trip to arkansas

Well…we’ve been MIA since Tuesday (from South Carolina that is). Shaun’s grandmother, Violet Wood, passed away last Monday morning, so the boys and I headed down to Arkansas for the funeral. We left on Tuesday morning and we finally got home last night. The boys did pretty well in the car, considering it took us about 16 hours to drive there and a little more driving back, because coming home we made the trip in three days instead of two.

All except a few of Shaun’s family members were there in Arkansas for the funeral and that was in total almost 80 people – children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, and spouses. I hate that we didn’t get down there sooner to visit while she was living so she could have met my boys, but I’m sure she knows who they are now. The tribute to her at her funeral was really special. I’m so glad that we got to go down there so my boys can know their family on Shaun’s side. I know Grandma Violet will be missed, but it sure is assuring that we will see her again.

Shaun’s grandma lived on what the boys called “the farm”. They had a blast playing in the black dirt just about the whole time they were there and their feet and faces and hands were proof of that. When they weren’t playing in the dirt, there were bunnies to be fed leaves, and chickens to be tended to, and cows and horses to be admired. Uncle Larry even took them on a tractor ride and they were in heaven. They of course were shy but opened up a little to everyone towards the end. Thanks to Shaun’s family for making us feel right at home while we were there. It was definitely good for me to put names with faces and for Shaun to see people he hadn’t seen in YEARS.

Here's some pictures of our visit to the farm. Enjoy!

Mike's sisters Margaret (L) and Lynn (R) trying to give Carson some lovin' :) I'm not sure Carson's so into it ...

A cousin (Catherine) trying to get Carson to play with her the whole night at the funeral home.

Andrew ate a peppermint at the funeral home and complained to me and Shaun that his "tongue was really hot and just about on fire".

Andrew and Spencer on Uncle Larry's tractor

With Uncle Larry on his tractor

A cousin, Denise, and her husband and daughter, Olivia

I'm not sure if you can see all the black dirt on Spencer's face

And here's Carson's little black feet ... 3 days in a row they were like this, but they sure had a great time playing in dirt

Aunt Lynn (L), her daughter Ashley (C), and Sherri & her daughter (R)

A cousin, Dax, and his little boy Jacob (L), Shaun & Carson, and Scott (R). Nice face Scott :)