111 Miles to Graceland

Cary and I woke up this morning and I, for whatever reason, wanted to go on a ride. I was fine just driving around little towns in Arkansas, maybe find a little unknown place to eat, then go home. Cary looked at the map and decided that Hot Springs, AR looked like a good place to take a drive.

We got into Little Rock where he "took a wrong turn" and some how ended up on the way to Memphis, TN. Cary doesn't get lost, especially in the southern states, he was an over the road driver and he knows those highways pretty well. He looked at me with this "up to something" smile. And we started our adventure to Graceland. For those of you who know me, know that this was a childhood dream that came true. While most kids loved Hanson, N*Sync, and Back Street boys, I was the weird kid who liked Elvis. Growing up I had curtains, bears, pillows, tee shirts, Elvis action figures. I knew every song, I watched all the movies, I can even do the Elvis lip.

We took a right onto Elvis Presley Blvd. and I could hardly contain myself. To make things even better I was listing to Suspicious Lies when we pulled up and I was dancing in the car with a cheesy smile on my face. We got our tickets (VIP is the only way to go) and we were on our way to Elvis' house. The thing about the house is that you can't bring strollers in. My baby girl is just a baby... but not a normal sized 11 month old. She's as big as an 18 month old baby. And by 18 months they can usually give you a break and walk a few steps. Even at 11 months some kids can walk, but not mine. Cary graciously carried her threw crowded rooms and tight hall ways, bumping people and walls as we walked by. Not only was the house full of people in small, tight spaces but on top of that Evelyn was letting them loose. My baby had gas. But on the upside people didn't follow too close to us. My hands were full of stuff that we couldn't leave behind in the stroller, and I was hanging onto Jaxson so he wouldn't run into the restricted areas and end up breaking something. This was also the start of "Mommy, I'm hungry" even though we just ate. All of this while trying to listen to the head set they give you when you start the tour and take as many pictures as my camera could hold.

Thankfully we made it with out getting thrown out, just in time to walk the grounds in the rain. Now usually I would call it a day and come back some other time, but we dropped $140 already and I was going to get my money worth, God was looking out for us and our wallets because it didn't rain too hard.

After I got all the pictures I could of the house it was time to go across the street to look at the cars and airplanes. The bus came to pick us up, Jaxson ran to the back and I sat next to him. Another "Mommy I'm hungry" popped out of him mouth, and of course another "We will eat in a minuet" popped out of mine. We were in the shuttle before Cary and Evelyn were so we just made ourselves comfortable until they arrived. Since Cary carried Evelyn threw the entire house he plopped down at the first seat he could get to, he turned to me and asked me to move to the front with him. I giggled and I said "Don't you remember that the cool kids sit at the back of the bus?" In true Cary fashion, he did not miss a beat, said "Yes baby, you are the coolest kid I know, in the back of the short bus". Thanks honey, I love you too.

Another "Mommy I'm hungry"

I just want to know what it is about breakable items that a 4 year old (and clumsy husbands) are so attracted to. As soon as we were in the gift shop his (their) hands were on EVERYTHING. And, as you know, gift shops are extremely over priced. It was like chasing a Jack Russel in an ice storm, I couldn't get my hands on him, he would turn, and then he was gone in a flash.

"Mommy, I'm hungry and I want to see the airplanes"

One more stop before the airplanes and Jaxson decided to have a complete meltdown out of nowhere. I'm in Graceland and my child is having a melt down. Elvis himself was laughing at me, I just knew it.

"Mooooooooooommy.... I'm huuuuuuuuungry", "Jaxson, honey, we're going to the airplanes and then we'll get something to eat".

Walking into the "Lisa Marie" was amazing. Even the seat belt clips were 24 ct. gold. Everything is covered in heavy clear vinyl to protect the furniture. Jaxson was a perfect angel, until we got to the back of the plane and decided that the thick vinyl didn't need to be on the bed anymore. I stopped, my eyes got huge, and I didn't know what else to do other than run. So that's what I did... I ran out of the airplane with Jaxson's hand in mine. I ditched Cary and Evelyn, I was sure Cary acted like he didn't know us anyway.

There was one more store and walk threw and we were going to go eat. By this time Jaxson wouldn't stop saying he was hungry. We had plans to eat at this great chicken place my mother told us about, after we looked at everything. There is a place called Rockabilly's in Graceland but it's $15 for a burger and Jaxson doesn't eat that much. As we walked by Rockabilly's Jaxson threw himself into the window and proclaimed he was not going anywhere. He wanted to eat there and that was as far as he was going. Some how we talked him into the car, got lost, and ended up at Applebee's.

All and all, we had a blast. Jaxson is a great kid, he's funny and witty. I love to write about him and his crazy ways.