Though we’re already in the thick of the worst tax season SVV has experienced to date—and I’m buried under writing deadlines with a month of college-like all-nighters on the horizon—we still managed to steal away for the perfect MLK weekend in Memphis nonetheless.
Memphis is a four-hour drive from where we live, I’ve been visiting my family there all my life, and yet I hadn’t been in Tennessee’s largest city since this same weekend last year for St. Jude’s annual Country Cares event.

Especially since this party of four is about to be a party of five! Baby Boy is joining our wacky family on Earth Day, and this is the last time we’ll all be together without a newborn in tow.
Originally, we had grand plans—go see a movie! do a bunch of shopping! spend all weekend outdoors!—but Coco’s pregnancy (she’s seven-and-a-half months along) coupled with the weather and the fact that we were both feeling a bit lethargic put a bit of a crimp in those plans. Instead, Saturday was spent lunching at Panera, making a quick stop at Justice, then retreating to our respective couches for naps.
And we also had donuts. Lots and lots of Gibson’s Donuts.


Still, SVV and John did manage to ditch us all and head to the fringe of Holly Springs National Forest for a boys’ night at their family cabin in Mississippi, while us quartet of girls stuck closer to home. We were fine with that arrangement. No boys = even more excuse to laze around all weekend long!
We had big plans to get out and see the sights, but were quickly hypnotized by the idea of all weekend in our jammies on the couch. OK, I should rephrase that: Some of us were in our jammies. Others of us (i.e. this girl in her yoga pants and Gap Fit sweatshirt) don’t have nearly as fancy jammies, but all the better to get Oreo dust and Pop-Tarts crumbs on!


We worked our way through the girls’ Netflix queue—I may be newly obsessed with Good Luck Charlie (though the lack of a comma seriously bothers me) and Grace Stirs Up Success, and I know it’s not healthy as an almost-33 year old—and when they went to bed, Coco and I got some quality catch-up time the second the clock struck 9.
On Sunday morning, Margaret—our defiant, strong-willed one—simply would not allow us to avoid the outdoors for much longer, despite the bone-chilling 29 degree temps, but getting outside turned out to be just what everyone needed.


We headed to their local park and swung and swung to these little girls’ hearts’ content. We played hide-and-seek. We threw rocks at ducks. We took so many silly videos.




Sometimes, you just need a weekend like this one to recharge. And sometimes, you need kids in your life to remind you that having a bit of good, old-fashioned fun is good for the mind and heart.


Thanks to Coco, McKayla and Margaret for always showing me the recipe for a perfect weekend, even when I didn’t know it’s exactly what I needed.



I would just like to point out that when *I* spend all day in my jams, it’s sad and my husband gives me a lecture on dignity. When you do it, it’s cool and artsy and why can’t I be comfortable with myself like Kristin? THAT’S HOW COOL YOU ARE.
Your photos have me wishing it wasn’t cold enough here in Atlanta that the mud in my backyard is still covered in ice crystals at noon. You know how much we love the Great Outdoors, but it ain’t happening in this weather! Holly Springs looks nice, but it’s a PJs-and-Netflix day for us as well!
Lovely Pictures !!
Such a lovely post! At times it’s not a bad thing when a busy schedule with friends and family is reduced to “quiet” time at home with everyone!
MINI ME is my HERO!
It is about a year since I went on business. The photos just remind me about my children, that is pretty long time not to wrap them on arms.
They are totally beautiful you are very lucky