Trip to Woolum and The Narrows

We visited a very special place on the Buffalo River this past weekend, Woolum and the Narrows.  It was a first visit for all of us except Jason and he had only accessed this point by boat, never by vehicle.  We did have to access this point by truck because the water levels are too low to float there.  We drove to Woolum, which is a mid-point on the Buffalo, and then did a bit of light rock climbing to reach the location known as the Narrows. 

Isn't that a gorgeous view???!!!

 The Narrows is a rock bluff that overlooks the River on one side and the fields next to Richland Creek on the other.  It is beautiful and VERY narrow...as the name implies.  We were safe, no matter what the pictures look like.  However, Jason commented as we left the area that Luci is probably one of a very few 3 year olds to have set in that spot.

Luci and Jason enjoying the view

My curious girl wants to look over the edge...Notice that Grandma has a tight hold on Luci!

Chuseok and a new hanbok

We received the most wonderful surprise in the mail a couple of weeks ago...a new hanbok straight from Korea!  September 11-13 was the Korean holiday of Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving.  It is typical for Korean families to buy new traditional clothing for this holiday so a Korean friend did just that for Luci.  It is absolutely gorgeous and should last her for several years!  We absolutely treasure anything from her birth country so this was an especially nice treat!  Thank you David!!!

Beautiful hanbok...height is VERY deceiving!  She is standing on a 9 inch step stool!

This is more like it...here she is standing on the floor.  Still lovely!!!

To read more about this Korean holiday, visit the following websites:

Korea Tourism Organization
A Multicultural Thanksgiving

 

Kiawah Island/Charleston Vacation: Part 2

The last part of our week in South Carolina provided us with many wonderful experiences...just as the first half did!  We spent more time on the beach and saw a few more sights as well.

Luci had an encounter with some seagulls too!  Those birds definitely recognize snack food when they see it.  Luci has some goldfish in a bag and they literally swarmed her!  Check out the video below.  Hilarious!

We took a sunset cruise out of Bohicket Marina and Luci got to drive the boat.  We saw several dolphins up close and a beautiful sunset!

Below are pictures of the Angel Oak; a HUGE live oak estimated to be over 1400 years old.  It provides over 17,000 square feet of shade and it literally the biggest tree I have ever seen.  It is protected but if it wasn't it would be a kid's climbing paradise!

We had a fabulous time and as always the week went by entirely too fast!  Now to sail back to the real world...

Kiawah Island/Charleston Vacation: Part I

Luci has been waiting for our beach vacation for the past 6 months.  Every time we get in the car she says we are going to the beach...I honestly think she had given up on us ever really going.  I mean, how do you explain to a 3 year old that you are going to the beach at the end of July?!

Well, we finally made it!  We left Arkansas Friday morning and headed to Augusta, GA to spend the first night at Ryan and Sherri's house.  It was a LONG first day and we finally made it about midnight.  Luckily the 2nd day's drive to Charleston was going to be short so we could spend some time Saturday morning visiting instead of getting straight back in the car.  Very nice!

We made it to Kiawah Island, SC late Saturday afternoon and immediately hit the beach...had to prove to Luci that we weren't lying! 

Sunday was spent at the beach as well with a side trip in to the local marina for a dinner of seafood...delicious!

We headed to the South Carolina Aquarium on Monday.  Fun times!

Up close look at the lobster tank!

 

Chasing the pigeons outside the Aquarium...what is it about Luci and chasing birds?!

 Tuesday was rainy so we decided to spend the afternoon at the Children's Museum and then walked around the streets of Charleston admiring the architecture. 

Painting at the Children's Museum

One of the many beautiful churches in Charleston

 I'll update on the remainder of the week in a later post!  Enjoy the pics!

We have succeeded in wearing out our sweet, tireless Luci!!

Birthday Weekend!

In Luci's words..."I getting bigger Momma!"  Yes she is!  I can honestly say that my baby is no longer a baby...she is a big 3 years old.  What she lacks in size she more than makes up for in personality!!!

We had the big birthday weekend this past weekend...Luci and Jason both added a year to their age on Saturday.  Luci is now 3 (although she will hold up all 5 fingers) and Jason officially entered mid-30's.

I will warn you now...this post will be mostly pictures but I did want to recap the weekend and give my readers a run-down of Luci-things.

Saturday was the actual BIRTH-day and we celebrated just the three of us.  Luci went to work with Jason in the morning for a camp close (and so I would have some time to clean the house for the big party).  When they got home, Luci spotted the presents immediately on the table and wanted to open them.  We can't say no...she loved her 3lb. bag of gummy bears (actually for her and Jason), her real camera (a Luci blog post in the near future) and a matching/memory game with animals.  We had a delicious dinner at home (all of Jason's favorites) and just relaxed together.

Sunday was the big party.  Luci woke up Sunday morning and immediately announced it was "PARTY-TIME!".  She was excited all day!  She definitely understood the whole birthday concept this year.  It was all about her!

Waiting for all her "peoples" to arrive!

So what is Luci up to in her 3rd year?  So much!  It is truly hard to believe how many changes a child this age goes through in such a short period of time.  Luci...

• is talking CONSTANTLY...not just single words anymore.  I am able to carry on a back and forth conversation with her and many of the things she says are HILARIOUS!
• is still my sweet girl!  She wakes up every day and announces "I need to snuggle".  She means it too!  This is one girl who loves to cuddle.
• still doesn't eat much...much to my dismay and not for lack of trying on our part!
• is a whole 26 pounds but the pediatrician is never worried about it...she is healthy as can be!
• answers questions honestly and always beginning with "maybe..." such as maybe in there, or maybe over here, or maybe Sunday, etc...
• is still extremely coordinated and loves to jump, run, and dance.
• sings all the time (her current favorite song is her own combo of You Are My Sunshine and Ring Around the Rosy...cracks me up!).
• loves her chickens, helps collect their eggs, and feeds them lots of "scratch".
• loves her family and is EXTREMELY attached to Mommy right now.
• has begun to drop the "Momma" and started calling me "Mom"...isn't it a bit soon?!
• loves to help cook, help clean, help shop, just HELP!
• is very excited about our upcoming beach trip and talks about "making sand castles" all the time.
• is a ham but can be subtle about it if you don't know her.
• is the absolute light of every day!  We love you Luci Kate Da-In!

First TRACTOR Ride and some Cousin Time

Luci has been fascinated with tractors for the past 6 months.  We drive by tractors on the way into town, on the way to school, as we go by hay fields, etc...  She will squeal with delight when she sees them and never fails to explain that "tactors workin' hard!"  It is a special treat when we get stuck at a red light by a construction site!  I don't know where this fascination came from but it appears it might be here for a bit.

When Uncle Kerry found out about the tractor fixation, he immediately offered to take Luci for a ride on his tractor...anything for some Luci love!  She loved it and has talked about it several times since the ride.  Uncle Kerry, you may have found the key to her heart!

The look on Luci's face says it all!

Done already?!

I couldn't resist ending the post with a couple edited pictures of the cousins, Luci and Allie!  These girls LOVE each other and it is so fun to watch them play!