Southern Living: Visiting Arkansas

We've been in Little Rock for a little over a week now, and I want to give a little overview of our fun here in weekly updates. In summers past, it wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary, but living so far so away they are memories I'm storing up to get me through my next several month-long hiatus of missing my dear ones (gulp).

We've had fun dinner dates with family ...

A Birthday Dinner with Friends ...

We love our mornings at Dede and Pop Pop's ...

{Just one more reason that my parents house is my most very favorite in Little Rock.}

Dalton was SPEECHLESS when Mrs.Krista showed up in the driveway on Dallas!

Nothing like a morning horsey ride ...

We've got to have lots of loving on sweet family ...

We had a great weekend celebrating Dalton's Birthday and Lake Fun ...

We woke up at Maw's house on Dalton's birthday to his favorite breakfast of biscuits and gravy, plus presents! It was a great start to the day for a big four year old.

We left Sawyer with Maw and took off for Lake Ouachita, but of course had to stop at Tractor Supply for some new animals. 

Quite possibly my favorite meal in Central Arkansas. Thank YOU Shangri La!!!

I love you, Arkansas, and all the fun you bring. So glad it's not over yet.

Happy 4th to My Dalton!

Today we are celebrating my sweet Dalton's 4th bithday. Something about the fact that he is in 4T/5T clothes and has been for several months softens the blow of having him growing another year older. And he definitely seems four. BUT, I have to throw in the cheesy line that it's hard to see him getting older. Every time he yells across the playground "I love you Mommy! I think you're bee-you-ti-fulll" my heart kinda breaks a little because I know this season is so short-lived, that he won't be a mama's boy forever (cue the tears). I mean, I don't want him to be, but, okay ... I kinda do.

When Dalton was born, I fell hard and fast. My mama's heart was already prepared on how to open up and love a baby (with Avery I was so overwhelmed with the responsibility it took me a few months to fall head over heels). But with Dalton, I just loved him from the first millisecond and was completely obsessed. I still am ... he's my sweetest child. It's true. All three clearly fill my heart equally, but Dalton just lovveessss his mama. He loves me to sit (and preferably sleep) right by him at all times, he gives me random undeserved kisses all through-out the day and just makes me feel like the bestest person in the whole wide world. He is a baby lamb. Dalton Boone LOVES all animals in every shape and size. I've been grilling him about birthday wishes and all he will ask for is more tiny animals. I finally got out of him he wanted a sword and shield and maybe a bow and arrow ... but really he's always happy with a little animal from Tractor Supply, but he will have to pick them out himself- no telling what he would want ... Other than that he's just very low maintenance.

I'm excited to spend this weekend at the lake with him ... swimming, jumping, treasure hunting, tubing and of course dining on delicious grub (which he's asked for ribs ... of course, he did). He's SUCH a boy. HE is constantly wanting to be naked (although he has recently discovered that wearing underwear makes a perfect holster for his swords (see above picture).

He gallops like a horsey everywhere he goes, constantly holding a club, sword, stick or some time of cooking utensil pretending it's s weapon. He just makes me laugh. And cry. And smile. He's lovely.

Dalton Boone, you are delightful in every way. You are so sweet, so fun, so loving and you just make every day more special. I love having such a helpful big brother who is so quick to watch out for his little brother AND big sister, how big are you?!?! You already have a heart for Jesus and love hearing all the bible stories. Your nightly prayers are the sweetest little things I've ever heard. I love how much you love animals and your swords, you are such a tender warrior- I pray you will you use all your love of adventure for Jesus, and I just know you will make such a splash in The Kingdom.
You are my most favorite four year old in the whole world, and I can't wait to see how much more special you become this next year!!!
I sure do love you sweet boy!
xoxo, Mommy

There's No Place Like Home.

"And when you figure out 

Love is all that really matters after all

It sure makes everything else

Seem so small."

Carrie Underwood-So Small

That song came on the radio on the 19 hour drive back to Arkansas and I couldn't help but tear up ...( I'm fully aware that I'm totally an emotional wimp). But driving down I-65 those lyrics just rang so true to inching closer home to see all our sweet family and  I was literally aching to hug on my mom and sisters necks ... you too, Weesa. Really, there isn't anything more important than being with those people you love. I really do like our little life in Pennsylvania, there has already been much good ... but I cannot WAIT to get back to Arkansas ... I just love it so much (Duh). Everything else just pales in comparison. Maybe God will change my heart, but I really, really hope not.

So, here's how we got here. Last Thursday my FABULOUSLY wonderful mother-in-law flew all the way to PA to help me drive the munchkins home ... who does that?!?! No, seriously, WHO does that?! My parents graciously offered to fly us home, but I can assure you there was no offering to accompany us on said travels. It is not for the faint of heart (and Mom did just do it a couple months ago, not to mention help me unpack and fill our whole house once we got there, so I guess she's off the hook). So Sunday we finally were up bright and early, finally pulling out of the driveway at 6:28am.We ended up driving a little further than we normally would so that we could stay with my BFF, Caroline and hubby Will, along the way in Nashville, TN (no small thing, SO, so nice of them!).

I was just a weeeee bit excited. 

To add to the glorious event of coming home, I also got to rekindle my fast-food-love-affair with some of my estranged favorites. When we saw the first exit sign showing Chick fil A I had to fight back tears ... It was beautiful. However, my feelings of happiness quickly faded away as I came to the ugly realization that it was Sunday. And Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays. I may have dropped 4-letter word ... Because they were celebrating the Sabbath. *&$%

I have talked to the Lord about it, and we're good now. He forgave me. 

We ended up stopping at McDonald's ... of which I'm really not a fan at all. But check out this Mickey D's:

Craziness. However, I'm pretty sure I seemed equally crazy taking pics of the decor ... but it was just so unusual?!?! Seriously, what is going on here? Crystal-ish chandeliers? A pleather lounge complete with a TV and computer? What happened to the big red cone shaped deal that you dropped your quarter in and watched it go around and around until it finally fell in the bucket for the Ronald McDonald house (anyone, anyone?). I thought that decor was super classy. And philanthropical ... Quit trying to be something you're not McDonald's. Just be true to yourself. Geez.

Moving on ... no pun intended ... Sunday was just an all together lonnnnggggggggg day in the car. Worth it, yes. But it felt never-ending.

Sawyer just practically refused to sleep, and was sneezing non-stop. Pitiful. By the time I got to Cabs house at around 8:30 (but we gained an hour, so it felt like 9:30 to us) We were exhausted ... I didn't even really have energy to visit ... We were beat.

There was a lot of this:

I really don't know why Dalton is out of his carseat ... or why it's on top of all the luggage, dangerously hanging above his head. I think I reached a point of "whatevs" ... but I drew the line with Sawyer getting out of his seat ... thus the 147th breakdown in the the pic.

The next day was muchhhh better. I got sweet Sawyer some Benadryl for his sneezy self and the child slept pretty much the whole 6 hour trek. We also found a Chick fil A before leaving Nashville, so the day was off to a great start. And thennnnn .....

Hip Hip Hooooorayyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Definitely cried. Shocker.

We dropped our sweet Maw off at her car and headed on to my parents house ... more tears.

We were greeted by Mom, Dad, Rach, and Emerson and there were again ... lots of tears. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh .................. Wonderful.

No words.

The whole crew came over for dinner Monday night and  Lisa came to visit twice ... I heart her.

It felt surreal to be upstairs with some of my very, very favorite people. In one of my very favorite places. Surreal because in MANY ways, it didn't feel like we'd ever been gone. And then strangely like we'd been gone a very long time. I just kinda hurt thinking about how much I've missed it.

We're just enjoying being home SO much ... I love my peeps. I love Arkansas. And I'm so loving being back.

Here's some more pictures because I just can't ever have enough ... many, many more to come.

Dear Rebekah.

Dear Rebekah,
Rebekah, in the future, that is. About 3 weeks from now to be exact.
I'm dropping you a note to remind you in a few weeks that you really do like it in Pennsylvania ... Because I'm sure after a few weeks at home-sweet-home, you're going to forget. Don't.

Every person that I've met up here and is sweet enough to be your friend, has made some sort of comment/inquiry about whether or not you're coming back ... Which obviously you are.
You are, Rebekah.
It's not a real question ... Don't get any crazy ideas.

So here are some reminders:
Uno. The hubs.










Clearly, the kids need a daddy. And their daddy is in Pennsylvania. And since he is funding your whole operation, you're gonna need to get your tail back up north. We had two and a half longgggg months separated before you moved the whole fam up to PA and it was a great lesson, that "leaving and cleaving" had to happen. So leave. And cleave to the hubs. He's cute. And he makes you laugh. And he's a dang good Yahtzee player- doesn't get any better than that.


Dos. The weather. Something tells me about now you're ready for the 75 degree, humidity-free, everything green Pennsylvania. I shouldn't have to talk this one up. It's obvious.










Número three. It's home now. It is. As hard as it is to believe it, it feels like home, too. There is something to be said about being in your own house, on your own routine, doing your own dishes, laundry and porch-sitting. So scoot along, you've had your fun. Go on home.

Fo. F is for Friends. God has given you some sweet friends up here, so it's not like you're going back to nomad land. God has you here for a purpose ... He's doing something here. Let Him finish the work (Finish it quickly, Lord!!).


Cinco. Fun things are around the corner. Trips are planned, visits are on the books and you'll be headed back to Arkansas for Christmas in just a few short months. It's gonna be A-OK.
Promise.

Love,
The younger, somewhat naive version of yourself.

*********************************************************************

"All our bags are packed, I'm ready to go!!!!"

To say I'm ready for some mama/sista/PLU/southern fun is such an understatement. I just heart my peeps so much and I've been crying for two days about being so excited to hug every one of their necks.
My fabulously wonderful mother-in-law flew up to help me drive back. I've kinda shocked the pants off everyone by insisting to drive. Especially my parents who graciously even offered to fly my crazy crew home ... But the thought of that started stressing me out to no end. The thought of packing for four of us for three weeks into a few small "airport-friendly" bags and then getting all of said bags through the airport sounds scary as H-E-double hockey sticks. Add in three connections, some occasional behavioral hiccups, and not enough libations to make it go smoothly and I'll take the car. ALSO, I couldn't stand the thought of not having my vehicle for three weeks and being at the mercy of other to tote us around. I'm trying to house-hop as much as possible to not outstay our welcome. And that's the beauty of having our own car. If it turns out we get ready to head on back, we can. Easy Peasy (kinda). Depending on when we come back and AaronBoone's work schedule Aaron will either fly down and drive us back or Rach will help me drive back and fly home.
However, I'm not thinking about that now. I'm thinking about coffee on my parents deck, lying on a raft in Lake Ouachita, the White Truffle Burger at Big Orange, dinners with my PLU's, pool days with my littles and filling up with enough girl talk to get me through another few months. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.
Get ready Arkansas. We're coming hommmeeee!!!!!
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The End of an Era.

We hit a milestone tonight ...










Honestly, we've never taken a crib apart (except to move) without having another up or in prep to move to a different bedroom. We actually had two cribs for awhile when Dalton was born because Avery was only 12.5 months old and still needed a crib. So, she got a new girly crib and room and D had her old gender neutral nursery.
Then when D started crawling out of his crib he ran straight to Avery's room and slept with her for a few months before we discovered Sawyer was on his way, so we never took it down. So we've had that crib in our house for over five years. True story.
The last week Sawyer has learned to climb out of his crib and starts roaming the house in search of me or chocolate chip cookies, whichever he finds first.
I've been reluctant to lock him in his room because he can't climb back in his crib, so that seemed kind of pointless.
However, tonight I came in to find Aaron taking down the crib. I
was a teensy bit upset, because clearly Sawyer is still an infant, but I think it's the right move.
And Sawyer LOVES it! When we told him it was bedtime he went FLYING in his room, chocolate milk under his arm, to get under his covers, waving "night-night" the whole way!





So, right now we just put his little crib mattress on the floor until we get back in July to decide what to do with his sweet self. I'm leaning toward putting Avery in there to have her own room and letting the boys share ... We'll see.
So wish us luck!
He's all locked in!! Yikes!





No more cribs ... Check! Now if we can just get him out of diapers!
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