The Long Weekend…

Friday afternoon, my dad called and said they’d planned a very last minute trip to Georgia to see my brother and his family and asked if we wanted to go… We really didn’t have any plans for the long weekend, except some projects around the house, so we opted for a little trip instead. :)

My parents picked us up around 5:30 and we headed out with quite a drive ahead of us. I don’t know how many times we’ve made that drive, but it never gets any shorter. Especially not in the middle of the night. The girls did so great, and Mamie, of course (who rarely sleeps in the car) was still awake at 1:30 a.m. when we pulled up to Beau & Kristy’s house.

After a good night’s sleep, we took the kids to the park for a picnic.

We got a nap that afternoon and it was fantastic. After naps, we watched the kids play in the yard and then roasted hot dogs and s’mores on the fire.

This deer head hangs on a tree in Beau’s backyard and it is SO BEAU. I kept wondering why it looked so creepy… then I realized it’s the EYES. It’s actually an old mount that he pulled the hide off of. While we were there, he also added a new bug-light to the backyard. (Talk about a blast from the past… raise your hand if you ever had a bug-light hanging outside your house!!!) We’d all cheer every time it would start zapping that night. Beau is the last of a dying breed for certain and I couldn’t love him more. He’s a “good ‘ole boy” for sure – but so well rounded, too. He’s quite the character and my SIL Kristy is such a great match for him.

We ended the night with sparklers and laser lights.

Sunday the crew went to church (minus me, DW & Mames) and then we had lunch and just sat around outside. The kids played until they decided they needed to take a trip to get some more outside toys with Grammy & Pop. An hour and three bags later they returned. We enjoyed a nice rain shower on the front porch and it was a lazy Sunday afternoon spent the way they should be.

That evening, we decided to have dinner at Quincy’s. It was like reliving our childhood- because when we were all together, you can bet we were down at the Quincy’s – and my Papa always had to tell them he was a Quincey. :) (Where else could you take a party of nearly 30 people?)…We’d usually eat there, too, in Gainesville, after a trip to Service Merchandise. DW remembers doing the same thing when they were kids, and I’m so glad, because I just don’t know if I could be with someone who doesn’t remember walking through the show room at Service Merchandise, marking their order form and then waiting at the conveyor belt. ;)

I didn’t even know Quincy’s was still around, and I’m sure it’s been 20 years since I’ve been to one, but they still have the rolls (not as good as they used to be) and the ice cream bar. When we were kids we’d get a bowl (or two) of ice cream there and then a cone to go. I have to admit, I’m a full on a buffet-hater, but I actually tried it that night and it was good. None of us ordered from the back, but afterward, wished we had just to know if the steaks still come with the pick in it to tell you how done it was… The girls were mesmerized the whole time and AB wanted a little bit of everything. It was hilarious.

After dinner, Beau took us up the side of a mountain to where a cell phone tower substation was. We were all a little skeptical, especially since we had to shimmy our way on the edge of a cliff beside a chain link fence- but when we got to the end, it was a beautiful look out spot…

There was a storm coming, so we took a quick look, a quick picture and then headed back to the cars. After DW had a close encounter with lightening and I’d laughed so hard I pulled a muscle, we made our way back down the mountain. Whoever thinks white men cannot jump, hasn’t seen DW.

We played a fierce game of Farkle that night, and Kristy beat us all.

Monday morning we headed home. It was a quick trip, but a great weekend. Sometimes we try to pack so much into a couple of days that it’s just exhausting…but this trip was just the laid back, restful, catch our breath weekend that we all needed.

~amw~