A few weeks ago Jeremy and I celebrated 15 years of marriage. These 15 years have been crazy but full of love, challenges, and fun. I am so blessed to have Jeremy as my partner in this life and as a family we are so lucky to have him…he is the best dad to Jude and Teagan. When we started looking at the calendar and remembered that this year was our 15th anniversary we decided to plan something big. A trip to Las Vegas – kid free!!

Vegas Getaway – Happy 15th Anniversary!

We made a few plans for shows while we were in Vegas but mostly we were most excited about a relaxing time together in a city that Jeremy had never visited before. We decided to stay at the Hard Rock Hotel because I had stayed there a few years ago when visiting with my friends. It was perfect for us – Jeremy and his love for music made him super excited to stay there.

We braved the 110 degree weather and did some exploring too. It was great to get out and enjoy the touristy stuff without having to worry about potty breaks and meltdowns from the kids.

Oh and DAY DRINKING and pool time. That was a plus too. Re-entry was super hard. And again, with no kids we could actually sit in the pool and relax.

We did those typical Vegas things like Fremont Street Experience, High Roller, exploring the hotels and strip and even got into a few great Craps tables.

So many fruity frozen drinks too! HA! Dangerous…just the way I remember them (sort of).

When you go on a vacation without kids you can have dessert for lunch.

We did buys tickets for two shows, one was The Beatles LOVE. Jeremy was so excited for this show and it was so worth the wait. It was fantastic. And we even got upgraded to front row! WOOT!! We made sure that we took time to dress up and go for dinner before our shows. It was great to have 3 nights of dates!

Ahhh….sun, pool and a nice book!

And for our last show we got to see The Blue Man Group. This was way different than I was expecting but we had a great evening at this show as well.

5 Reasons Why Parents Need Kid-Free Vacations

I love my kids, but I am here to say that it is okay for parents to ask for a break. Honestly, taking a kid-free vacation makes me a better mother and I am happy that my parents can get on board with this and watch Jude and Teagan when we decide to take these little getaways.

1. Reconnect! While we were celebrating our 15 years of marriage it was also a time for us to reconnect. Adulting is hard work. Seems like through all of those moments we sometimes forget that connection that we created years ago. What is great about getting away from the parenting routine is that you can actually find yourself talking about something other than the kids!! Maintaining a healthy marriage allows you to ultimately be better parents.

2. Relax and Enjoy. Can you estimate how many times a day you hear “Mommy?” I can’t because I would lose count! Taking some time away allows you to decompress and let some one else take care of you! Staying in a hotel and having your space cleaned every day…amazing!

3. Recharge. Like I said, I love my kids but man they drain me sometimes and I find that when I reach that empty feeling I need a recharge to be the mom I know I can be. This time away gives me time to recharge and be a better parent.

4. Explore. When you take kids on vacation I feel like memories are made but you also do not get to explore and experience the trip completely. When we booked this trip I was so excited to actually be able to do something I wanted to do, not just what would make the kids happy. And if exploring means taking a nap – DO IT!

5. Remember Who You Are. Sure I am a mom and a wife but I am also a woman that loves traveling, having fun and reading at the pool. Finding those moments again helps me remember that I am more than just a mom and wife. I am still me! Just have to find time to let ME out.

We had a great time reconnecting and celebrating our 15 year anniversary. While we were gone for only 4 days it was plenty long enough and we were ready to come home and get back into our family routine. And honestly, those few days kid-free helped both of us on so many levels. Many thanks to my mom and dad for taking on the job of watching the kids for those 4 days!! We are so thankful for you!