The month of February can be a let-down after the bustle of Christmas and New Year’s, so it was the perfect time to head east for a road trip. First, we stopped in Houma for a visit -- and to see Reese and Kaley’s new baby and another of Hayes’s baseball tournaments. Dad brought home boiled crabs, and of course, we played a few games of mah jong. (Maybe a few too many for Mark!) Then we struck out for Pawley’s Island, by way of Atlanta. With Mark’s mom and dad, and Debbie and David, we enjoyed Olympic figure skating in the evenings and lazy mornings with coffee on the porch. During the day, we made it to the beach for walks in front of the historic houses -- old, faded beach homes with wide porches and cedar-shingled roofs. It was so relaxing to see all of Mark’s family together, and we felt rested when we left early that Friday morning to drive to Arkansas. This time, we stayed in a cabin on the lake, a step up from the Days Inn in town. And we were able to spend time with Matthew’s housemates and with the larger group of teachers in Lake Village. I include here a pic of Jaguar tuckered out from too much mah jong, a dinner out with Elizabeth and Andrew who visited us after we returned home, and Mom and Dad’s visit to Houston, with our night out at the Alley Theater (Fool was lots of fun!) and our celebration of Bonnie’s birthday. Don’t worry, sista, you and Amy will always be the young ‘uns in our family...
