Second Day

Well we had a great time yesterday but Tuesday did not start out to well.  I forgot that I needed to get up early and get ready before everyone got up.  I wanted to be in Russellville by 9:00.  That did not happen.  I was so glad it was cool on the first hike we went on.  By the time the week-end gets here, the kids will be going home and I will have just gotten into their routine.
Here are just a few pictures of the day.

I have not had a lot of time to be around Casey and I was so proud that he took care of his little brother.  Casey got Dylan down to sleep both nights.  Tonight was so sweet because Dylan had gone to sleep on the couch and Casey wanted to take him back to bed.   Dylan woke up when Casey put him down and Casey just went to bed with him so Dylan would go back to sleep.

 Papa got to stay seated when Presley woke up.  He was the lucky one and got to snuggle,  I had to be a short order cook,  Even I had to get Papa more coffee since he was to busy to help out.

Can you tell these girls are all dressed up and ready to go.  Notice the dogs that they are pulling.  The dogs got to go to on the hike today but not next time.  The dogs walked to slow.

Everyone got involved so we could go hiking.  Lots a clothes had to be folded.

 Reed wanted to show Dylan how to do it.  Dylan was a fast learner.

Casey and Blake got to do the towels since they were the big guys.

Here is our photographer.  I have been trying for weeks to take a self portait and MaKara just holds up the camera and shoots.  She is a great photographer.  I am really proud of her.  She has been helping out so much with everything.  She makes the  flavored water up a head of time so when we get ready to go the water is ready.  I don't think I could have made the week if she hadn't gone above and beyond to help me out.

Jaycee was really a big help with both Tylar and Presley.  Jaycee was helpful and was willing to do any thing I ask.  That made my day go better.

We had been warned that an Aligator was in the swamp so all of us wanted to get a good look at him.  Reed and Jaycee both thought they saw it.

No, Moms and Dads, we wern't as close as it looks.  Reed is trying to make the aligator come up the bank while the others are watching.

We even found a cave.  The kids just knew that Indians had lived there.  Who was I to say that it was the truth or tale.  The Trail of Tears is within a fourth of a mile from this cave.

MaKara has taken so many pictures that I don't want to wear you out reading.  We still have three more days before my little muchkins go home.    The silence will be deafening after they leave.  But we sure made a lot of memories in a short period of time.

THE WEEK HAS FINALLY ARRIVE.

Eight of my nine grandchildren are here until Thursday.  We had such a great time today.  We played in the pond and also the little swimming pools.  The kids got there Possible bags and fixed a key chain so they could tell them apart. 

A friend loaned me a table and six chairs and it sure made our craft time easier.

We had the gang down by 9:00 and asleep by 9:30.  We are ready for Tuesday.  Going to go hiking and much more.  I will keep you posted.

Steam Engine #844 Rolling into my town.

I was so excited when by casting our votes on Facebook we had won the opportunity for the Steam Engine to be routed to my town.  I told everyone and was so excited that the day had finally arrived.  As I listen to the morning news I found out that the train would be coming to my town a day early and would only stop for 30 mintues.  I left work and walked to the train station thinking I had about a 15 minute wait but as usual trains or late and so was #844.  No matter.  I found a tree to stand under to stay out of the blistering sun and also found some friends that I knew from church so the wait did not seem to long.  I got several shots of the train.  Because of the crowd I couldn't just get a picture of the train.  If I had been making a movie they would have been the extras.

The horn is so loud and the steam was barreling out of the stack.

Notice how small the man to the right is compared to the big Steam Engine.

Look at the size of those wheels.
No, I did not get to board the train nor did I get to go through the souvnier car, but I had a large time being just a part of all the action.  I think my co-workers thought I had lost my mind because I was so excited about it all.  No matter, I always have a good time when something special is happening.  I love life and want to be apart of all of it.

Arkansas' Birthday is today.

Arkansas was declared the 25th state of the United States on June 15, 1836.  A very important milestone helped Arkansas secure statehood and it was the result of the 1836 census.  The Arkansas territory surpassed the required minimum statehood population of forty thousand.  According to the census, more than fifty-two thousand people lived in the terrioty, which mean Arkansas met the requirements for being one the new states. 

I looked for an Arkansas Flag flying today in my town but could not find one.  Maybe next year I will remember to buy and fly one on our State's Birthday.  I am proud to live in a country and a state that I have the freedom to worship and to enjoy the great outdoors.