Thanksgiving Journey Day 8

Last day of our trip!  Ryan and I took mom and Brock to the airport around 9:00am.  They were both on the same flight home. 

We were going to take 2 days to drive back to GA, like we took 2 days to drive out to MO, but we were actually anxious to get back home.  So mid way through driving, we decided we'd plow all the way home.  As a result, several fun photo ops I had planned got canceled. For example, we were going to see:

- The world's largest beer can in Lavaca, AR
- A giant Mr. Peanut in Fort Smith, AR.
- The preforming ducks at the PeaBody Hotel in Memphis, TN (this was feautred on Jon and Kate + 8!)
- A 7.5 pound burger at the Kooky Canuck in Memphis, TN.
- The world's largest chair in Anniston, AL.

We did however, get one photo op in for the day.  In Alma, AR we found the Popeye statue.

We ended up getting home about 11:30 pm.

Thanksgiving Journey Day 7

It's now Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.  I MAY have gotten a little rowdy the day/night before:

If anyone tells you they have video footage, do not believe them.  As a result, I MAY have spent all day Friday like this:

leaving Ryan to fend for himself with my family. 

Thanksgiving Journey Day 6

It's the actual day - Thanksgiving!

Ryan and I went to pick up my mom from the airport at 10:00am.  Then we all went over to my Uncle Boyd and Aunt Mitzi's in Springdale, AR. Every year my dad and Teri being this bread-turkey. 

Missing this year from the festivities were all of the Maupins, my brother Brian, my cousin Jill, and all of Mitzi's side of the family.  This is the 4th year Boyd and Mitzi have hosted all of us, and we found out they will not be hosting next year.  Their daughter, my cousin Catie, got engaged and her wedding will be in the beginning of October in Texas.  They don't want people to choose which one to attend so they're taking Thanksgiving off the list. 

Now we all know Carol doesn't drink.  But for some reason she probably had three sips of sangria  before eating.  After she went through the buffet line, she turned to my cousin Mariann and asked her where my mom's napkin was.  Needless to say, can you see it in the picture?  The napkin is ON TOP of my mom's plate, underneath all the food she piled onto it!  And this is why Carol doesn't drink...

Thanksgiving Journey Day 5

Wednesday afternoon, Michael, Ryan, and I headed to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport to pick up Brock at 5:00pm.  It was about a two hour drive.  Then we went to check in to the Residence Inn and went out to eat at a place called The Marketplace:

When the bill came and the waiter asked how we wanted it split, I jumped in and said, "You can put it all on one, and he's paying" and I pointed to Michael.  It is amazing how often this works!  I encourage you all to try it next time you're out to eat with someone =)

Throughout the day we kept getting updates about my mom and her flight status'.  She had hoped to fly out standby all day, but with no seats available she wasn't able to get on an earlier flight.  Her expected flight was on an hour delay out of South Bend.  When she finally boarded the plane, they sat on the runway for an hour and a half.  Needless to say, Carol missed her connection at O'Hare, and since it was the last flight out for the night, had to get a hotel room and didn't come in to Arkansas until Thanksgiving morning. 

Ryan and I went to bed for the night, while Michael and Brock went back to airport to pick up Kelly at 9:00pm.