Spring Break Extravaganza!

Steven's spring break was the first week in April, and we had been planning and planning and planning some more for our fantastic trip to Louisiana and North Carolina, both firsts for Lily (at least outside of my body). We decided months ago that we wanted to bring Lily to these family locales, and I couldn't believe how fast it arrived!

Steven had Friday off of work, so I packed ALL day Thursday and hit the road once Steven got out of school.  We picked Papa Steve up on a street corner in Indy, and we were off!

We are HUGE fans of driving through the night, especially now that we have Lily bug.  She did fantastically well in the car, allowing us to drive until our scheduled stops.  We would just feed her in the car and change her and stretch all of our legs at the gas stations.  Worked perfectly!

The first leg to Louisiana took about thirteen hours, so we arrived early Friday morning.  The plan is typically to take a short nap to adjust after the long car ride.  ...I think Lily was far too excited to be in Louisiana with her Mema, so we had an early start that day.  :-)  With everyone working on Friday, we just relaxed and visited with Mema, enjoying the beautiful spring weather.

Donnie and Marie came over that afternoon for some cards and to meet our little bug!  She, of course, did great with all the new people!

Thank goodness Lily adjusted to the time change, so we were able to get a wonderful night's sleep on Friday and take it easy Saturday morning.  We spent the day at Donnie and Marie's for visiting, and more importantly, the crawfish boil!  Mema was the only Simcoe who had met Lily before this trip, so Lily was pumped and ready to be a little social butterfly!

Steven had never been to a crawfish boil, and I have only been to one a very, very long time ago with Mom. I knew we were in for a real treat!  I had been trying to increase my tolerance to spicy foods (which was more or less completely nonexistent before), but I'm not sure there was any preparing for the hot, deliciousness that was about to come our way!

While assisting with preparing the crawfish, Parker (3 yrs old) asked his daddy (Jason), "Will they scream when they're cooking?"  Valid question...



I'm gonna need more practice and an old pair of jeans for next time, I do believe!

My mouth is watering just thinking about how awesome it was.  Shout out to Big Don and all his assistants for the amazing FEAST!!!

Sunday was the day I had been waiting for, for a very long time!  Yes, it was Easter, and the Lord is risen (hallelujah!)  ...but ALSO Lily finally got to wear her beautiful Easter dress that her Great Aunt Nancy bought for her months ago!  We all went to Mema's church for her Easter service, and everyone who met Lily was so enamored with her cuteness and how well-behaved she was.  (I'm starting to sound like a broken record on these blogs, but it's true!  She is just so good!)

Lily took a little snooze in church, but I don't think anyone held that against her.  It was just what she needed to take some flippin adorable and beautiful Easter/7-month pictures when we got back to Mema's.

We spent the rest of the day over at Heath and Joy's for more visiting and cards.  Steven was even treated with an impromptu singing of Happy Birthday for his upcoming birthday!  (It was totally Joy's idea...)

Lily had so much fun playing with Maddie, Macie, and Parker, and the girls were soooo good with Lily!  They could really get Lily going, giggling away!  Cracked me up!

In my countless trips to Louisiana, I have only been to one plantation home.  And no, it was not to that whack, haunted Myrtles.  Never.  Anyhoo, Steven has never been to a single one, so we decided to take a day to visit the nearby Nottoway plantation home.  The weather, tour guide, and day were simply perfect!

Our tour guide in the "White Room."  I think she explained where it got that name, but I must have been distracted.  Oh well.

The little girl's room.  Can't you just see Lily with a pink, frilly bed??  NOT.

Walked through one of the window doors to have part of the tour on the second story balcony, overlook the levee and the Mississippi.

Lily wanted to climb the levee with us sooooo badly, but she just couldn't maintain consciousness.

There seems to be a theme to this trip:  There's a bunch of stuff that I did when I was much younger (and hence hardly remember or couldn't fully enjoy), which Steven has never done.  File visiting New Orleans (noo-AW-linz) under that theme!  I love that we got to bring Lily with us on all these excursions, too!

Mmmmmmm...beignets...

Relaxed for a street show.

Had to stop for a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's!  Don't worry...the stroller had a cup holder.  :-)

Lily was all sorts of tuckered out from all the fun we were having!

That night, back at Mema's, we went out to eat with most of the family for a final dinner.  So great, but so sad because it meant the end was near...

All the kiddos were happy to have one more night together!  Parker, Macie, Maddie, and Lily bug.

Wednesday was spent doing laundry, packing, and visiting with Donnie and Marie who both made surprise, separate but equal, visits to Mema's before we hit the road!  We drove thirteen hours or so through the night again, and Lily did even better on this leg.

We got to the mountains about seven in the morning, and Pat had gotten up early to make us a delicious and filling breakfast!  So thoughtful and SO perfect after a night in the car.  Harold got up early, too, to provide his usual, delightful company.

Shortly after we arrived, a tremendous ice storm hit the mountains, icing over the already scary roads and all windows of the house.  Crazy!  We were so lucky to have arrived when we did!

The weather could not have been more different on Friday, sixties and not a cloud in the sky!  Perfect walking weather after stuffing ourselves silly in Louisiana.

The gang!!!

So beautiful to just kick back and relax.

Saturday morning...and afternoon...  The whole gang went for an...extended...hike through the mountains of Boone.  Lily was initiated by fire to hiking, as some of the trails were less than suitable to daddies carrying a baby on their chest.  All-in-all, though, it was beautiful weather and gorgeous scenery.  So thankful for the time with the fam!

This little hole of water was what we hiked three hours (round trip) to find.

Lily was actually really silly and happy the entire time, even though we blew through one of her naps.  ...she was asleep in the backseat before we even left the parking lot.  So sweet.

After showers, packing, and another FANTASTIC dinner by Chez Pat, we hit the road for what seemed like a very short drive.  This last leg was only 8 or 9 hours, but it seemed to go by so fast after two 13 hour legs.

As I always say, we are so incredibly thankful and blessed to have such wonderful family in our lives.  We'd love to be closer to EVERYONE, but instead settle for cherishing the times we get to visit.  WE LOVE YOU ALL!

God bless!!!