#odellfamilyspringbreak2014

This was one of my most favorite spring breaks!  Ever!  

 Thanks to some teacher work days, the children and I were dismissed from school at lunchtime on Thursday, and we did not have to be back for 10 whole days!  Bliss! To celebrate the start of what promised to be an awesome break, the big 3 and I enjoyed lunch at one of our favorites.  

 Friday, we slept in!  Can you hear the hallelujah chorus? The children and I spent the day packing and cleaning and getting ready for our trip.  The older girls and I even squeezed in a quick workout during nap time! 

 Nothing like a good clean car to get ready for a long drive.  

 Friday night, David and I enjoyed a quick date night, such a treat!  

 And then Saturday morning, we hit the road! David's contact was giving him fits, so he had to take it out for a while, yikes!  

 The children took turns sleeping.  

 Just not all at the same time, ha!  Thankfully, we had an uneventful trip and made it to Mama's house safe and sound.  

 Sunday, we had a great visit with T.  The children are always so excited to see her.  

 And sad to see her go, ha! 

 Sunday and Tuesday afternoons, we spent the days playing in the sun and being with Mama and our cousin Keri.  

 These two. They staged it themselves and called me to take their picture.  So many tea parties have taken place on Mama's back porch! 

 Tilly spent some time scoping out her new American Girl catalogue from T.  She cannot wait until her birthday when she gets the real thing!  

 One of our favorite games in Georgia was racing around Mama's house.  The children ran and ran and ran.  

 One of our favorite things about our visit was getting to see this girl.  

 The girls could not get enough of Keri!  

 Please excuse the large number of pictures, 

 But there were just too many cute ones that I could not decide!

Can you see where Story gets her cute dimple from?  

 Love these two faces!

 Tuesday afternoon, we took Keri home, and the children were ecstatic to see all of their chickens.  You can only guess what happens next. . . I'll save that for a separate post, too.  

 The children were completely smitten.  

 We love love loved our time with Mama.  Tuesday morning, David took care of the children, so that Mama and I could have some girl time, such a treat and so special.  First, we got a mani/pedi - she got the mani, I got the pedi.  Then, we ate lunch at her favorite place, Ocean Galley.  After lunch, we took her car to get it washed because the pollen, oh my stars, the pollen!  Then, we headed home!  Thanks, David, for the precious gift of time alone with Mama.  Sadly, our time at home just flew by way too fast.  That always seems to happen.  The children genuinely enjoyed their time at Mama's and were so sad to leave.  Me, too!  

 Since we've lived in Hattiesburg, I have made several trips to Mama's with Story and even once with Tilly.  Every time I come home, I would tell David about this peach orchard that I always wanted to stop at but never made the time.  Well, on the way back home to Mississippi, we stopped!  And it was wonderful!  We cracked pecans.  

 We bought peach ice cream.  

 And we ate until our little hearts were content.  

So long, Georgia.  You were real good to us.  We hope to be seeing you sometime again real soon.  And David, thanks for making this trip so incredibly special and perfect.  You are my most favorite!  Ever!