Sweet Home Alabama

As I got off the airplane in Alabama, I heard it, several different times from different people. "Sweet Home Alabama!" and I wondered to myself if Alabamans got sick of hearing that from people who come to visit.

"Oh, yeah, Sweet Home Alabama. Good one. We haven't ever heard that before," said the sarcastic Alabaman.

Or do Alabamans hold it as their anthem. I have no idea. But I found myself repeating another phrase over and over while I was there to Cody. "You ever been to Mobile? . . .That's where I'm from. Mobile, Alabama." Over and over again. Even though we weren't in Mobile, nor am I from there. In fact, our trip out there a few weeks ago was the first time I had ever laid eyes on the state of AL, or anything near it. What are my thoughts about it?

It is GORGEOUS. It has lots of lovely trees and rolling hills, and lots of really nice people. I am looking forward to our time there (just not looking forward to the actually moving part, yuck). We found a cute little place, in a really cute little neighborhood, where Claire can ride the school bus to school, Morgan can ride her tricycle outside, Luke can sit around being plump, and we can go on family walks down in the woods behind our house (plus the neighborhood has a swimming pool, holla').

We spent most of our time there looking at homes, but we did manage to squeeze in a very yummy dinner with my friend, Melanie's, sister, Melissa and her family. She is a yummy cook and her family was very nice company. Her husband is from Eastern Washington (Wenatchee), and of course, when you are in Alabama and you meet someone who is also from the same area of the state you grew up in, you play 'do-you-know' and guess what? He did! (He knew Josh and Don--just in case you were wondering, Liz). I love that game.

Anywho, while we were monkeying around in 'Bama (I don't know if that's what the natives call it, but that is what I call it because I am hip), my sister-in-law Tiffani had flown clear across the country with her sweet little babe to watch Claire and Morgan. It is hard to be clear across the country from the nearest family member, especially when we may need help for things like this, so I am so thankful that Tiffani was willing to turn her life upside down for a week to come out and help us. I know it wasn't easy, or really very fun for her, but it helped us out immensely. And my two girls are kind of in love with her now. All I hear is 'tiffani-this' and 'diffani-that'. Thank you, Tiffani, from all of us. And thanks Mom, for helping out with the Washington end. It was such a big help to us.

And I'd like to thank the writers of Maverick for supplying me with the line, "you ever been to Mobile?. . ." and Cody thanks you too.

{Eva and Luke. Cousins. Born three days apart}

{Tiffani. First time at the Atlantic Ocean}