Carefree. Where we spent the night. Carefree. How we felt.

We took our first ever overnight date since having kids. And we can’t wait to do it again! My friend, Rebekah, insisted that we should let her babysit the boys while Stephen and I took a night away, just the two of us.

The idea sounded amazing, but intimidating too. Both boys have spent the night away from us before–at different times–due to a gall bladder surgery and a medical emergency. An overnight date, though, isn’t as readily available since we don’t have any family in the Valley. We were giddy at Rebekah’s idea.

Carefree, AZ, is just an hour and fifteen minute drive away from our house. It’s a beautiful resort village just north of Scottsdale. The huge boulders, Black Mountain, and the plethora of saguaro cacti create a striking corner of the Sonoran Desert.

Stephen reserved a room for us at the Carefree Resort and Conference Center. Unfortunately, the resort itself was a disappointment as it didn’t live up to its online presence. The lobby was beautiful, but our room left a lot to be desired. We determined not to let that stand in our way. Where we stayed was not as important as being together!

We dressed for dinner and ate a romantic supper at Cartwright’s Sonoran Ranch House. Stephen ordered the “Trio of Tenderloins” (elk, buffalo, and beef), and the elk was to die for! Then we drove through the quiet, tourist town and stopped for an ice cream cone.

Back at the resort, a storm was rolling in over the mountains as we swam. The wind picked up, and the lightning came closer, so we headed back to our room just before the rain. Our basement room at least had the romantic ambience of the rainfall.

The next morning we breakfasted on Belgian waffles in the resort’s Lariat Restaurant and then shopped in nearby Cave Creek’s Frontier Town.

So happy for 24 hours of time alone with my darling.

p.s. The boys did great and Rebekah is a fantastic babysitter!