting experience, as it is an old speed dating club so there are phones at each table. Andy called our table every time he went to the bathroom, kinda funny sitting waiting for your date to return and have this phone next to you ring. Fun though for sure. The food was good, however Im not sure it was worth $45. It was more about the experience, and we were there for close to 2 hours. Half the work when you fondue is the prep and clean up, so this was all done for us, and the table we had was in a back corner, so we felt like it was a great table specifically for us! It was worth the experience for sure, and we had a lot of fun with it. That being said, upon leaving we both noticed that our clothes reeked of oil and fondue. Not a nice smell at all, but it kind of goes with the territory of where we ate!! Andy also informed me this afternoon when he got home after work that he found out through a radio station he was listening to on the drive home, that The Grizzly House is rumored as a swingers club. Since it was a speed dating place back in the day, this wouldn't surprise me. Once he told me that a few things made sense. Where our table was, was an entry way with a cord blocking off the way through. There was a sign that said "Private" on it. I didnt think anything of it, but I did think it was odd when I noticed someone (who wasn't an employee) go in, and a while later a couple walked out that obviously weren't employees either, but I hadn't seen them go in either. Its somewhat of a rumor, however I think this would make sense with what Ive heard and what I saw. Makes me feel a bit sick to think about it. Our dinner was good, and experience was great, but I doubt we'll rush to go back though.
Now for the conference. It was great. There were about 400 people there, and the room was jam packed. For the weekend there were 3 different couples talking on all different topics. How couples are different, communication, conflict, parenting, why marriages fails, sex, and how to thrive in your marriage. We learned a lot, and we also heard a lot of stuff that we learned in our pre marital/marriage counseling and bible studies. It was good though to look at the couples speaking and hear what they had to say, and how they've struggled. They started off the conference with saying that the couples who attend these conferences are in the top 20% of marriages. Only 20% of married couples will ever attend counseling, marriage retreats, marriage conferences, or do anything pro active to better their relationship/marriage! That blows my mind. If you've read my blog for awhile, you know that Andy and I have always been pro active about going to counseling weather or not we need it at that moment/season in our marriage. They also had a lot of time for projects between couples. Projects that you do on your own, and then come together, or projects that you do together. Those were really eye opening, and I enjoyed them for sure! It didn't ever cross my mind before the weekend but sitting at almost 30 weeks pregnant for long stretched (1.5-2 hours at a time) was really difficult. I found it hard sitting right next to a complete stranger, and feeling so uncomfortable because either my legs hurt, my back, or my hips. So Im glad that I wasnt any farther along in my pregnancy than 28 weeks, because it would've been extremely uncomfortable.
It was a jam packed weekend, and I felt exhausted by the time we got home. But it was really good for our marriage for sure. I wish we had had more one on one time to spend together but to cover all of the course outline in one weekend it needed to be a full schedule. I totally understand that! It was a good experience for sure, one that I think every couple needs to look at doing! Who doesn't need a relaxing weekend away with their spouse??
I was shocked also, when I heard how well Eli did with my parents and Andy's mom. When my mom came to get Eli around 11am on Friday morning, he was more than excited to head out. I put the carseat in her car, and by the time I headed outside after him he was already sitting in his car seat waiting to be strapped in. He had no issues saying bye, and was ready to go! I had packed his back pack with his blankie, teddy, and soother, as well as a change of clothes in case he got wet or dirty outside. Playing outside at Grandma & Papa's is a must. We also packed a few movies in case he needed some quiet time during the day. Off they went and I headed out to pick Andy up from work so we could head out. I found out the next morning that they ended up spending the night at my parents place, which I told my mom was her call, but she may or may not get any sleep there. Whatever was easiest for her. She texted me in the am and said she was afraid to tell me how the night went. Uh oh!! Apparently, he slept great in the spare room on a small twin mattress on the floor, didnt wear a diaper to bed, and didn't have any accidents nor tears all night!! Wow!! How incredible is that! He had a birthday party to go to on Saturday afternoon, but fell asleep on the way there, and missed it because he wouldn't wake up. Must've been tired! All in all he had a great weekend. Andy's mom took him on the LRT and he loved it. The first thing he told us about was that he went on the passenger train with Nana. How special!
It was a great weekend away, and Im glad we went. Im also happy to be home. Funny how only 2 days away makes you miss being at home.
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