Spring Break

I'm not going to put pictures on this post. I took over 200 pictures and there are too many good ones to choose from, so if you want to see pictures - you'll just have to go to our Shutterfly site.

Saturday, 3/20
We got up Saturday morning and loaded the car. (I had forgotten just how much stuff you have to pack for an infant! It's amazing that the smaller the kid is, the more stuff you need to travel with them.) We drove in the rain to Spiro to see Grandma and Grandpa Morris. We picked up a pizza on our way into Spiro and had lunch at their house. After lunch, we spent a few hours just visiting. Grandpa got a kick out of Caleb's remote control car and, of course, they both loved meeting Nola.

After our time with the Morrises, we went back into Ft. Smith to see Jan & Bill. Uncle Terry came by for a while too. We had a wonderful dinner prepared by Chef Bill and then played with the kiddos until bedtime. Jan even dyed some Easter eggs with Caleb. Rudy had to go to the store to get a couple of things after dinner and by the time he got back, it was snowing outside.

Sunday, 3/21
We woke up Sunday morning to about 4 inches of snow on the ground. We were lucky to have been in Ft. Smith. We saw pictures from Rogers & Fayetteville of anywhere from 10-12 inches of snow!

We left Ft. Smith Sunday morning and drove to Sherwood to spend the day with Memmie and Poppie. They were so excited to meet their new great-granddaughter and see their great-grandson. We went to lunch and then went back to their house for the afternoon. Rudy, Caleb and Poppie went to the sporting goods store and Poppie bought Caleb a new fishing pole. Memmie and I gave Nola a bath in the same kitchen sink where my mom and Memmie bathed me 33 years ago. Caleb and Rudy went outside to practice casting the fishing pole and I helped Poppie with some computer trouble he was having. We spent the rest of the day just enjoying each others' company. Just before we left, Pat stopped by to see us. We talked with her for a little while, then left for Hot Springs.

We got to Hot Springs about 9:30 and we were worn out. Caleb's face lit up like a Christmas tree when he saw his Pops and LaLa and he literally ran to give Pops a big hug. I love that he is so close to his Pops!

Monday, 3/22
Monday morning, Rudy and Mr. L packed up and went to Lake DeGray where Mr. L had the camper set up for the week. They spent the day fishing and spent the evening around the campfire.

Mom and the kids and I stayed home on Monday. Aunt Harolyn, Becca, Julie and Maddox came by to see us for just a little while. The girls were so anxious to get their hands on Nola for the first time. Despite the fact that Caleb and Maddox talk about each other all the time, they are so funny when they are together. They aren't really sure what to do and usually end up playing around each other without talking. It always amazes Becca and me.

Mom and I took the kids over to see Pepapa and Anna Joyce on Monday afternoon. They were excited to meet Nola too. It's not every day that you get to meet a great-grandchild for the first time! Caleb enjoyed all of the Easter treats that they gave him and loved playing outside with Pepapa.

After our visit with them, we went to Outback for dinner and then back home.

Tuesday, 3/23
Tuesday was the day that Caleb had been looking forward to because we were going to the "fishing camp." We all piled in the car and drove down to Lake DeGray where the big guys were camping. Mom packed a huge picnic spread, complete with a centerpiece for the picnic table. Pepapa & Anna Joyce, Becca & Maddox and Aunt Harolyn all joined us for a day of beautiful weather and family time. We took the little boys down to the lakeshore to try fishing for a little bit. They did a lot of fishing...but no catching. Caleb just liked playing with the worms. I was amazed to see that he didn't mind touching the worms and he even held a big fish (that someone else had caught). He and Maddox had a great time throwing stuff on the firepit (unlit of course) because they were "helping" to build a big fire.

After the rest of the family left, Mr L rearranged the campfire logs and lit the fire. We spent the rest of the evening at the campsite. Caleb had the most fun I've ever seen him have. Our campsite was across the road from Penne & Waymon Orr's campsite. Mr. L and Waymon have been friends since childhood. Penne's daughter's family was using their camper and some friends of theirs were staying a few campsites away. There were a total of 5 boys between the ages of 1 and 8. They had bikes, scooters, big wheels and all sorts of crazy riding toys. They (and Rudy) rode those things up and down the road, racing and laughing for hours! Caleb loved every single minute of it and hasn't stopped talking about it since.

At bedtime, the girls (Mom, Nola and me) went back to Hot Springs. Caleb stayed to spend the night with the big boys in the camper.

Wednesday, 3/24
Wednesday morning, the boys went fishing. They didn't catch anything. I'm sure that had nothing to do with the fact that they had a 3 year old in the boat. :) They came back to Hot Springs that afternoon.

We all sat on the deck Wednesday night and had boiled crawfish for supper - a perfect meal if you ask me! After supper, we sat on the deck and watched Caleb entertain us for a while. We laughed at him doing his "shake your booty" dance and laughed even harder when Rudy and Mr L got up and joined him.

Thursday, 3/25
Thursday morning, Rudy and Mr. L took Caleb to Oaklawn to see the horses that Mr L's friend Rick trains. When they got back, Mom and I ran some errands. Thursday afternoon, Rudy and I left the kiddos with their Pops and LaLa and went to the racetrack for a while. That's the best people-watching spot in the world! After the races, we went to dinner at KJ's and enjoyed having a meal by ourselves for the first time in 2 months.

Friday, 3/26
We came home on Friday morning. I was so pleased that Nola was a good traveler on this trip! I didn't have to crawl in the backseat even once, which I consider to be the ultimate victory when traveling with small children. :)

Saturday, 3/27
Saturday was a day of recuperation - laundry, unpacking, etc. Stacy came over to scrapbook with me Saturday night.

Sunday, 3/28
After church on Sunday, I took Caleb to see the movie How To Train Your Dragon. He was so funny, because we talked before it started about how some of it might be a little scary but it was just pretend. On the way home, I asked him how he liked the movie. He said, "I was a little bit scared, but I was so brave." He did great at the movie. He didn't even ask to go to the bathroom.