Next Stop...Arkansas

We were in Arkansas from June 15 thru June 25. We traveled around Arkansas seeing family...usually we make in up to NWA but we are making in a separate trip this year. First, we spent some time with mamaw and papaw...the kids enjoyed following papaw around doing projects and learning about herbs. They took us picking blackberries, strawberries, and nectarines. The big girls helped mamaw make preserves. The girls also enjoyed going to the park where I use to play...however it's all new from when I was little.

Went we out to my Aunt Patsy and Uncle Don to swim with their cousins. My cousin Shelly is expecting her first child in October.




We had a fish fry with some of our family which was great...It is nice to several generations get together. They girls have 6 Great-Grandparents still alive...5 of which are my Grandparents that they got to see and spent time with while we were in Arkansas. We also had some pickin and grinnin with karaoke going on.


The girls with Granny Mangum...

Papa Martin...

Ninnie...

my mom teaching the girls how to play the guitar


Ray and Yale took us to down town little rock where we walked across the Arkansas River on a new walking bridge, shopped at the farmers market, went to the kids discover museum, rode the trolley, made bath soap at Bath Junkie and had lunch at the best fish place ever...The Flying Fish.
Ray,Yale, and the girls...
Mara doing surgery on a knee... Ray and Jema making electricity Making bath soap


I took them down to Leann and Jim's house twice to ride horses...this is where I learned to rodeo. Jema wanted to go back several times. Leann has a school where she teaches and trains kids... Jema enjoyed watching the kids rope and goat tie. She could not believe that mom use to do these sorts of things. Mara was not sure at first but once she got on she loved it. Jema wants to quit gymnastics and start rodeoing...I don't think she knows what she would be getting into. Jema and Mara played with some other cousins there and loved running around the big yards, swinging on the tire swing and feeding the goats, besides the riding.












We also went down to South Arkansas to see Big Mamaw and Big Papaw (Great-Grandparents) and some other family. We were sad that we could not see everyone but it was during the day and they were working. They nursing home that my grandfather is in is really nice...he has his own room and they have a big lounge room to go to which was nice for the kids. Jema read a book to everyone...she was so happy.


Big Mamaw, Big Papaw, with 4 of their great grand daughters

We were sad when we had to pack up and come home. Just look at the map and see where our 1800 mile trip took us...a big circle. Of course, Mara had to spike a fever on the way home. It seems traveling does not agree with her kidneys. When we returned home she was running 105.8...went to the doctor and yes it was poly nephritis (kidney infection) after two shots of rocephin, augmenton, ceftin, and macrodantin we thought it was over. More to come...

Thanks to everyone in Nashville and Arkansas for such a great vacation.