Turkey Peak

We just got back from another trip to Tejas.  All I could think on the way back to AR was how ridiculous I used to be for complaining about how far away we lived from our family.  When we first got married, we lived in Austin, and it took us about 4 hours to get to our parents.  Then we moved to east Texas, and it took us around 2 hours +/- to get to either of our parents' houses.  I am SO over the 12 hour round trip trek.

Not to mention, we have a toddler in the car with us now.  I don't even know why I pack a bag of things for myself to do in the car.  I never make it to any of them.  I have a pile of magazines that keep coming in the mail and no time to read them.  I had a book on my Kindle I was really looking forward to reading in the car on this last trip, but that didn't happen.

Mostly, I do a lot of gymnastics in the car.  Twisting and turning.  Contorting my body so I can reach whatever it is Collin has thrown from his seat to somewhere on the floor of the car.
What's that?  You need a snack now?  Your fourth one in an hour?  Oh, a different toy/book? What? Landry is looking at you the wrong way?  She ate the goldfish cracker you were teasing her with? Oh, how dare she do that!

Ugh.

Exhausting doesn't even begin to describe these trips!  And we have two left before the end of the year is upon us.  Regardless, we are still so thankful we have such great families to visit.  Thankful to have people who love us and who we actually want to make a 12 hour round trip trek to see!

We were in Early, TX this time around.  Collin saw several deer and played with his great grandpa Hoffman's pup, Marley.  Marwee, he calls her.

Every time we go to Turkey Peak, I find myself remembering what it was like when Jarrod and I were newlyweds.  We would travel 3 hours from our home in Austin to hang out at the farm for a weekend.  He would fish, and I would sit and read all day.  Oh glory, to be able to do those things again!

Instead, this weekend, I was wrangling a 3 year old.  Two days of him running and yelling "boof!" (because he thinks boo has an f on the end) and watching him put his face in Marley's face so she could lick all over him.  Whatever, dude.  As long as he isn't fussing or asking me to get him another snack, I'll take it!

I'll also take this...

A rafter of turkeys outside the window while I'm drinking coffee in the morning.

Sweet Landry Paige running lose

And this.  Beautiful, this.

My heart aches a little just looking at this picture.  The sun on my face and (as Jarrod says) Texas dirt all around me.  10-20 degrees warmer than back at our house in AR.  Stillness.  Those are the things I have to focus on during our 12 hour drive to and from.