Romance in your life.....-Do you have it? Do you need it? I know as a mom it is hard to find that special time with your partner to get away and focus on each other.

Give ideas of quick local getaways and tell of great far away romantic escapes.

Well, today it is our 16th wedding anniversary. So, romance has been on moi mind, although, we did our time out yesterday. I know with kids sometimes things are not actually accomplished the day of what with school schedules, and whatnot.

Here's a tip for those interested.
A couple of friends of ours were married at this place. I know they used to also rent out rooms to the honeymooners (and other couples who were interested in romantic time away). I believe they still do, but here's the info for anyone interested. It's a beautiful farm, very relaxing, and very romantic.

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Telephone: 863-646-8247


Email: oak_k_farm@yahoo.com
Website: www.Gazebo-Weddings.com
Contact: Jim & Joyce Olivier

Description
The Oak-K Farm is a great place for a wedding and reception, you can even spend the first night in the Honeymoon suite. With our huge oak trees, Gazebo, White Horse & Carriage and our indoor reception hall that is beautiful and relaxing for all. This is a warm charming place that has everything at a very affordable price.

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Happy Anniversary Guitarjee! 16 years is to be commended. Thanks for that information.

I look forward to more romantic retreat ideas!

OT. I need to find a very good sitter and/or a nanny becasue my husband and I HAVE NO TIME FOR ANY OF THIS, it seems lately our whole lives rotate around the children and what they "allow" us to do. Having two "itty bitties" is hard. (one almost 1, this month and one 3 in August) Don't get me wrong, I love my girls but some time off for "good behavior" is needed for me and hubby.
Please if you know a good referral PLEASE HELP!

JamilaM, I know you and I are in the same boat. I love my kids, but Hubby and I do not get alone time hardly ever. I feel like he is the dad, I am the mom, where is his wife and where is my husband?

I want it to be a new priority for hubby and I to spend time together.

You all could help me and other moms by giving tips on good romantic locations.

I think Bok Tower with a picnic is great. Take a blanket and lounge in the grass. It is so peaceful.

Has anyone tried the Terrace?

I used to wotk at the terrace eight years ago. They used to offer packages but I don't know if they still do. I think its a great local choice for you if you don't want to be to far from home but need an escape. Alot of the archtecture is original so the building has a very romantic feel. The restaurant is a very romantic setting I haven't had the food in years but it used to be great. They have a nice porch out front with veiws of lake mirror and hollis gardens. If you ask you can get a room with a view of gardens and lake rather than looking at the side of a building. I spent my first married night there and I had the worst headache of my life so there was no action, my poor hubby had to wait a few days. If you don't want to have an overnight then a nice dinner there and a walk through hollis gardens or a nightcap on the porch before you head home would be a romantic evening. I just got myself all giddy telling you guys about it and now I want to go!

Shawn, you never did tell us what you do or where you go?

These are all great ideas. We have friends who've gone to a place in Siesta Key.

http://www.siestakeybeachplace.com/

We like the car. We can go to the car and still can be close to the boys. JUST kidding, we've never done that. Honestly and seriously. Not that there's anything wrong with that (anyone watch Seinfeld??), in case someone reading has!!! lol

With young boys we have to be creative and use our time wisely. You know what I'm saying, I know you do! We aren't the only ones and don't try to tell me otherwise.

When our older son was almost a year we went down to Palm Island Resort. Here's their info. It was really nice.

http://palmisland.com/about.php

We've owned a time share with Ron Jon Cape Caribe in Cocoa Beach (and love it) for several years. Every single time we walk in we feel like we've gone to an island resort away from the US. Except everyone speaks decent English. So, poof, the fantasy is gone pretty quickly. We exchanged some of our weeks for our vacation to OR last December. There is a ton to do with all ages. As much as we like going as our getaway, I also envision going there with some girlfriends and spending the day at the pool and/or beach and having poolside massages and getting manicures/pedis.

http://www.ronjonresort.com/default.aspx

For right now, our life is about working the romance in around our boys, but I see others here have had to do the same. But, I have to admit, I was looking forward to seeing what others came up with. I am surprised there aren't more responses here ladies!

Shawn, I like the idea of Bok Tower, too. We need something close - it seems we all do.

Pete-N-Repeat, You crack me up! I like reading what you write. You have a funny "think out loud" sense of humor like myself.

Okay, I agree with the rest of you ladies. Those special hubby & wife times are hard to find. I say we start helping each other out by watching each others rug-rats. Okay precious little darling angels! I would not mind watching/baby sitting a few hours for a trade off of the same. Make sense? I will watch yours for two or three hours one day or night (not too late-Ha!) and then you do the same for us. This is an idea but I do completely understand you just do not offer this to everyone! Safety First!!! We must be smart about this and use good judgment in leaving our children with anyone! We all need to get to know each other a lot better and start building friendships before we start this but it is an idea. We have an extra crib, twin bed, play pin, booster chairs, Lots of toys etc. I have all of my back ground checks through my employer, the Lakeland family YMCA.

My mother-in-law watches Savannah (18 months on the 16th.) for about three or four hours so Mike and I can go/do what-ever. We usually like to go out to eat then walk through the mall or somewhere.

We did enjoy going over to Sand key beach last month even though it was just a few hours. Just lying on the beach is so relaxing! I am so ready to go back. I will chech out some of these web sites. Thanks Pete-N-Repeat!

i would love to help out i have a 8 & 5 year old and a 15 month old always home dont get out much i have a back ground check thourgh both my jobs childrens medical services and lkld family ymca

babygirl61580, What dept./area of "Y" do you work? Email me if you would like.Thanks :) boxer421@tampabay.rr.com

i work front desk only about 1 saturday a month

Michelle (pete-n-repeatsmom) romantic time alone with hubby, ha ha, no such thing
I'm like you; I thought I would get more feedback. Romance has to be alive and well here in Polk somewhere. I really need some tips!

As cheesy as this may sound, I will talk Eddy into going on the trampoline at night and we lay there looking at the stars and talk. This can be really sweet, just talking and soul searching together.

I love the terrace idea and after reading Katie's post about it; I think I want to try that, one day, maybe when Lillian is 18

Seriously though, still looking for more selections

It seems to be a common complaint, although, I hate to use the word complaint really, but guess that's what it is, the inability of couples to get out alone when they have young children.

I understand completely. My husband and I faced many of the same issues, even heard it said by a childless couple we mistakenly associated with at the time, that we were obviously parenting wrong, they'd never even ask/need sitting once they had kids, among other such silly, but still hurtful nonsense. Well, we not only wanted sitting, we needed a sanity break, (our daughter's went through literally years of tantrums due to her autism, not her fault, but still, even the most committed of parents will need breaks.) I imagine it's difficult to get sitters for the average family, but personally, I know that when you add in a kid with a handicap, mental, physical, or both, the odds of finding a sitter/getting out with your spouse literally go down the toilet. And the odds don't get a whole lot better with age necessarily either....a good parent would perhaps let the average kid be home by themself for short periods once they're old enough...that age goes up for handicapped kids, if it ever happens for some parents with kids facing severe challenges.It takes love and then some to persevere despite those kind of romance busting odds. We learned to cherish those rare moments of serenity, much less the more idealized notion of romance, the early years. Thankfully,my daughter has had some major improvements in behavior.

I would have to say it's just like the whole marriage/love thing, it's nice to have those extra romantic details like ambiance, music, lighting, peace and quiet, lol, but what counts the most is being with who you love, no matter where it is. Now, sanity breaks can be necessary, even time away from each other can be good for a couple, but romance ~ all that's really needed is two people in sync, in love, and committed. (Not necessarily married, mind you, but committed. Otherwise, is it really romance, or just something else entirely?) But not to get off subject.

But Shawn, the idea of lying out (trampoline, blanket, anywhere) and looking at the stars together does not sound at all silly to me, it sounds sweet, stars are after all, like God's candles... I really don't know a lot of "romantic" places to go, having gone to very few typically romantic places over the course of our marriage, over the later years since we've been more able, we've gone to gigs more than anything, since my husband has always been in bands, he plays guitar, or bass, can play drums and keyboards as well. (But he's a bean counter by day, just not by any means boring.) Hey, I could probably tell you where all the good cowboy saloons, and band venues were, lol.

I plan on asking a few of my friends some of the more specific places they've gone romantic wise. I do remember my friend was really happy after she went to Anna Maria a year or two ago for their anniversary.. and around town, I know there are wine tastings (if you appreciate wine those can be enjoyable) or art shows for the artistically inclined.

boxer Ann, you crack me up too! Yes, I have been told that I can be witty. AND that I sometimes do think out loud. Sometimes to my detriment. Ann, your idea sounds great about sharing time, like a co-op.

Shawn, I haven't been ignoring anyone, just some computers troubles. I'm not using my own now, and need to make this quick, but I LOVe the trampoline idea. That is a great romantic tradition you and Eddy have. Very sweet and is making us think about getting one ourselves. I love the ambiance whether natural or self created. Of course, being with the one you love is the best mood setter.

Now, don't get me wrong, ladies, we've only been out, ourselves, without our boys 3 times in close to 7 and a half years. I must say, my husband and I have never thought we wanted to get time away from them. We love them, time with them, and having them with us. The 3 times we did do something without them was for a very brief amount of time, only a couple of hours max. We miss them when we aren't with them. As I already posted, we are creative in our time together around the boys. Our time share (or any vacation time) is our family getaway, not for the two of us alone.

I know some have family, but Shawn, you seem in the same boat as us - little/no family around. But, we make do and I think it's made my husband and I stronger in the long run to be very self sufficient.

So, I hope I haven't misguided anyone into thinking we get away at all. I was hoping others would post what/how they've been creative while being AT home, too.

When school gets out I will announce when I can start helping some of you North Lakeland Mommies out.