Thanksgiving 2012 "ROAD TRIP!!!!!!"

This year for our Thanksgiving road trip we were on a mission to complete our big family goal to see all of the 48 continental states!  We only had 3 left. Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

 

We started off by driving to Minneapolis, MN and spending a day at the Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe amusement park.  It was totally fun!!

Then we drove to North Dakota.  It was Thanksgiving day so not much was open.  We found a buffet that was PACKED with people, but we got in line and chowed down. After that Daddy took the kids to the movies to see "Wreak it Ralph" while I chilled in the hotel watching the learning channel. =)

(19 degrees in the picture.)

 The next day we hit the road to enter our very last state. SOUTH DAKOTA!!!!!! On to Mount Rushmore! 

 It was a gorgeous day! Not very cold either.  I was counting my blessings on that.  Totally wonderful time there.  We hiked and went to the museum and took lots of pics.

Jackson, Boston and Ben

Boston played in the Football Superbowl against his two best friends, Jackson and Ben.  His friends team won, but honestly Boston didn't seem to mind at all.  This is a shot I took after the game.  Boston was happy that they got a chance to win the championship.  Boston won the last two years and he was happy that they had the chance.  Boston is very competitive, but not emotional. He tries his best and then leaves it all on the field.  I was so proud of him.  Even more then if he had won the game.  It was awesome.

We Made A Girls Dream Come True- heck, why not!

 Quincey was totally surprised when she stepped off the bus and saw this little orange VW bug with balloons on it and then spotted her Mommy in the bushes taking pictures of the scene.

Her dream was to have a vintage VW.  I wanted one of these in High School as well, so I was on board with that!  Once Daddy was convinced, we set out to find one. We bought it from a young guy who restored it for his wife who had a dream of having one.  Just as he finished it, they found out that she was going to have a baby and then they reconsidered because it would be hard to put a baby in and out of the back seat.  He did a great job.  It looks amazing!  We feel blessed to find it! Enjoy it Quincey.

He Kept Posing, I Kept Snapping!

 This little boy pretty much has me wrapped around his little finger.  Everyone in the family knows it.

 What can I say, he's my baby.

 He's cute.

 Oh, he's cute!

 He's happy and fun.

 He's a total crack up.

I love him.

Fall Football!

 I LOVE watching Boston play football games!!!!  Too much fun! Now, taking to and from practice all the time, not so much.....

 It was a super fun season and Bos did great!

I Love Fall

 What's fall without Mums and pumpkins??

 I love our tall trees in our front yard.  See little Piper standing under them?

 Piper and the neighbors cat that she has made friends with.

 My girl.

The Karate Kid

Piper likes to get on the tramp and practice her karate moves.  I'm tellin you, she is GOOOOD and very fun and entertaining for a Mom to watch.  Love that girl!

No Way!

 I never thought Quincey would be 17.  That just seems so old.  16 I could handle, but 17? NO. Well, my girl is.  She is definitely becoming more independent and having her own opinions about things.  It is hard as a Mother to let a child go, but I know it must be done.  Quincey has always been a very special person to Daddy and I.  She has been a joy to watch grow.  She has had a special relationship with both her Mommy and Daddy.  I'm just glad that we have her another year.  I love you Beauty.

Rem

We all know that is is possible to die.  But we never expect it to happen to to someone young and someone that we love. Daddy's only brother Rem, Remmy, Remington Barron was killed in a motorcycle accident while coming home from work.  He was wearing a helmet and riding his Harley.  It was 2:30 in the morning. He just got off of his shift with the Police Department.  The freeway was closed to one lane, the middle lane.  A freeway worker decided to cross the lane to go to the other side and did not look to see Rem coming.  There was no time to stop and he broadsided the work truck.  Our hearts go out to Randi his wife and Annabelle and Dominik his children. We are happy to know that we had a strong, loving relationship with Rem and have all good memories with him.  We know that we will see him again and that he is watching over us and cheering us on.  What a hard thing this has been.  We will miss him dearly. (This picture was weeks before his death.  Our last time seeing him.)

Quincey was in heaven.

Quincey's best friends from Texas came to visit us and stayed with us for Conference Weekend.  Aren't they beautiful girls.  I think each one is so great!  Quincey had the time of her life!

Arkansas- The Nature State

 Arkansas's nickname is "The Nature State".  There is so much beauty here. I just love it.

Here are some deer in our backyard.  I love living in a place where deer run free and you see them often.  At dusk as I drive into the neighborhood, I often see groups of them and I like to roll down my window and talked to them until they spook and run away.  They probably think "Who is this nut case!" Hahaha....I just think deer are such precious animals and I adore them.

Soccer Boy

 Sarger loves soccer!  This year he was on the Pirates team and they did great!  It was so fun to watch my boy run and play and have the time of his life!

Under The Stars

 Our family slept out under the stars on our trampoline.  The stars are so bright here in Bentonville because there are no city lights.  It was a fun night.

 Smile cute Sarger- thanks........

 Star and moon gazing.

The best my camera could do. =)

The MOVE

Our family had something huge happen!  We moved.  We left what we thought would be our forever home in Texas and moved to Arkansas!  What in the world?  How did this happen???  Well, we did it because it made sense for our family.  Mostly so that we could be with our Daddy every night and that he could stop traveling.  It has turned out to be a wonderful experience!  The church is strong here.  The kids have lots of good friends.  The schools are ranked high.  The neighborhood is beautiful and our new house is awesome.  Who knows where life will take us, but we all have to do the very best with what we have and most important- ENJOY THE RIDE!!!!

My Day-Mother's Day!

Me and all of my babies.  Loved Mother's Day!

The family made our Sunday dinner.  What a treat!

Mother's Day is all about the home made cards.  Always my favorite part!