Our Trip to Hot Springs With a Slight Detour

This past week the kids, Uncle Beau, my parents and I took a mini vacation to Hot Springs. Since I had never been there before, I really didn't know what to expect. It is really pretty over there and we found lots to do. We played putt-putt, went to the alligator farm, saw the famous bath houses and hot springs, and swam at the condo. Here are a few pictures from the week.

 Playing putt putt

With 2 toddlers, it got a little chaotic when they decided to putt.

My personal favorite of Colby

The alligator farm also had a petting zoo (ironic I know).

This place was "creepy" according to Kinsley. I think we all agreed with her.

Merman. 

The real reason I wanted to go to Hot Springs.

A mountain lion.

Behind 2 chain link fences.

For all you fans of the movie "Big," I found a Zoltar machine!

At the Hot Springs

Fordyce Bath house

Now it's a museum

Being silly at the condo.

So now for the detour story.

While we were in Hot Springs, Justin called and said that a house that he really liked came back on the market. So Beau and I drove 6 hours to Texas to see the house. It was great.  More than enough bedrooms, an office for Justin, great kitchen, and yes a pool! So we decide to make an offer only to find out that the owner had decided to accept the previous offer. Are you kidding me? So after we look at the house (mind you we had been in the car over 6 hours now) Justin had an appointment "across town." Beau and I decided to just ride with him "across town"  find a little Mexican restaurant and have some drinks while we waited for JB at his meeting.  As we get in the car and I take a look at the GPS I see that "across town" means 112 miles! And it was in 5:00 traffic! Well we finally get "across town." Justin is already 30 minutes late for his appointment so Beau and I jump out (literally) at the first Mexican restaurant we see. As soon as we walked in to Crazy Jose's, I knew something was wrong. Taylor Swift was blaring across the radio and all the waitresses were white teenage girls. So Beau and I sit down to order our drinks only to find out THEY DON'T SERVE ALCOHOL! By this time we're starving anyway so we just decide to go ahead and eat without JB. Our food comes out and after literally 3 bites, I'm in the bathroom about to be sick. I kid you not. We got out of Crazy Jose's as fast as our weary, margarita deprived bodies would let us. And that was our detour.

Outside Crazy Jose's.

We thought this might be our last picture ever.

The beautiful pool.

On the house that was sold when I got there.

First and Last

Kinsley on her 1st day of preschool this year

Taken today, Kinsley's last day of school.

Just a cute picture of my Colby.

Don't Worry!

Lately, I have been consumed with worry. Not with the major stuff that comes with a life changing move, but rather I've been worried about things that might happen in the future. Maybe it's my way of coping with everything else going on in my life. I don't know, but I digress. (I've always wanted to say that!)

So I've been doing a new thing for my nightly quiet time. I've been looking up Bible verses that deal with whatever I'm feeling at that time. Last night it was Thanksgiving and man it was good. Well tonight I looked up Worry and ran across Matthew 6:25-34. Those are some powerful words of Jesus! Look them up because I'm too lazy to type them. I will give you some of the "takeaways" (my preacher always says that) from the study Bible notes.

7 Reasons not to Worry

*The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life. Matt 6:25

*Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today. Matt 6:26

*Worrying is more harmful than helpful.  Matt 6:27

*God does not ignore those who depend on them. Matt 6:28-30 (this was my favorite)

*Worrying shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God. Matt 6:31,32

*Worrying keeps us from real challenges God wants us to pursue. Matt 6:33

*Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry. Matt 6:34

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Nanny, and Mimaw! We love you!

We are having a great Mother's Day. Justin and the kids bought me some beautiful pink roses and made me the cutest necklace, bracelet, and earrings with the kids initials on them. I got an adorable card that Justin had wrote verbatim what Kinsley wanted. This is what it said, "Dear Mommy, You are the sweetest and your music sounds beautiful. I love your flowers and your always my friend." I am so blessed!

We made fingerprint birdhouses as part of Mimi and my grandmothers "happies."

Kinsley has been so excited about these birdhouses and I was surprised she was keeping them a secret. This is the conversation we had the other day:

Me: K you haven't told Mimi or Nanny about the birdhouses have you?

K: No. All I told them was that I was getting them something for Mother's day and they could hang it in their tree. And a bird might want to live in it.

Me: Well as long as you didn't tell them.

This week we took our Wednesday morning play date with Callie and Campbell to Chuck E Cheese. 

A girl after my own heart...Notice the 2 books she chose to read before bed. Mad for Maroon and a daily devotional for preschoolers.

Just the best smelling candle. Ever.

The kids go on "walks" to the next door neighbors driveway and always bring me back clovers, dead grass, flowers, and weeds. It's so cute because they are so proud of their "treasures."

On a "walk"

Kinsley Quote of the Day

During the thunderstorms, after a loud clap of thunder:

"Momma, is that the monsters growling?"

So cute.

Texas Trip

This past weekend we took our first "home finding" trip to Texas. The kids did great in the car--probably because I brought Mimi along for crowd control. On Friday we looked at 10 houses. Some were doozies and some were okay. Neither one of us fell in love with any of them. It was warm enough for the kids and Justin to go swimming when we got back from house hunting. We also went to one of the children's museums, checked out the mall, and of course went out for some Tex Mex.

I don't know why I am so obsessed with taking pictures of Colby eating breakfast.

Ready to swim!

Going to the Pool School really paid off.

Didn't I tell you they were good in the car?

At the Children's Museum

Wearing their "Don't Mess with Texas" shirts that Uncle Beau insisted they get!

These are 2 of our favorite houses that we looked at. The problem: neither one had a pool:(