Reunited and it feels so good // Spring Break 2019

Wow. What a whirlwind the last two weeks have been! I say that with reverence because we packed so much into a week’s span that I gave myself the other week to recuperate, haha.

As you know, my mom and gramma spent a week with us but as a surprise, Brian’s mom, step dad and brother and sister also came to visit! For two days, all our California family were here in Arkansas together! The irony is not lost on us.

March 16th-21st:

My mom and gramma arrived at 10p at the local airport and Kinsey willingly stayed up to accompany me on the drive over to get them. It was like coming home when we saw them. I was basically a bundle of nervous energy all day up until I had them safely tucked into my car.

Sunday was spent acclimating to the time change and enjoying some warm weather from home. It boiled down to about every other day having a planned activity, followed by rest (it was VACATION after all ;). 

Monday we went into Bentonville and explored Crystal Bridges (a first for all of us minus Kinsey who went on a class field trip earlier this school year) and had ice cream at the Walmart Museum (you just can’t beat $1 cones!!)

Maman watching over my mamans

Wonder Women

Tuesday we enjoyed another delightful Spring day and spent it at Lake Atalanta. It was just warm enough to have a layer on but breezy enough to balance it all out. We had a “nostalgia lunch” at Cracker Barrel; when I was eight we lived very briefly in Tennessee and I absolutely loved eating there. I can now say I have that out of my system. The menu must have changed in those 20 plus years because it was pretty bland and boring but the General Store didn’t disappoint! And you can’t pass up some good porch rocking.

Going for an Abbey Road effect here

Clark's new smile. The boy kills me.

Wednesday was the only rainy, blustery day so we stayed in, watched movies, played Rummy 500, and my mom and Kinsey started a Minecraft village.

Thursday we did some retail therapy at the outdoor mall which is so pretty. We ate at one of our favorite restaurants, Saiwok which serves Vietnamese street food. 

Me and my gramma

And then it was Friday and we had to pack up and head back to the airport. 

We have already decided a fall visit and a two week stay are on the agenda for next time. I have all intentions to go back home for a Summer holiday next year too. 

In summary- we talked, laughed, reminisced, stayed up late every night, did some local exploring and then their trip was over. I basically blinked and I had to say good bye all over again. I couldn’t have asked for better weather (thank you, Arkansas) and they both really enjoyed their time here. I know it brings a sense of peace for them to be able to now put a place and feelings and memories to this City/State and I am so grateful for our time together ️

My mom and Bea, basically twins

My In Laws have visited Gma (Brian’s grandma) every Spring Break since she moved out here five years ago. There was some confusion as to the timing of this trip (or if it was even going to happen) but they made it after all!

It was a nice distraction from my moping over my family to visit with them and we had fun catching up. They stayed until early Monday morning before driving back towards California.

Kinsey was supposed to go back to school on Tuesday but I gave us an extra “mental health day” to recuperate from all the emotions of having to say bye to family and I got an extra day at home with my three babies.

Like I said, it was quite the week! I will be living off these memories for months to come.

What did you do for Spring Break? 

PS- would anyone be interested in some local destination posts? I’m thinking a quick ‘5 Things’ type deal of what to eat, see, do, shop, explore. Let me know (I may just do it anyway lol)