There is a sign that hangs at the end of my in-laws driveway that says “Welcome to Clarkansas”.
Do you know those first dates where you say too much and afterwords you are just kicking yourself? We kind of had an evening like that tonight hanging out with a new couple. Ben had met him one night when he was working for the Sheriff’s Office and hit it off well with him. The guy, Brian, runs all the sound for the Walton Arts Center, and I’m sure it was just “official” business that prompted Ben to go there. (He’ll make his way to any gadget-y place.) It turns out we went to church together, just had never met and they were friends of friends etc. etc. So we decided to hang out. Ben planned the day. At his parent’s house in the far country. Got his mom to cook for us… and to babysit so we could play. Sidenote: Do other people’s husbands ask their moms to do this much?
Highlights:
-having my 8-year-old nephew teach me to drive a 4-wheeler. And having him see the irony and point it out to me laughingly. This subject could be a whole blog on its own.
-using my newly learned skills to terrify Brian’s wife, Andrea, on a trail I was trying to maneuver. (While we hugged tightly to stay on. Nothing like good ole PDA to break the ice!) Pulled an Austin Powers back-up, turn around bit trying to get back.
-shooting guns. Woo-hoo.
-taking our new Land Cruiser on a barely discernible path up to the cabin. Seriously thought we would crash several times. Andrea didn’t let go of the hand grip. We both asked several times if this was even a road, like when….there was a bolder in the road…. we crashed around and thought the car would break in half. There wasn’t a place to turn around. It was terrifying.
-We get there after this emotional ordeal and Ben forgot to get the key to get in.
-We get back and I was told where the key was hidden up there and if Ben had called his dad (like I suggested…) we would have been able to get in. 
Good times. We had a blast with them, they are a fun couple and have a precious little boy, Benjamin. I wonder if we completely freaked them out??? We shall see. All in all it was a hilarious evening.