Down South
pamelamyers | June 8, 2014
It has been a long time since I have seen most of my family in Texas. Actually, there are quite a few members of the family that I have never seen. Cousins have married, kids have been born, and all the kids have grown up. My mom and I decided it was about time we paid everyone a visit. I haven’t been there in over 10 years and my mom hasn’t been back to see her sister, my only Aunt, in a long time. Besides the fact that I really miss my family, I want Sam to see how much family she actually has. Mark had a ton of work to do and our shore vacation was coming up so my mom and I went with Sam. It was Sam’s first time on an airplane, but I have to say, it went better than I could have expected. Sam was so excited about the trip that she was good as gold the whole time.
You can see from her face how happy she was. The airport is not exactly the most fun place, but for Sam, it was a whole new world!
Off we go to the gate! I’m glad she had this experience. It will make it so much easier for her to understand when Mark goes away, now that she knows where he goes and what happens when he enters the airport.
Sam watched vigilantly out the window to make sure our plane showed up – and it did!
When it was time to board, Sam marched right down onto the plane.
The seats actually weren’t too bad this flight because we seemed to have a little room. Sam, of course, had a ton of room for her little legs. Sam (and Froggy) are all belted in and ready to go. She told me, “I can’t believe I’m on a real airplane!”
This is the picturesque view out her window. Sam kept saying with wonder, “I can’t believe I flew through a cloud!” That was probably a highlight of her flight. That, and the fact that the flight attendant brought her a cup of ice when she wanted it. Oh. And the tiny little bathroom, which she thought was hysterical.
We finally arrived after a thankfully non-eventful flight. Sam couldn’t wait to see everyone. We stayed at Aunt Barbara’s house and Sam had her own little bed, right next to ours, to sleep in. She loved it, but still wound up in my bed at some point every night. Some things never change…That and the fact that she woke up at the crack of dawn. Thankfully, Richard, Barbara’s husband wakes up before dawn and Sam quickly figured out she could run into the den in the mornings and he would get her milk and put on some cartoons. Sam told me, “Richard is silly like Poppy!”
Barbara watches Rayleigh, my cousin Terry’s son, Bruce’s little girl when she is not in school so Sam had a playmate all week, which was great. Rayleigh is about a year younger than Sam but they became fast friends. One of the things they both had to do first thing every morning was feed the goldfish.
On Sunday, there was a big family get together, partially because we were there, and partially as an impromptu bridal shower for my cousin Denise’s daughter, Aubrey. My other cousin’s girls, Lana Kate and Emma were there too so Sam had a lot of fun playing.
The girls played croquet…
…and jumped on the bed. All little girls are the same, aren’t they?
My poor cousin Terry got to be the horse for a while for the little cowgirls.
It was pretty hot in Texas so we got lots of pool time. First, in a blow up pool at Barbara’s house where Sam was obsessed with her water squirter that Barbara bought all the girls.
Then at Bruce and Amy’s community pool. Sam was so excited to go in a real pool since we hadn’t been to ours yet. It has been too cold at home, but not in Texas! It was at least 90 every day.
I was really happy to see how quickly Sam took to her relatives since she didn’t know them before. She went right off with Sara with no hesitation.
We also went to visit my cousin Paul and his wife Scotty. Paul was away, but Scotty hosted everyone. Sam brought her squirter and was shooting people when she could.
I was in the house for a while and Sam went right into the pool with Terry. She was out there for quite a while when I came out to check on her and I was quickly told (by Sam) to go back inside! Well. Ok, then.
There were giant pool noodles for Sam to use. It was the first time she ever did something like that. I wish these pictures could convey what was actually happening. It was amazing to me. Sam was floating around in the pool, for hours, holding onto the noodle, kicking her feet, and swimming across the pool. The pool was about 5 feet deep and Sam had no fear. She propelled herself across the length of the pool so many times. She was so incredibly proud of herself and I was proud of her too. It is definitely time for swim lessons. That girl is a little fish!
Paul and Scotty live out in the country and they have horses and cows. They also have a barn cat! Everyone made friends with the kitty pretty quickly since it was so friendly!
Sam loved seeing the horses, but no matter what we did, she wouldn’t ride one. Lexi and Sara offered to ride with her, but she wouldn’t even sit on him.
I think Sam liked seeing the cows more than the horses, I think. She couldn’t believe she got to pet a cow. She told us the cow was softer than the horse but somehow we doubted that.
Because 3 pools weren’t enough, we also hit the “sprayground” which is this great place for kids full of fountains and whatnot to keep cool. Sam was a little hesitant about the bigger fountains, but she liked the little, gentle ones.
We went to the Fort Worth Stockyards one day and that is always fun. I remember it from the last time I visited. Lots of horses go up and down the street and Sam liked that a lot. She petted a few and introduced her new stuffed horse to them all. Right before we got ready to go home, the whole group of them, maybe 5 or 6, went down the street together on their way to the cattle drive. Sam just about flipped out yelling to me, “Mommy! It’s a horsey parade!” It was so cute. Then a bunch of cars drove past and she thought that was a car parade. I didn’t disillusion her. It made her happy.
There were pony rides too but Sam wouldn’t even get on a pony. She said she would go if Daddy was there.
Now, these horses are more Sam’s speed. 🙂
I’m not sure who this is, actually, but Sam looked cute hanging out with him.
It was a fantastic visit. None of us were ready to go. Sam had so much fun seeing her “new” family. She had so much attention, and so much fun. It is so unlike home, where there are only a few of us. It makes me sad that everyone is so far away. When I see everyone, I realize how much I miss them. I love you all and Sam does too! And I realize how much Sam is missing out on. She would have so many people to visit, to play with her, to spend time with her, to babysit her…. Here’s one of her potential babysitters now!
My mom and I quickly determined that 10 years between visits to Texas is far too long. Hopefully, we will get back soon. But, Mark was at home, and we missed him terribly. So off we went! Home to Daddy!
