The Best Of The West: East Texas is Where I Want to Be...

Well Chad and I, once again, had a fantastic trip back to East Texas...aka...HOME! We were able to visit with friends and family and have some fun!
The trip began last Saturday when we flew from El Paso International Airport to Dallas, Love Field. The Barrett's were kind enough to take us to the airport after our first visit with Baby Drake! He was so little and we're not sure he'll like this new nickname, but for now...it's super precious! They had even dressed him in the onsie we had made for him! We enjoyed loving on Drake and of course had to get a pic. I think we make a great family photo! Because of the 'newness' of the baby and everything that goes with it...we were late to the airport and made it just in time to hop on the plane! I will say that Dustin & Hartley have dropped us off MANY times before...and we've never been late....so in there defense, it really wasn't there fault. They just need more practice of timing things now that they have a baby...haha! My mom and Jay picked us up and from the airport and I drove us to Athens. We met Chad's mom at the dentist office, where she works, for her to take some X-rays of Chad's teeth. From there Karen needed help unloading a chair at Chad's Aunt Pam's house...so Chad left with Karen and I drove, with my mom & Jay, to visit the Bankhead family! YAY!!!! We got to visit with Bobby, Banky (Sharon), Trent, Trey, Dedra, Pretzel, & Boomer! Karen & Chad showed up and we continued our visit. From there we left to go to Chad's parents for our cook-out. We enjoyed our time there with Jimmy, Karen, April, Presley, Memaw, Pam, Matt, & Wendy. After the cook-out Chad drove us to Texarkana! After all day of traveling exhaustion set in and we all went to bed!
Here are Pics from Day 1...

Me, Chad, & Drake

Drake "showing off his onsie"

Our luggage...tagged with NEON GREEN...L-A-T-E tags!

The only way to fly...Southwest!

Pic with LATE tags before loading it up for the drive home!

Presley, the Big Baby Girl, Walking Through the "Oh So Tempting" Rocks!

She LOVES Her Sissy & Her Sissy LOVES Her!

Uncle Cooter & Presley Hanging Out & Causing Trouble!

Sunday morning Chad & I went to my 'home church' Hillcrest Baptist Church and enjoyed a great time of worship with my old church members who I hold near and dear to my heart. They were so welcoming and I could feel the love as soon as I walked in and saw Ms. Sheila. The hugs, hand-shakes, visits, and talks were so nice after being gone for so many years! There is nothing like a feeling of going back to your home church where you once were so involved as a youth and now seeing 'new youth' and 'new leadership'. WONDERFUL! God is so good! It was youth-Sunday and the youth did all of the singing and the youth minister who is my age and a great friend from the past did the preaching. I was so proud of him and so happy to see all the things that God is doing in his life. If it weren't for Billy & his family I would not have been so involved in that church, and to now see him be even more involved and leading more people to the Lord and service to Christ...it's just great! After church, Chad & I met my mom & Jay for lunch at Ta'Molly's...YUM YUM! We then went to Target and then headed to Bill & Sarah's for an afternoon of swimming with Kristen, Mom, Jay, Bill, & Sarah. After sunburns and wet hair we loaded up for a trip to Super One for dinner...hot dogs and all the 'fixins'! Home to eat and a night full of playing the Wii! HAHAHA!!!!
Here are Pics from Day 2...

Chad, Me, & Kristen on our way to SWIM!!!

Chad & Kristen...BFF!

Sarah, Mom, Jay (back), & Bill...Our Cruise Buddies!

Me & Chad!!

Monday morning Chad accompanied me to the doctor, which went well. I just refuse to change doctors. I'm really hoping to either have babies in Texarkana or fly Dr. Thompson to our house for home delivery...haha! After talking with the doc we headed for a scenic drive! We drove around Texarkana, Redwater, & New Boston...it was so nice! I laughed as I told Chad the same ole line I do each time....this was our old house, this is where Jenny & I would play 'town', this is where I used to play tennis, this is where I was baptised, this is where so and so lived, and this is where so and so and so lived....etc...etc! Look at that tree...it is so big now, look at the road...it's still in bad shape, look here...look there! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! After hours of driving we headed to eat at On the Border and then went home for a quick nap. Jay took off work early and he and Chad left to play golf at Oak Grove. Mom, Kristen, & I began getting ready for the Cookie Lee Jewelry Party! It was a great evening of jewelry, friends, food, and fun! After the party and Jay & Chad got cleaned up we all, plus Jordan, went to eat at Texas Roadhouse. YUMMY YUM!
Sorry, No Pics for Day 3...

Tuesday was a wonderfully lazy morning. I caught up on Monday's episode of the Bachelorette while Chad played the Wii, Mom was running errands, & Jay and Kristen were at work! After the 2 hour t.v. break, we headed to the Scoreboard to check on our cruise shirts. I can't wait to see the finished product! From there we went to eat lunch at LaCarreta! Slap yo momma...that place is good! HAHA! After eating, we went to the Business Office (@ T.C.) to visit with some old co-workers of mine. Tuesday night the gang (Me, Chad, Mom, Jay, Kristen, & Jordan) went to eat @ Lee's Catfish...VERY GOOD! We dropped mom and Jay off and us 'youngies' went to Texarkana Fun Park where we had a night full of putt-putt, go carts, and batting cages....SUPER FUN!!!!!!!! Then we headed to get ice cream @ Kalediscope's and back home to play skip-bo.
Here are Pics from Day 4...