Vacation Recap, Parts 4, 5, and 6

(the Hawk family on Grandpa's 80th birthday)

The remainder of our vacation was a lot of fun, but I am getting worn out trying to remember everything we did.  So, I'm going bullet point style!

1. Fish Hatchery
1. cheap, kid friendly, educational
2. slightly horrifying to the girl who hates/is terrified of fish
2. Hike/Bird Watching
1. nice easy hike that Gus got to enjoy with us
3. Nintendo Wii
1. oh those Mario Bros.
4. Stonehill Winery
1. I will never turn down a wine tasting.  However, the majority of these wines were on the kool-aid side so we only found a few that we liked.  
5. Apples to Apples
1. BEST GAME EVER!  Brought Grandpa out of his shell for sure

1. Fantastic Caverns
1. This was one of my favorite things that we did.  These caves were used as a speakeasy back in the day, as well as a concert venue in the summertime.  Such a fun legacy!
2. Lambert's Cafe
1. Home of the throwed roll.  Yum!
3. Old Time Photos
1. This was hysterically funny!  I highly recommend taking old time photos if you have never done it before.

We love love love our Colorado family and it is always such a blessing to just be in the same room with them.  I am horrible at keeping up on the phone (I hate talking on the phone), so the face time is always much appreciated by me!

Vacation Recap, Part 3

On Monday, we woke with no agenda and set out for breakfast in the old town part of Branson.  We had a nice meal and then went to a really cool little shop called Dick's 5 and 10.  We shopped for quite a while and found a lot of really great steals!

(this was one of many things that I had to have)

After Dick's, we went to Starbucks (can't stay away) and had a lovely time visiting, in a great store I might add.  Then we walked around an outdoor mall and did a lot of window shopping.  Marisa and I cooked dinner at the condo for the family and then the kids finally got to go swimming!  :)

Tuesday morning we drove into Arkansas and went to Eureka Springs.  Eureka is one of our favorite little towns to visit.  It's very eclectic and there are lots of cool shops.  Unfortunately, most of the cool shops were closed due to the off season.  From there we went to Prairie Grove to see Grandpa Doug on his 80th birthday!  This was the true reason for our trip.  We had a great time hanging out with Grandpa and we ate at his favorite Mexican restaurant.  

(a very blurry iphone picture of grandpa blowing out his candle with the help of colden and reagan)

Vacation Recap Part 2

(delicious chicken spring rolls)

On Sunday we went to my sister's church and then to the delicious Green Papaya restaurant.  I always love going home and having all of the great food that I miss when I am away.  I'm sure there is a restaurant in Nashville that makes chicken spring rolls and garlic chicken and vietnamese iced coffee, but I'm also sure that I wouldn't like it as much...  However, if you know of a place I should try please don't hesitate to recommend!

We spent the afternoon hanging out with my mom and sister's family then departed for Branson, MO to congregate with the Hawks.  There was a brief stop-over in Fayetteville for Tim's Pizza.  Somehow Ryan had lived in North West Arkansas for 5 years without having the greatness that is Tim's, so it was imperative that we stop!  I love love love their canadian bacon, they use a ground ham instead of sliced and it is wonderful!  

(They also apparently can't swing for real sweet & low, but I try not to judge...)

We rolled into Branson around 9 just as the rest of the Hawk clan was arriving.  We were able to visit for a little bit and then went to bed to get our beauty sleep!

Vacation Recap Part 1

Disclaimer:  This post was supposed to be published last Sunday.  I was under the impression that I could post via email.  Apparently I need more practice since only the photo was posted.  We wound up not having wireless at our condo, hence not posting last week.  

(this is my almost ten year old nephew Austin)

We rolled into Ft. Smith at 5am Saturday morning (I was not exaggerating about those turtles one bit).  We closed our eyes for a few minutes and then went to my nephews championship boys & girls club bball game. The won!  And got to cut down the net which I thought was pretty cool.

After the game, we hung out at my sister's for a while.  Then I helped my niece do her hair and makeup for a birthday party. We had fun primping and being girly. Tori thinks I am so fashionable and asked me what was new in fashion in Nashville. :)  So nice to be thought a fashion guru.

While Tori was at her party, I had planned to cook a lovely risotto dinner for Ryan, my mom, and my sister. However, this seemed more easily said than done after we scoured the shelves for abrorio rice at one wal-mart only to find nothing but plain white rice (in no less than 16 varieties) on the shelves. I called two different local grocery stores to ask if they carried abrorio rice. Neither store had any idea what I was talking about. One store told me they didn't have it before they looked and the other store spent 10 minutes looking and then told me they didn't have that kind of Zataran's. Oh boy.

We finally found some at a larger wal-mart and the risotto was delicious. However, if I ever move back to Arkansas it will be to open a specialty grocery store. I think they need one

Photo Friday

I know that this isn't a scenic picture of a beautiful land that I have been to, but I was browsing through my facebook photos and saw this...and there you have it.  This is what I wrote, almost two years ago, as a caption for this photo in my facebook album:

this is the good life...

through debt and betrayal and break-ins and car break downs...

this is the life we live and it's good because we have each other and we have faith that it will all work out...

 because we are loved by someone greater than ourselves...

 This is true yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  We truly have a good life.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Decided to post this one as well.  From the same album, two summers ago.  

On our way to see The Dark Knight.  

Love this boy.  Love this photo.