Last year this time, Tatum and I partook of a “girl’s”night at the Fairmont Princess Hotel in Scottsdale. We swam, played in the arcade, and had a fancy Toro dinner. This year, we decided to repeat it; I hoped to got two days, but with mom being in the facility right now, her needs are daily and HIGH!
So…..we got out of dodge, leaving Daddy and Coopy to enjoy some male bonding. Right?
We arrived around 2 with Woody in hand…
And the beauty of the premises began to inflate us with excitement!
We waited in the check-in line…a LONG time, come to find out their system was down.
Thank goodness they had water cartoons dressed up as milk and cool shades.
We figured we’d head to the arcade to play a bit while they got our room ready, and OH MY, my whole childhood came flooding back to me!
When I was young, I used to save my quarters so when I arrived home from school, I could head next door to the grocery store to play….
YES!! THIS! Tatum immediately jumped on, and I had flashbacks. It’s so fun to see your kid enjoy things you did as a kid!
They had my second fav….CENTIPEDE! Srsly!
Tatum enjoyed more of the video games while we just waited waited waited for our room!
Woody and I just hung out.
The text! IT ARRIVED! Ok, we hit the lobby, (for a few more pics…the summer themes is groovy music!)
ah…one more!
then…the elevators, the million mile walk meandering through the grounds to Bldg B and 4087. Praise Jesus we found it because at 115 degrees, we melted.
POOOOOOOOOOL!
and the piece de’resistance! SAAAAAAALIIIIIIIIDING into DA POOOOOL! (x 500 times; mind you I went ONCE. YAY me!
Around 5, we headed to our room to get all gussied up for dinner. Last year, black. This year, peach!
Like I said before, the theme was music all over the hotel, so we capitalized on the pics everywhere. OH the memories of vinyl and tapes. Tatum has not idea, but she enjoyed reminiscing with me.
Let’s go 80’s! Wham, Culture Club, Duran Duran…YES! My Walkman was used for hours upon hours, and I memorized every word to every song. (I recorded my records ONTO the tapes)
And then the 90’s and CD’s. I missed the sound of records, but CD’s were a fun coaster to use after they became obsolete.
The wonderful limo shuttle came to get us, but first, we had a few pics! She is so beautiful, my date!
We match! Oh my cutie little pie!
Ok, TORO, now we are here, and we remembered our last year visit. (on the left) and NOW! (right)
More scenery on the golf course. Note that it is a ghost town at 115 cool degrees HA!
And our table:
We ordered TOT a sparkling cherry Shirley Temple and some sashimi to start. But first, we just talked…like REALLY talked. I shared my heart about my gut journey, and she shared hers about how it has been to live with this. Her maturity has blossomed, and I felt like I was with my best friend.
We both had a salad, and split a filet with broccoli and bok chop. Oh, it was sooooo good!!!! Sashimi was hamachi, ahi, and salmon.
Let’s try out these chopsticks; did it work? I won’t tell, but do know that she tried with all her might. (on her salad which was funny to watch).
It all melted in our mouth.
Sadly, next to us was a family with two kids. They both had personal iPads to watch while the parents ate. Why even go out to dinner? argh….
MANGO SORBET. Why? Because it matched our outfits. (the real reason? The only dairy/gluten free option HA!)
We rolled out to the shuttle waiting area and collapsed. Worth every bite and tittle. YUMMMM and so much fun to just BE with my Tot.
Arriving at our hotel, we took the long route back on purpose. (ergh!) Well, we did meet a friend on the way.
We stayed up late reading our blog book (from when she was 2) and talking. It was fabulous not to worry about Coopy or the clock. The next morning, we hit the gym, had some coffee and headed home.
I missed my HHH, but it was worth our time together away from distractions. She is growing up in so many ways; especially in her wisdom and senses of humor. The last year, it was completely different. Last year, we had many little hiccups of her trying to exert her independence, but this year, she was so much more GWTF (go with the flow). AND we just talked all through, rationally and unemotionally. Tatum, I adore you and I ADORE spending time with you. Till our next GIRL’S vaca!