Wilderness Park

Our last day in Arkansas, we met Raymond at a wilderness Park in Gentry. There was a large petting zoo area and the animals were very tame.

 

The kids loved the kangaroos. I'd never been that close to kangaroos. Their fur is super soft.

 

 

I've never seen a baby in a pouch before either.

 

Raymond brought corn for the animals. Most of the animals enjoyed being fed as much as the kids enjoyed feeding them.

 

Then we drove thru the park. It took us an hour and a half. Ian was getting pretty tired of the tour, but Payton sat up in the front seat with Raymond where she fed the animals through the window.

 

 

 

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Pea Ridge and War Eagle Cavern

We decided to do a little site seeing while in Arkansas. The kids were actually very excited to see a Civil War Battleground. In 1st grade Payton had learned a little about the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and Abraham Lincoln. Ian just wanted to see cannons, the uniforms, and the guns used...he's very much a boy.

 

...mission accomplished.

 

Pea Ridge National Military Park was very well done. The museum was very informative and somewhat interactive to where the kids, I think, got something out of it. The tour of the battlefield (by car) was beautiful.

Elk Horn Tavern - which served as a makeshift hospital.

 

 

In the afternoon, we went to War Eagle Cavern.

 

We had lunch...with yummy sarsaparilla....

took a tour of the cavern....

 

Entrance

chimney formation

and then went thru their maze. It was HOT!, but the kids didn't seem to mind.

 

 

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Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Grandpa Grote turned 93, June 27. The kids and I were able to be there for the celebration.

Payton and Ian got enjoyed playing with cousins they don't get to see very often.

 

Uncle Raymond is a master balloon animal maker which thrilled my kids.

 

Raymond also made the cake - German chocolate AND a chocolate bundt cake filled with chocolate chips,coconut, and nuts - yummy! There were 93 candles on his huge cake. All the great-grand kids blew out the candles. It was a good thing there wasn't a smoke alarm in the dining room ;)

 

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The Box

The box is finished.

 

It has been delivered into the hands of the new owners.

 

The project is complete.

 

We can now have our Dad and husband back....until the next woodworking project begins.

 

Rock wall camp

The kids have been learning to climb this week. I know, I know....they already climb everything (including furniture) and have been since they could barely stand. But, this is all official-like, with a real rock wall, harnesses, ropes, knots, and instructors. Our gym offered a camp this week. It's 2.5 hours, for 4 days. I was a little worried that it was too long and the kids would get too tired, but they LOVE it!

They have a wall that has the letters of the alphabet on it. The first day the kids climbed up to somewhere between L and N. The second day between T and V. By the third day, they both had made it to Z and to the top of another wall to ring a bell. They were SO proud of themselves.

Payton learned how to tie some special type of knot. They learned how the harnesses and ropes work. They exercised quite a bit. They said their hands were a little sore, but I think it's been a great experience.

Our gym has open climb times during the week where we can go as a family. I'm thinking that this will be a great thing for us to do this summer :)

 

Payton's Ballet Recital

Last weekend, we had both sets of grandparents and Kennedy come visit for Payton's end of the year ballet recital.

Hathaway's Academy of Ballet does a very nice job putting on a huge production. They rent out the Eisemann Center which allows the kids to dance on a large, beautiful stage. They do the younger classes (Creative Movement thru Ballet II, which encompasses ages 3-9) on one day and then the older ballet classes and preprofessional groups the next day. We only went to Payton's, but it was almost a 3 hour production.

Payton was very excited for all the family to see her perform.

 Her class peaked just at the right time. The performance they gave the night at the recital was the best I've seen them give.

She was a little overwhelmed with all the roses she received after the recital.

She couldn't stop smiling.