Our Day In Searcy

The day after Christmas we packed up and hit the road for central Arkansas.  Searcy is the town where all of Matt's grandparents live and also where we attended college (and met and fell in love!).  Just like our last big road trip, Titus had some big issues for the start of the drive.  I don't know what it is about road trips that make him so upset, but he has been horrible for our last few long car rides.  It just about drives us bonkers and we all thank our lucky stars when he eventually passes out.

We are so looking forward to the time when he will be an easy/great traveler like his big brothers.

We made it to Grammy and Granddad's house early that afternoon and we stayed with them for most of the day. It's hard to believe it had been over a year since we were last together. They have both been through some hard times health-wise recently and we were so, so thankful to have such good quality time together that afternoon and evening.

Folks, it simply doesn't get any sweeter than this.

We love you, Grammy and Granddad!

*A random tidbit that I want to remember.  We found out the next evening that while we drove around Searcy that day, showing the boys some of our favorite hangouts and places around campus, that Matt's college roommate from Florida was doing the exact same thing!  We haven't seen Collin since our wedding night over 10 years ago and had no idea that he and his wife happened to be passing through Searcy on their way to visit family in Missouri.  They also went all over town so Collin could show his wife his college town.  Cannot believe that after a decade of living so far away from one another that we were right there at the same time and none of us had any idea.  We've already agreed that we will definitely find a way to get together the next time they come through Arkansas.*

We checked into our hotel in Searcy that evening and immediately changed into our swimsuits so we could have some time at the pool before a late bedtime. The 5 of us spent most of the time in the hot tub and it was fantastic.  (T's face kills me in this photo!)

We eventually got the littles to sleep (even though these cuties are totally faking in this pic).

And then Matt and I stayed up watching a movie. My poor husband nearly went into cardiac arrest when he found out a few days prior that I'd never seen the first Indiana Jones movie (even though we own it!). So that was our entertainment that night. That along with some fine dining from the nearby vending machine. :)

That night in the hotel with Titus was possibly one of the worst nights we've ever had with one of our children. Thankfully we brought sound machines and had 2 adjoining rooms, so when it got really bad Matt moved into the other room with the big boys and shut the door between us so they could continue to sleep. Titus and I were up for hours while he cried and cried and cried because absolutely nothing could soothe him. Not long after we returned home from all our Christmas travels we found out that Titus had a horrible ear infection, so in hindsight I wonder if his ear was beginning to hurt him around that time.  He's also getting several new teeth which I'm sure doesn't feel too good.  Titus continued to sleep poorly for the entire week.  Actually, he didn't sleep well in the few days before we left home either.  So you can pretty much assume that Matt and I are horribly sleep deprived in all my posts about the end of December...

By the time the rest of our family woke up that Tuesday morning, Titus and I had already been up for hours. Matt took all 3 boys downstairs for breakfast and let me sleep for an hour, which I desperately needed. After breakfast, he took the big boys swimming again while Titus and I got ready and packed up in record time. I was SO done with that hotel room...couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough for me.

You'd never guess what a stinker he'd been, huh?

We stopped by Grammy and Granddad's house again to say our final good-byes and then we went a few blocks over to visit with Great and Nonny. What a blessing for all of Matt's grandparents to live so close to one another! Our visit with Great and Nonny wasn't as long since we get to spend a week with them every summer on our lake vacation, but we definitely had to see them while we were in town.

Once we stepped foot inside their house Adam immediately remembered the singing fish from last year, so Great hunted it down for him.

Great then insisted that we bring it home with us. Yeeeeeah, big thanks for that Great. (I wish you could hear the sarcasm in my voice!)

Adam and Drew got to play outside for quite a while and I picked us up a quick bite to eat before we had to get back on the road.  But not before more snuggle time from Nonny!

All 4 of Matt's grandparents are some of my biggest role models in life and since I've joined the family each one of them has taught me something about family and faith.  They have created such a legacy of love that I'm honored to be a part of!

It's moments like the ones we shared in that short time that make all the work that goes along with traveling well worth it.  We are so fortunate to have such wonderful family and we are incredibly thankful for the times when our children are able to spend time with their relatives, near and far, and know just how many people cherish them.  They are making memories that will hopefully last a lifetime.  And if there are some that they don't remember someday...at least we've got the blog!  :)