We just got back into New Orleans last night from a lovely/crazy/busy/whirlwind weekend at home in Southern Illinois. It was an easy drive there and back this time and although we were there for 4+ days, it still went by in like a millisecond. While I love New Orleans and New Orleans is my “home” for now, Southern Illinois will always be my “Home” and will always hold a special connection that no other place can. Maybe it is just that my family is there or our land has been passed through so many generations, the beauty of it, or the fact that it is where I grew up and I have so many memories there, but it always creeps deeper into my heart every time I set foot there.

Anyway, it was a jam-packed weekend with it being Mother’s Day weekend, my Granny’s 70th birthday party, the early celebration of mine and Evie’s birthdays, and Kelsey’s first high school prom. Lots of family time, cooking, eating, more eating, playing with the baby, teaching the baby to say new things, trying to catch the chickens, helping Evie catch tadpoles, packing up stuff that I wanted to take to our new apartment in New Orleans from home, catching up with the fam, even more eating, watching promenade, taking lots of pictures, and all sorts of fun things.

I didn’t take as many pictures as I should have, but it was nice to not have my face behind a camera all day and to just be able to relax and enjoy the time with my family. My uncle took more pictures, so maybe I’ll get some from him. Here are some of the shots I did end up with though:

There has been extreme flooding all around Southern Illinois, and on down the river southward. Here is me in front of a lake field.

This picture is really bright and Evie’s hair is blowing in her face, but cute nonetheless. 🙂

Womble Mountain = Home 🙂

The last time I was home (in January) all the trees were bare. I love the beauty of Spring. 🙂

Kelsey all dressed up. (But then again, when isn’t she all dressed up?) 🙂

Sisters 🙂 We didn’t manage to get one with Blake in it to be a sibling picture. That little rascal. 🙂

Evie jumped in though. Georgiana was asleep.

Tonya and I got to visit as we both watched promenade. Her little brother went as well. I can’t believe how fast we are all growing up! It seems like not that long ago that Tonya and I were at prom, not our younger siblings!

I just realized that I didn’t take a single picture of Georgiana all weekend. 🙁 I was so busy running around, visiting, taking pictures of prom happenings, and carrying G around and taking her out to pet “Hoppy” (Holly, our Golden Retriever) that I didn’t get any pictures of anything else! 🙁 Oh well, we had a good weekend, even if it is only remembered in our memories. 🙂