We are back!!

Wow! It has been too long.
The week before our trip went super fast. We left the afternoon of the 12th. Arrived at the Bonds around 6. Rachel had a delicious supper waiting for us. After some hellos and small catch up talk, we ate chicken parmesian and bread. The kids played after that and the guys visited while Rachel and I visited in the kitchen.
It was so good to be there. Their hospitality was so appreciated by us and the chance to hear how they were and just to have some visit time was priceless to me.
Kids went to bed a lot later than usual, but were up for more play time before we had to leave. Mark had set out cinnamon rolls the night before, so they were huge. They were also really yummy! We went outside to play a little. Then around 10, we decided as much as we hated to leave, we needed to hit the road. We said our goodbyes and promised next time would be a trip we could spend longer.
We really miss them and it was so nice to stop and see them.
Our trip to Texas from there took another 9 hours. We arrived in Waskom around 7, just in time for Grandpa's famous pizza. Hawaian, cheese, and meat lovers. We ate and visited and then hit the beds.
The following morning, the guys and kids went to the Air Force museum at B Air Force base. Lorna wanted me to help her with some decor, so we stayed home. After they got back and filled us in on all the awesome planes, we played a little and then drove over to Shreveport and ate at one of their many new restaurants, this one called Fire Mountain. It was a lot like Golden Corral. We then walked the mall and headed home for bed.
Saturday we woke up and went to their local flea market. The kids came away like bandits. Nathan got a bunch of free cars and airplanes. Hannah got a pretty stroller and pink fluffy dress. Chris got a sword and loved just walking the area. Lorna and he and his grandparents from Tennessee used to do that all the time, so it was good.
We got home and the kids went swimming in their little pool. Chris and I got in also. It was nice to cool off after it being so hot.
Sunday we went to their new church. It was really nice. The minister was a straight shooter, and that was refreshing for them. We went home and ate leftover KFC from the night before and vegged out before heading to Marshall to Lowes to help them purchase some needed things with Chris' discount. Taco bell for supper before heading home to swim some more.
Monday, we went into Marshall and got groceries with Grandma for the week. Chris and I put together one of their 2 rocking chairs while the kids swam that afternoon. We had Cici's for lunch and spaghetti for supper. On Tuesday, since the heat was on, we went to the Shreveport science museum. It was really neat. Really geared to the kids. We could have stayed their all day. Hannah and I went to a presentation on edible blood. Lots of hands on stuff. After that, we went over to the Louisiana boardwalk. It was really hot, or we would have stayed long enough to ride the trolley. We met Noel in Shreveport for supper at a barbeque place called Smokey Bones. Spent the rest of the evening at their house out on the porch visiting.
Wednesday, I went with Lorna to her chiropracter appointment. It was nice just to be us. She wanted to throw Chris a "Happy 29 1/2 birthday" party, so we planned a meal and got presents and a cake and the whole thing. The kids were really excited about it. They helped Grandma wrap her gifts. Then they (Nathan, Hannah and Grandma) made a craft with rocks, paint and tic tac toe. When Noel got home, we had the birthday party. Fried okra, smothered steaks, mashed potatoes, chocolate cake and sweet rolls. He got a pair of Lowes boxers, a pac man game that he and his mom played later, a star wars coloring book, a Gaither Dvd.
On Thursday, we went back to Shreveport to see Lorna's school and to go to a park before it got hot. Chris went frisbee golfing while the kids and us played on the playground. We went to Books a million and the kids got a bunch of $1 books for the trip home. We hit Toys-R-us and the mall one more time before heading home. Grandma wanted to buy them something for school and for fun. Nathan got a Bob the builder backpack and a semi truck for hauling hotwheels. Hannah got a Cinderella lunch box and an Aurora nursery carriage with a horse.
We went to a place called Big Pines for supper. It was "Down in the bayou" and specialized in hush puppies and catfish. The kids liked it. It was a taste of the south, that's for sure. The jalepeno hush puppies were actually good and the catfish was too. We drove down towards the swampy marshes and tried to see some alligators. We saw tail tracks and a turtle crossing sign, but no live alligators.
We headed out early Friday morning, knowing we had a 13 hour trip home. It was super hot and we ended up spending the night in Joplin again, only this time we stayed at the Microtel. The kids and I went swimming in a real pool and we went and visited all the old sights on our way out of town on Saturday. We got home around 5. Just enough time to unload the car, and run to the store to get some bread, cheese and milk to hold us over until today.
We made grilled cheese sandwiches for supper and ate cereal for breakfast before a long day of grocery shopping and unloading bags.
Tomorrow we go get Todd and try to finish up with the house. Percy was a little excited to see us home. Her 2nd birthday is tomorrow, so the kids got her some kitty toys for presents while we were shopping today. Our closet and storage flooded while we were gone, so that is a project for this week. Chris had to be at work at 5am today for inventory and has to do the same all week.
Well, that is it. An update for now. As August approaches, we are looking forward to school starting and getting on a more set schedule. Since both kids will be in school this fall, I am looking for part time job while they are in. Applebees, Country Kitchen, Taco Bell, Dillards, Target, and Sonic are all looking for help, so that is another thing on my list to do.
I hope all of you are doing well and keeping God first. We are going to try to get back into a better pattern of that.
Well, I need to head to bed. it is almost midnight and I am exhausted. Always my love!!