Some days time just gets away from me. Usually, it is a bi product of having too much fun, staying up too late, and packing too much in. But this past week has been filled with doctor appointments, too many viruses, too much coughing, not enough sleeping and lots of medicine for our family. However, I am happy to report we are on the mend and grateful we survived this long Thanksgiving weekend of trying to have fun amidst feeling crummy.

Since we had so much fun last year, we decided to spend the night downtown on Black Friday. For some of you it might seem silly to stay at a hotel so close to home, but if I have learned one thing since having a child it is: a staycation is the perfect vacation. No need to spend time in the car, buy expensive plane tickets or attempt to entertain a toddler for hours. Within minutes you are swept away from your chores, your clutter and your to do list and well on your way to experiencing a different side of the city you know with the ones you love. No getting lost, no stress of not knowing where the next public bathroom is or whether you are going to like your destination or not.

Pike Place Market getting festive for Christmastime.

The time of year where flowers give way to cabbages and lots of dried flowers.

Quintessential Seattle Christmas shot.

Traveling with a toddler whether near or far can be a bit challenging, so when the hustle and bustle of the city proves to be a tad too much, it was nice to have a place to take a break (or a long Winter nap in Jasper's case) without the need to rush home. Gone are the days where he happily drifts off in his stroller and I don't hear a peep from him for hours. So some down time during the day is essential to everyone's sanity.

It was so fun watching the ferries come and go from our hotel room. We counted no fewer than twenty during our short stay.

I love Jasper's laser focus and intense concentration on his surroundings. I would love to get inside his brain and see just how much he is learning each day. Having a front seat to watch his growth and development has been one of the highlights of my life.

We stayed at a new hotel to us called The Motif and selected it based upon its central location. I was a little disappointed they did not decorate their lobby, but then again it is hard to match The Fairmont when it comes to festiveness. We spent the following day and a half with no real agenda other then watching the Tree Lighting, riding the carousel, browsing a few favorite stores, possibly visiting Santa and meeting up with friends for brunch the next morning. Overall, we checked most things off our to do list, but we didn't have the stamina to wait in line for Santa. The beauty of a staycation is we can come back anytime and get our picture with a happier and more rested Santa.