Sometimes girls just need a night out. They need a break from work, housework, kids or just to spend some time with their family. Sometimes they need a good reason to do that.

This past weekend, my oldest daughter thought of a perfect night out. She heard me speak of Snug Hollow, a cozy retreat snuggled in the woods near Irvine and Berea. Since she had never been, she thought it was the perfect place for a girls retreat. It was a great place to celebrate her sister Shanda’s birthday. Shanda hadn’t been there either.

I was overjoyed because I love going there and I was going to spend time alone with my precious daughters and granddaughters.

Shanda and I arrived at check-in time. As soon as we got to the cozy cabin, she decided she was going to take a nap. Her son Simon determines the amount of sleep she and her husband Andy receive on any given night, so she took the opportunity to catch a few winks.

I read a book until she woke. It was not long before Kim arrived from Louisville with Stephenie and Olivia.

Stephenie and Olivia were so glad to see lights appear since the three-mile lane back to the cabins was a little spooky for them in the dark. Living in Louisville may have made a difference also.

After a delicious vegetarian four course meal, we were all together for some family bonding time. Kim came prepared for a spa treatment night. We did facials,manicures, pedicures and a massage by Olivia with some sort of massage roller that we decided was great.

We renamed Olivia “Helga” who gave the birthday girl the longest treatment of all while her mom was busy determining which facial we all wanted. Even Helga got a facial since she at 12 is taller than me by two inches now and into beauty.

Kim did not get much of a break since she was too busy putting masks on everyone, wrapping hands and feet, and making us relax. The next day, we realized Helga forgot the massage for her mom.

While the other two enjoyed a deep massage, I was afraid of being bruised and cut my massage to a shorter treatment. Helga was too rough for me. She thought it was funny and swore she was barely pushing down but I felt sore all over. I told her I thought I could be OK without the full treatment.

I brought snacks, but we were too full to eat them. We totally all wiped our plates clean at both meals.

Olivia was in rare form and kept us all in stitches at the things she did and said. Stephenie told some funny incidents of life as a school teacher. It was easy to see she is a great teacher, and her mom and sister both said she is the best.

Of course Olivia has such an adoration for her older sister, who is 14 years older than she is that she thinks she can not be anything else but great.

I love to watch the two of them together. Stephenie tries to be the boss of Olivia at times and Olivia lives for her approval. Olivia is so talented and smart. I want her to realize her own merits. If I say anything about Stephenie to her, she will not hear of it.

Being with the two of them I am amazed at how beautiful they are and can hardly believe I am their grandmother. Of course I also feel the same about my two daughters. They have made me so proud to be their mother and it was so good to be with them and revel at the fact how life has sped by for us all. We really did need this retreat to touch base with one another again.

They will always be my babies and I love them so much. I hope I have told them often enough in life that it will sustain them long after I am gone.

I am so thankful Kim booked this retreat for us all and I think Shanda got to get a much needed break with her sweet husband’s help.

It is never easy for most families to get away since everyone’s life is so busy. They go in so many directions but I am glad this one worked out for us. After all, we are not getting any younger.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in First United Methodist Church and Towne and Country Homemakers.