Festivius ‘12

This summer for the annual Snow Family Reunion we went to Arkansas.  Each year they take turns which sibling gets to plan the reunion and this year Stephanie planned it.  They live in Tennessee, so naturally we all headed south.  Personally, I was excited to go some where I’ve never been before – Eureka Springs, AR – but I was not overly thrilled to drive there with a 2 year old and a 2 month old.  I made sure I was plenty prepared though and we headed out early Sunday morning.  Googlemaps said it was 21 hours to Eureka.  Our goal was to make it to Lincoln, NE – 14 hours away, but were prepared to stop sooner if needed. 

We left at 3 AM.  Our vision was both Hannah and Jackson would sleep for the first 5 hours and not even know they had been in the car.  That didn’t work.  Hannah woke up when we put her in the car and stayed awake until 5:15.  Good thing we had to stop at 5:30 to feed Jackson.  I think her staying awake may have played to our advantage though.  She was so tired that she was in a daze the whole time.  From 3 AM to 5 PM (when I offered to put on a movie for her) she was perfectly content to look out the window and find trains and cows.  In that time I gave her some animal crackers and juice, but other than that she pretty much was entertained by the good ol’ countryside. 

We stayed the night in Lincoln, NE which was so fun for Hannah to have a sleepover in a sleeping bag. 

The next afternoon we made it to Eureka with yet another reminder that apparently Hannah gets car sick while driving to Snow Family Reunions.

The rest of the week was spent with typical family reunion festivities that include
(but are not limited to)…

Hiking in 108 degree temperatures with crazy humidity…

Cooling off in a lake after hiking in crazy hot temperatures.

 

Visiting a cave - which we got left in.  That’s right, the quality tour guide we had shut of the lights and closed the entrance while 9 of us were still in there.  Note to self – don’t ask a 6 year old if they are the last one out.

Jonathan took Jackson on the “adventure trail” part of the cave.  He came out crying and dirty.  Jonathan said he probably shouldn’t have taken him. 

A historic tram ride of Eureka

A visit to the 2nd largest statue of Christ.

 

Snake world.  Yes – a true taste of Arkansas character.  Basically a dude’s collection of all things creepy and crawly in a double wide trailer with $6 admission.  Hannah loved it.  Note – also very hot.  Her hair is wet with sweat, no water.

Traditional game of rubbers.

And it wouldn’t be a family reunion without a whole bunch of ridiculous and embarrassing games.

My favorite part of these reunions is cousin bonding time.  Hannah and Jackson so rarely get to see their Snow cousins.  I loved seeing how cute Hannah’s older cousins were with her. 

We are so lucky to have such a great, big family.  Wish we got to see them more.

On our way home, we decided to take a little bit more time.  We stopped in Kolby Kansas where I left my wallet at the motel.  The next day we visited a children’s museum in Denver.  A perfect activity for Hannah.

And then the whole thing was capped with one more fun night in a motel.