A Long Weekend in Alabama

As you may have figured out from my last post, I went to Alabama for the weekend.  I made a fairly last minute decision to go home for a few reasons.

1. To attend my Momma's Champions of Hope event

2. To see my Nana

3. To see Jason- a family friend who would be overnighting at my parents' house on his way up to (and then on his way back from) Montgomery/Auburn.

Jason lives in the Tampa area now, but he grew up in Panama.  We've basically been friends since before we were conceived since our parents are friends. 

I had not seen Jason since my wedding 6 years ago, and even then, I didn't REALLY get to visit (you know how that goes).  I got to see his parents, "Aunt" Joanie and "Uncle" Eddie back in February when they came up for a visit, but Jason wasn't able to make the trip.

I had already been thinking about making the trip home with Etta, but when Jason said that he would be at my parents' house for a couple of nights, that sealed the deal!  Keith didn't come so he wouldn't have to take time off work, plus he went camping... in two different places!  I think that suited him just fine!

We arrived Friday evening and stayed up visiting with each other after dinner.  (Bill made an awesome homemade lasagna).  Jason left Saturday morning to go to Montgomery then Auburn for the game and the rest of us got up before the sun did so we could do the Champions of Hope event.  After the walk, and after Etta's nap, we watched the Auburn game (great game, by the way) and chilled.

Sunday, we spent the morning in our pajamas and then, one by one, we went and showered/ got dressed for the day.  Jason showed up around noon, just after Etta went down for a nap.  We sat around on the deck and visited until Etta got up.  Then, we went over to the Botanical Gardens to walk around and take some pictures.  Then, a trip to Fred's (it wouldn't be a trip to Headland, without a trip to Fred's) and the day was pretty much over.  Well, it was for Etta anyway.  She had a bath and went to bed, while the grown-ups did all the fun stuff kids think they do after bedtime.  :)  We had a big, tasty dinner followed by a birthday cheesecake for Jason, whose birthday was the next day (on Monday).  We stayed up until about 11:00, when we just couldn't keep our eyelids open anymore. 

Jason left around noon on Monday and after Etta got up from her nap, mom and I took her with us to run a few errands (bank, mall).  Then, it was back home for dinner/bath/bed.  We left around 9:00 this morning and got back home around 3:15.  Etta usually maxes out at about 4 hours.  She screamed and cried for the last 2+ hours of the drive.  I kept thinking she had a tummy ache, so I would stop and let her run around, or climb all over the inside of the car, but she never pooped.   All of the screaming really wore me out.  I was SO glad to pull that car into the garage and let her out!