Eureka Springs Trip with Grandma Sedenko

This post was from summer 2013. I obviously never finished writing but I'm posting this because I don't even remember what I was going to write anymore! This happened not long after Mallory was born when my mom was out visiting. 

It's been a while ... a LONG while since we've been anywhere outside Springfield/Branson. I'm going seriously stir-crazy. But I at least got a bit further down the road when my mom visited this summer. We went to Eureka Springs. 

It's only a two hour drive. But, it turned into four thanks to multiple Mallory blowouts. It was so bad we had to go to Wal Mart to buy the kid more clothing. I even had to give her a bath in a public bathroom sink! And dry her off with paper towels! Later in the trip we had to do it again and, this time, there were no paper towels. So, under the dryer she went. LOL I think she was bathed in public bathroom sinks three times on this trip. I was starting to worry about her... 

This is the Cresent Hotel and Spa. We were taking a drive and stopped to get this picture. Someone else did the same thing and we got to talking about the area. Branson, and my book, came up and they ended up buying one from me right on the spot. Pretty cool!

It was supposed to just be a day trip but after taking four hours to get there, we considered staying the night. We found this lovely bed and breakfast called the Chantilly Lace Inn. The owner met us at the door and gave us a tour. It was like staying in a Victorian dollhouse. 

 

Looking at front door

View from front door... a dining room with refrigerator

The screened in porch was so peaceful at night.

Mallory and I stayed upstairs. I could just imagine how Nicole and Allyson would LOVE this room! There were several twin beds each built into their own little nook. 

The stairwell.

The owner suggested an Italian restaurant for dinner. Oh my gosh. It was unbelievably good!

The staff - and customers -  fell in love with Mallory and even held her for me so I could eat dinner! 

The next day we explored the town. The small library was so historical and quaint, located in a stone building.

Some books I'd like to read with the girls

Grotto Spring was a little cave just off the road. It was beautiful, tucked into the hillside. 

Walking into it was like walking into a cave with a cool, wet climate. 

Inside one could light candles in memory of loved ones.

We also went to visit the Crescent hotel, the large building we had taken a picture of the day before.

More birthday celebrations!

We just made it a celebration weekend! Last night we tried to go swimming at the family center but only got in 15 minutes because they closed early... so, after showers and with girls dressed in pj's, we went to the library and then Andy's frozen custard. Nicole had books and ice cream... one happy camper!

Daddy got up early on her actual birthday and made her bacon and egg quiche. Nicole loves bacon and Mommy could not stomach another pancake. (Between recent snow days and weekends we've had German, Swedish, Belgian, blueberry, Ihop, and even cottage cheese pancakes!!)

After church we went to Incredible Pizza. Nicole had a free buffet at Incredible Pizza. It was a prize for being brave when she had her teeth pulled. (The brave part was definitely not a requirement because I was there. She was so not brave! Screamed when they tried to give her a shot! ha ha)

Anyway, I invited some friends to join us that we hadn't seen for a long time. Isabel and Nicole went to preschool together and have been to summer camp together, too. (Her mom and I went as camp counselors together!)

Allyson wanted me to take this picture of her as we left.

Jacob being silly with Nicole. Mom gave her the Little House on the Prairie (season 1). We read the books together and she's been re-reading them. Okay, plus it's one of my favorite shows from childhood!

Our tradition is the race cars. Nicole was so excited to get to drive by herself this time!

Allyson was excited to ride with Daddy in the Andy's car! She had her tongue hanging out half the time and when the ride was over she exclaimed, "I stuck my tongue out just like my dog!" 

At one point we lost Mallory! Nicole and I began running around and then we heard Britt. He saw her sticking her head out of the spaceship. 

Nicole really wanted to play this game. 

She got the high score and 598 tickets!!

Then Mommy wanted to play her favorite game: Deal or No Deal. 

The guy just before her had won the 200 ticket (highest possible) suitcase. Then he gave that up to spin the wheel and won the highest possible prize (2000 tickets!!) on the wheel. After waiting forever for his tickets to be added up, it was Mommy's turn to play. Of course, I picked the #10 suitcase. 

I lost immediately. Ended up with 5 tickets. Sigh.

Still, we ended up with enough points (thanks to Nicole) for a magnetic dart board game! Mallory got a little stuffed animal and they each got some candy. That used up all of our points and made for some happy girls!

At one point we went to use the bathroom and I noticed Allyson's hair was all messy. Yep. She put her head under the hand dryer. 

  

That evening we watched the Little House on the Prairie pilot episode. By the time that was over, our girls were ready for bed. I went to go kiss my 10-year-old girl good-night. She may be double-digits but ... she's still my little girl. 

Nicole: Ten Years Old

For a couple of years now I've known I wanted to make Nicole's 10th birthday special. I think double digits is a big deal! Bittersweet, yes. She's not my baby any more and she's starting to not even be my "little" girl anymore! That part is kind of sad. But, from the time she was born, I can honestly say I have enjoyed every stage! Not every day or every moment ... that's impossible ... but every stage. I loved her snuggly newborn stage (okay, except for all the reflux puking), her independent toddler stage, her adorable princessy preschool stage and her growing grade-schooler stage.

Who is Nicole today? She is funny! A huge (HUGE) helper to her mom, always excited about learning or trying something new, animated and enthusiastic with her friends, quick-witted and creative. She's not afraid to get in front of a crowd and perform yet she's shy about wearing dresses and won't even consider wearing make-up. (Not even for one of her birthday games!)

She still loves Pandas (a lasting remnant from her obsession with China that began with a trip to her favorite Chinese restaurant, Mr. Yen's ... which was recently shut down by the health department!! Her dad and I never liked it so we weren't totally surprised.). She enjoys being outdoors, riding bikes, collecting rocks or creating something. She is either getting along with Allyson 100% or they are fighting which drives Mom crazy. She adores Mallory and occasionally needs to be reminded she's not actually the mommy.

Nicole's love of books just grows and grows. I love this about her!! And she remembers what she's read. Papa and Grandma Sedenko gave her a subscription to National Geographic and I think she's memorized every article she's ever read. She is so smart! Whenever Nicole's "gone missing" we can usually find her nose buried in a book.

We see the beginning of attitude challenges creeping into life here and there. She appreciates the opportunity to share what's on her mind ... or sometimes to not say anything at all. She is our sensitive one and we have to be careful not to be too stern or jump to a conclusion. It doesn't take a lot of scolding for Nicole to "get it."

I feel like I'm on the brink of the unknown as we enter the "tween" years and, like I have so many times with this first child, I am beginning to dig into my own books and try to figure out how best to navigate the years ahead. I realize now we are over halfway done raising her and I hang my head at the many mistakes we've made. Then I look at her and who she is becoming and tears come to my eyes at the grace of God. In spite of all the times we've blown it ... she is a deeply feeling little girl with a growing faith in Him and a love for others, a desire to please and yet keep her independent spirit. I feel so inadequate, yet I look forward to being her mommy through this next stage of her life. I look forward to how our relationship can change and grow. What a gift. Ten years ago my own childhood dream came true when Nicole was born and I become her mommy.

Well! This was going to be a post about her birthday party! But, I think it's important to recognize this person we are celebrating and all that she has become. Click here to see how we marked this milestone in her life.