Every year the Parnell's get together for a family reunion. For the past several years we've gone to Hot Springs, AR. We were in Hot Springs again this year. Last year, I was newly pregnant....9 weeks. Last year, I was hoping and praying I would get to bring my baby to this year's reunion. Well, obviously I did get to bring him :) I loved showing him off to Chris' extended family. He was so sweet and happy and was passed around constantly. Everyone commented on how happy he was...and of course, they all thought he was so cute!
We got to Hot Springs Thursday around 7 p.m.. We flew in from Austin, and I was hoping Pearce's second airplane ride would be just as successful as his first. He was totally awake for the first flight to Dallas, but he did great. When we got to Dallas, we had a 2 hour layover, but he was totally fine. On the second flight from Dallas to Little Rock, he fell asleep as soon as we took off, and stayed asleep until we got to Hot Springs! We arrived at the "Big House" at 7 and then he was ready to play! We had several families staying in the Big House which was our central meeting place where we ate dinner and visited at night. Other families rented condos and then they would just come to the Big House. We stayed in the Big House and had a nice big bedroom to spread out all of our stuff. The only problem we ran into was that the house has lots of windows and is very light during the day and in the morning. Pearce would wake up around 6 because it got so light in our room. I would put him in bed with me and make a little "tent" with the covers to make it a little darker and he would sleep another hour...thank goodness, although that's still early for us! Naps were also a little hard just because his room is so dark at home. But, all in all, he did great! Pops and Mimi were so proud to show him off...it was really sweet to watch that!
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| Nathan and Pearce...look at those chubby cheeks! |
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| Me and Charlotte. She was by my side almost the whole time and I loved it!! |
Friday, me, Ashley, Wayne, Nathan, and Charlotte went canoeing and Pearce stayed with Pops and Mimi. We had so much fun in our canoes! Nathan and Charlotte loved it....especially when Wayne fell out of his canoe! I must say, Ashley did an excellent job steering our canoe. I was really impressed! We had fun getting out at different places and swimming and having a little picnic. Friday night, everyone met at the Big House for dinner and a game of "Family Jeopardy." All of the little kids had fun playing together. There were lots of boys for Nathan to run around and play with. I told Chris, next year, Pearce will be running around with them!
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| On our way to go canoeing! Silly Charlotte! |
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| Me and Ash |
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| Nathan and Charlotte...so cute!!! |
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| I thought Pearce looked so cute in this outfit! |
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| Pearce and his buddy, Jake. Jake was so sweet to Pearce. Each morning he played and played with him :) |
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| The guys doing what they do best...grilling out! |
Saturday, we went to Mid-America Science Museum. It's a pretty neat hands-on museum. Wayne's brother, Stuart, and his family came with us. The kids loved it! Pearce slept through most of it, though :) Saturday night we had another awesome dinner at the Big House and the annual Parnell auction. All of the families bring things to auction off in order to make money for next year's reunion. It's always fun to watch Darien be the auctioneer and to watch people battle it out for a certain item!
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| The kids managed to stay still long enough for this picture and then they were off exploring the museum! |
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| Me and my sissy :) |
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| Digging for fossils! |
Back at the "Big House."
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| Ashley and her baby girl. Charlotte looked so cute in this dress and doggy ears! |
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| Of course Nathan managed to find a gigantic stick :) |
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| Me and my little guy. |
Sunday morning we all came together for breakfast and a devotional and then everyone started packing up and heading home. I've always had fun at the reunion, but from now on, it will be so much more fun and special now that we have Pearce. Can't wait for next year!!
