The Hills are Alive : Part 1

We got away for a few days to enjoy a little time in the Ozarks!

Once we got up that way, the first stop we made was at my Papa & Ninner's house - Ava got to spend the whole day with Ninner!

The second stop we made was here...

COURSEY'S!!

For a few of these...

the best. sandwiches. ever. made.



Let me clarify a few things before continuing this blog post:



1. I have never been on a 'Float Trip' or floated the Buffalo

2. Yes, I am 26 years old.

3. My Grandparents have lived only 20min. away from the Buffalo my whole life.

4. I have only traveled by boat or canoe while in water.

5. If you haven't seen me lately, I'm pretty proud of my porcelain skin tone.



That being said, I was a little nervous at first to go on my

VERY FIRST FLOAT TRIP!!



After we stopped at Coursey's, we headed to Gilbert to drop off D.Might's truck {Gilbert was our ending destination} & have my Papa take us to our starting point - Tyler Bend.



Me & Papa T.P. - he's the best!

See that porcelain skin?!?!

I was already getting hot & we hadn't even hit the water yet!


Here we are putting in at Tyler Bend!

Did I fail to mention we'd be in kayak's?!?!

Yes, my very first float trip was all on me!





Proud to not be tipping over!


We stopped after a little while & had lunch on one of the banks.

Did I mention how delicious those sandwiches were? Because they were the best.

While we were eating lunch & getting a little swimming in, we looked up on the bridge & saw Papa driving across - he went back to get him a sandwich, too - haha!!

It was so neat to see him - perfect timing!

I was waiving like a maniac & I gave him the wrong impression that something had gone awry in the water, so he pulled into the next 'beach' area & we got to see him again!

Everything was a.o.k. mind you - I was getting pretty good at that kayak...

Seriously good...

I have found myself a wonderful new hobby :)

I paddled myself 6 - count that - 6* miles from Tyler Bend to Gilbert!
*I originally thought it was only 4miles, but it was brought to my attention that I am - in fact - a rockstar & paddled 6miles!*

I was quite proud of my accomplishment!

Everyone we passed just went on & on about our kayak's & how fabulous they were - I had to tell them they were also quite easy to maneuver, too!

If Dusty & I had been in a canoe together - it would not have been such a wonderful trip, I can guarantee you that :)

We'd be like the couple that was behind us aways - the canoe tipping over, her wailing, losing her paddle, him hollerin' for her to get the paddle & then griping because they fell out...

So glad our trip was so enjoyable!

Gilbert, Arkansas

'The Coolest Town in Arkansas'

Is that not the coolest sign?!?!

It was the neatest little town & yes, it was much, much cooler there, too!

So, in conclusion - my very first float trip was a very big success!!

I absolutely loved it!

And for the record:

- I applied 50spf sunblock before we hit the water & 3 more times while floating; so I had the equivalent of 200spf on me; didn't even burn. Got a little tan, but that's okay. I am now a firm believer in sunscreen!

- That evening, my wrists were beyond sore & when I looked at my hands, my thumbs were quite swollen & red; it was sooo worth it.

- If you've never floated the Buffalo, I highly recommend it. The water is crystal clear, you can see to the bottom most places, & I didn't see a single snake!!

The Hills are Alive : Part 2

After we got back from our Excursion, we got in a little playtime at

Ninner & Papa's {aka the Blue Bird Hotel}!

Here's Ava helping Papa T.P. {or Papa T.V. as she lovingly calls him} drive the truck down to the barn! I used to love getting to ride in Pop's lap to drive - we all started very young, haha!

Seth & I rode the 4-wheeler down to enjoy the cooler temperatures that evening.

Yes, that's me sans-make-up.

Cut me some slack, I had just kayaked all day & there is no need for make-up on the farm!


Ava loved getting to help Papa feed the new pony, Butterscotch!

Scotch is still a bit skittish, but Ava did manage to pet her! Poor kid wanted to just jump right up there & ride her & couldn't figure out why we wouldn't let her!!

Have you ever seen a fatter dog?!?!

Hannah might be the fatest dog I've ever seen {you would be too if you ate Nin's table scraps for breakfast, lunch & dinner, ha}, but she is also the sweetest!

We all got a kick out of watching her play :)

There were also some new little kittens in the barn - precious!

I kid you not, Ava would've stuffed Hannah in her bag & brought her home if she could've lifted her, haha! She loves that dog!

Ava got a ride on the 4-wheeler, too - she just couldn't be left out!

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We got up the next morning & headed up a little bit more north to one of our most favorite places to dine...

LAMBERT'S CAFE!!!!!!

For those of you who haven't heard of Lambert's - it's the Home of the Throwed Rolls!! Dusty & I were watching the food network years ago & this restaurant was featured - we knew we just had to go!! We've been dining in style ever since :) The food is so delish & the atmosphere is so much fun!!

Ava & D.Might waiting to go in

Me & Ava waiting to go in - luckily it wasn't that hot yet & they had HUGE fans blowing!

Professional Roll Catchers

Little Tutu enjoying her very first Throwed Roll!

Needless to say she loved it :)

Her Momma loves them, too!!

She ate a good lunch, so she got this pink balloon - she was so excited!

After eating at Lambert's we went down to Branson to try to squeeze in a little shopping...

I tried to get a pic of Ava in front of the GIANT fish tank in Bass Pro, but it didn't come out as well as I had planned! She loved seeing the fish & the waterfall, too!

It was all we could do to keep her out of the fountain!

There were no kids playing in the play area, so we stopped to let Ava play for a little while - she enjoyed having the whole place to herself :)

We didn't get much shopping in due to the heat - we were all ready to get back in the a/c A.S.A.P. We all got a sno cone & hit the road back to the Blue Bird Hotel :)

Ava & Hannah before we left the BBH -

have I mentioned how much she loves this dog?!

Finally, a group shot of all of us :) Not the best, but it will do!

We had such a great time on this mini-vaca!! It is one of my all-time favorites for sure!!

We had the best accommodations & food, too :)

We can't wait to go back!!

Thanks, Ninner & Papa - we love you so much!!

Nashville In A Nutshell

Guess where we were early this week?!

We loaded up & went to Nashville for a few days!

Of course - our first stop when we got to town was...

Maggiano's Little Italy!

This became one of our faves from a few years back when we went to Chicago -

Olive Garden is wonderful - put the Chicken Parmesan just doesn't compare...

D. introduced me to this little beauty on this trip...

Hello love...

Spec.tacular.

Seriously - from now on, this is the cake to which all others will be measured.

The next day, we decided to try to get in a little sight-seeing...

Can you tell what that building is behind us?!

It's the Grand Ole Opry , of course!!

I know, I thought it would look much grand-er, too.

I was quite disappointed when we looked through the windows & everything is closed up.

Couldn't see the stage or anything.

Oh & as for Opryland - it's not an amusement park.

Opryland consists of the Grand Ole Opry, the Opryland Hotel, and the Opry Mills Mall.

Mind you - the Mall was awesome.

I was just expecting an amusement park.

We also thought we'd fit in a little history lesson by visiting...

Um, yeah - not only is about a 20 min. drive outside of Nashville, but it's also closed on Tuesdays.

Should've looked that up first.

The next day - Ava & I hit the Mall.

What can I say? It's what we do best.

She spotted the Carousel & just had to ride a horsey!

She was so excited!! Here she is just as the ride is starting...

....and here she is about 10 seconds into it.

She hugged my neck for the rest of the ride & did much better!

After the Carousel, we hit up Build-A-Bear, of course!



What else would she pick out but a Pink Monkey?!



Here she is stuffing it...

Giving the Monkey it's first bath & fluffing up it's hair...

What Pink Monkey do you know that doesn't wear a Tinker Bell costume?!

Ah...as for a name....

I try to encourage her to name her babies, bears, pigs, etc. whatever she would like.

When I asked her "What is your pink monkey's name?"

She said "Salad."

No, she doesn't eat salad.

I don't know where she would even hear the word 'salad.'

So, we compromised on Tinky Pink.

On to the festivities....

We had Cheesecake Factory two nights - because D.Might really only goes on trips for the food.

Here are Ava & I enjoying our Sweet Tea & Water... waiting for Cheesecake.

D. had the Steak Diane.

Ava & I watched.

We know how to prioritize.

Mmmmmm......

The one on the left was mine - the Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple - delish.

I don't know which one D. had - but I know he enjoyed it.

Ava dabbled a little in both.

Smart girl.

Here's a nice pic of her & her Daddy...

The next morning - we forwent the complimentary breakfast at the hotel (which might I just add, that I always enjoy) and searched for a Dunkin' Donuts.

Here's a little of what we got...

I really don't know how that little girl ate that many donuts without getting sick!!

I was going to try the Coffee - since they advertise that they are better than Starbucks.

Then they told me all they had was black coffee.

Who drinks just black coffee?!?! Where's the whip, soy, chocolate & sprinkles?!?!

I passed, needless to say.

We had a good time, but as always - are glad to be home!