Fun-filled weekend

This past weekend we made another quick trip home to visit the family. On Friday, Matt, Will and I went to Jackson for a visit, while Caroline stayed with Nana and Papa Buddy. When we returned Friday evening, we were quickly told about all of the fun they had. Caroline drove the boat, caught a fish, baked cookies, and lots more. She had so much fun, that I don't believe she had time for a nap....go figure...the grandparents not enforcing the nap! :)


Saturday morning, Matt couldn't let his little girl catch more fish than he did, so he went for a fishing trip in the boat as well. The picture below is the catch of the day.

Supposedly, the crappie (yes, that's how you spell it even though Southerners pronounce it croppie) Matt and Papa Buddy caught were "REALLY BIG". To the pro fisherman of the family (that would be me), I think they are small compared to Big Charlie. For those of you who have not been fortunate enough to meet Big Charlie, he is the BIG MOUTH BASS I caught in my grandparents' pond in Philadelphia. Since I knew no one would believe that I caught Big Charlie, I had him mounted. He currently resides in our bonus room. :)

While Caroline and Nana were at the bank watching the ducks and geese swim by, Nana filled me in on a little conversation that took place. According to Nana, it went a little like this:
Nana asked Caroline, "Caroline are you a duck?" Caroline replied, "No." Nana then asked, "Caroline are you a goose?", to which Caroline replied "No, Nana." "Well then Caroline, what are you?" Nana asked. "A sweetheart," my little darling said. "Caroline, if you are a sweetheart, what is Will?" Nana asked. "A big boy," his big sister replied. After hearing this, Matt and I were proud to know that our little "sweetheart" remembered that we call her our sweetheart everyday and Will our "big boy". How cute!

Saturday afternoon we traveled to Philly to see Pop and Mimi. Caroline got to ride Durango and then Matt, Pop and I went for a little ride. As we started out on our little adventure, I hesitated due to dark clouds nearby. However, the men in our clan thought they were passing by and we were in the clear. WRONG! Just as we ride up on the wild hog chasing my cousin Josh was embarking upon (that's another story for another time), the bottom dropped. Let me correct that....bottom dropped would not come close to the monsoon we experienced on our ride home. Sure, in my younger days, I would ride horses, 4-wheelers, etc. in crazy weather with my buddy Laura and sister Kristin, but now I have two small children who depend upon me. With all this excitement, my horse got a little disturbed, so thankfully my Dad rode close in front of me to keep my horse from flying back to the barn with me hanging on from his tail. My husband, the dear soul, left us high and dry (well, not really dry) and took off for the barn. You can imagine the welcome he got from us when we returned to the barn. I must say I was extremely proud of my Dad's new 4-year-old horse who did not miss a beat despite the crazy storm. Daddy, he may be a keeper...even if you are in the horse trading business!

Late Saturday evening we traveled across the county to visit my grandparents. We spent Sunday with them before we had to travel back home to Dothan. We ended up playing hookie from church in order to spend more time with them. In doing so, Caroline and Matt got to ride with Pappaw to check on the cows. She, of course, was tickled pink!