“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to.” –John Ed Pearce

I must admit that I have always loved Abilene. But, when it was time to go to college, I KNEW I wasn’t staying there…and, when it was time to get a job, I KNEW I wouldn’t want to teach there! But, now, as I have lived away from Abilene for 12 years, going home is one of my favorite things to do. Sadly, we aren’t able to do it enough…but, when we do, it still feels like home when I drive into town.

Thankfully, since Matt went to college & was a youth pastor in Abilene, he shares the same love for my humble little town. He too has his favorite spots and restaurants. It’s a fun thing to have in common.

And, now, my sweet boys are getting to learn about Abilene…and all of the fun perks of “small town” life. This was the first trip that I think Quinn really understood where he was and how cool it was to be at Mammer and Slickpaw’s house. I’m sure that after this trip (which was also Nash’s first trip) he’s going to want to go back to do some of the same fun things again.

   

I loved having a little photo shoot with Nash in my childhood room on my childhood bed. He was happy there for a long while!

    And, Quinn was SUPER excited to sleep in his Big Boy bed at Mammer & Slickpaw’s house, to play with my childhood toys (especially the Garfield’s in the bath) and to just spend lots of fun time with his grandparents.


  Quinn also had TOO much fun visiting Mammer’s school. We all went to visit (so Mammer could parade around her boys!!!), but Quinn got to stay for the last few hours of school! Mammer’s first graders treated Quinn like a celebrity and my big 3 1/2 year old ate up all of the sweet attention. Mammer said that he was such a dream and that it was so fun to watch him interact with her kids. …What a special memory for both of them.
A place I LOVED as a kid was Perini Ranch in Buffalo Gap. I have so many memories of running and playing outside as a child, going to Arts Festivals, Sunday lunches and graduation parties. So, seeing my boys there was too much fun! Quinn had a blast…and the food was YUM too…steaks, ranch salad, bread pudding and jalapeño cheesecake! It was all SUPER good!

  




   



  
  
 

{Quinn was terrified of the gigantic armadillo. I guess, when you think about it, you can’t really blame him! ha. But, after a while, he had fun throwing rocks at it!}

And, of course, we tried to relax a little bit while we were there…which meant staying in jammies just a little bit longer!

Thank you, Mammer and Slickpaw, for such a fun weekend getaway to our home away from home. We loved our time there…and are so happy that Nash’s very first trip was to see you…and to experience a little bit of Abilene.