I was so excited about the trip, I told everyone at school about it on Friday. I even had to miss a field trip on Saturday, but I wouldn't miss the chance to be a big girl and go on this road trip with Mommy, Nonnie, and Aunt Millie. It was a weddin' plannin' trip.
We took Nonnie's car, which I love, because I can watch movies in it! On the way there we were in the car for 6 hours but I only watched one movie. Mommy says I was so good, but I already knew that.
The first night we stayed in a town called Fort Smith. This is the town where my Nana used to live.
The first place we went was the cake store. This place had pretty cakes all around and I wanted to touch everything so badly but Mommy wouldn't let me. Instead, I sat at a table and played with a sticker book that Mommy brought for me. After Mommy, Millie and Nonnie talked to the cake lady, she brought out THREE different pieces of cake for me to try! Aunt Millie asked me which one I liked best but I couldn't pick so I just said, "All of them" and laughed.
After the cake place, we stopped at an antique mall in downtown Van Buren. I brought my birthday money from Nana that Mommy said I could spend on whatever I wanted. Of course, she helped me make my decisions because I only wanted to buy stuffed animals and Mommy said we couldn't buy USED stuffed animals. I don't care if they're used or not, I just love them all! In the end I only spent $5 of my $20 at this store. I got a bracelet, a book, and a mason jar full of cool shell necklaces and other goodies. Mommy found these "vintage" (that means old!) cannisters for our kitchen and this other flower thing too.
Mommy said I'm becoming quite the shopper.
After that we went back to the hotel to check in and rest a little. I didn't take a nap. This was a big girl trip and naps are for babies!
For some reason Millie and Mommy thought this would be a funny picture. They said they were drinking "Fancy" wine!
We left in the rain again (did I tell you yet that it rained a hundred and a lot and a million on this trip???) This time we went to a grown-up restaurant called Taliano's.
When we got inside I wanted to take a picture so I got the ladies to smile for me.
I took one more picture and silly Mommy thought I was taking a picture of her. I really just wanted to get a shot of these pretty flowers.
I was so excited when we sat down and I got my own real grown-up glass! The girls and I did "cheers" a lot with our glasses!
Mommy set me up with a page to color. I'm a lefty just like my Daddy!
Mommy and Millie and Nonnie said I was such a good girl at this restaurant. I was just glad to not have to share any attention with Coleman!
Look how big my plate of spaghetti and meatballs was! I also got a bowl of tortellini soup and I gobbled it all up!
My daddy has taught me how to twirl spaghetti...
...but I think my twirl was still too big.
I walked over to share a Lady and the Tramp noodle moment with Nonnie.
Mommy asked me if I was saving some for later. That's not a bad idea I think!
I fed the parsley to Aunt Millie. I ate some too then made Mommy smell my breath. Parsley gives you minty breath!!
When we were walking out, the nice man at the restaurant said we needed a picture with me in it too, so we all got to smile for the camera together WITH the pretty tulips!
That night after much debate over who wanted to sleep with me more, I slept with Aunt Millie.
In this picture we were pretendin' to sleep but I couldn't stop giggling.
Then I had to make sure Aunt Mill knew it wasn't REALLY time to go to sleep yet!
The next morning I helped carry the bags out to the car. (It was STILL raining.)
We went to brunch (that means breakfast and lunch!) at a place called Sister's Bistro in downtown Van Buren. I was pretty good at this place and I ate all my grilled cheese, watermelon, and pickles, but I was getting pretty sick of the Mamarazzi. In this picture I was telling Mommy to stop taking pictures and that I was NOT going to smile. I can't help it that I am still cute!
After brunch with our full tummies, we were off to drive some more! Of course it was still rainy.
On the way I pointed out lots of cows. There were baby cows in all the fields too!
One time when we stopped at a gas station, Mommy and Nonnie came out with a surprise for me. See, I forgot to take any of my babies on the trip with us, and even though I didn't say so, Mommy knew I was missing something to cuddle with and take care of, so she got me a new pony! I hugged it and loved on it for the rest of the trip.
Besides the cows, there wasn't much to look at on this car ride. We were on our way to Paris, Arkansas, which is where Millie is getting married, but Mommy calls it Podunk.
In Paris we had a meeting with the flower guy. He had a cool store full of pretty things and yummy smelling flowers. Nonnie gave me a Pez candy thing to entertain me during this meeting but it only lasted me about 2 minutes. Silly Nonnie!
About 20 minutes after I was ready to go, Millie and Mommy were finally done talking to the flower man and were ready to go too, so off we went. We were now heading up the mountain!
Look at the clouds and fog we were driving up into!
It was 16 miles of curvy roads. It made my tummy feel funny and a little sick.
The trees were all green. Mommy said they are loving all this rain!!
At the top of the mountain is where Aunt Millie is getting married, and this is where we got to stay on Sunday night.
I found a fish pond and there was money in it.
So Mommy gave me some money too!
I threw it all in as far as I could!
Once we got into the room I decided I was hungry, so I opened up my leftovers from last night. They were cold, almost frozen, and the girls said I was crazy but I ate it all up!
Then it was FINALLY time for me to go swimming!
First we all got in the hot tub but I wanted to really swim so I asked Mommy to get in the big pool with me. It wasn't very warm so Mommy made me tell her how much I love her before she jumped in. I love her a lot so of course she did it for me! :)
Back up in the room after a rest (all the girls tried to get some sleep but of course I did NOT) we got dressed and ready for dinner. Millie gave me some lipstick.
We ate in the restaurant of the Lodge where we stayed. Normally out that window would be a great view of the mountain we were on but instead it was lots of fog.
See how silly I am? I put my bandaid on my straw! I like to make people laugh!
I also LOVE ranch! I try to lick it from the bowl but Mommy always tells me to stop.
Back at the room, we did some computer surfing.
But this night, I slept with Nonnie. I love cuddling!!!
The next morning, Nonnie couldn't find her jewelry, but I knew just where it was. In the fridge, where I put it!!! Everyone said I'm crazy but at least I have a good memory!
It was still foggy with no view of the mountain. This is our balcony.
See? Total fog.
This is where Aunt Millie and Luke will say I DO! Behind that ledge is a great view of the mountain, or so they tell me. We sure hope it isn't this foggy on August 8th!!!
On Monday morning we met with a lady at the lodge where Millie is getting married. I think they were talking about seating and food, but I was just laying on the floor using my stamps and colors!
Then the quick trip was over and we were back in the car again to head home.
I was SO OVER Mommy taking my picture. I told her to stop it.
When we got home, we were in for a surprise.
Coleman ran into Mommy's arms, and when she picked him up, he kept saying, "MY MISS YOU GUYS!!!!"
But Mommy stopped in her tracks when she saw Bubby's face.
Daddy said he didn't tell us about it because he didn't want us to worry.
But Coleman told us all about it. He said, "My fall through the window."
Poor little buddy got all beat up when he leaned against the screen of the open window (the ones behind him in the picture) and fell through!
Another surprise was this shirt that came in the mail for Mommy
In the playroom, Daddy and Cole made a sign for us!
Mary was excited to see us too!
I was really happy to see that Daddy had cleaned my room all up for me!
But after a quick tour of the clean house, I did what I have been waiting to do all weekend. I curled up in Mommy & Daddy's bed and said, "Now let's get some Olivia on!!!"
Nonnie says one of the best parts of going on a trip is coming home and I agree. It's good to be home!!!
