Visiting Family and OBU Basketball Camp!

 Each summer we look forward to our trip to Arkansas to see everyone!  We started off our week at Aunt Kara and Uncle Tim's house.  They live on the river and we ALWAYS have the best time.  My kids seriously can't stop talking about how much they love going there!  We spent Friday night and all day Saturday playing in the river, kayaking, canoeing, riding the rapids and turtle hunting.  Aunt Kara and I also worked in several walks - love walking out in the country with my sis (well, except for the fact that I am always looking for snakes, etc).  Matthew and Molly both kayaked by themselves down the river.  We had tons of fun and are so thankful they let us come crash there!  The kids loved meeting their new cat, Oreo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, we got up and drove over to Hot Springs to see Mamaw Shelia, Papaw Guy, Mama Ball and Uncle Larry.  We surprised Mamaw at church and I think she was pretty excited to see us!  Papaw took us all to Cici's after church (always a favorite of my kiddos) and then we went to see their new house out in the country.  It sure is a pretty place nestled in the woods on a large creek.  I think Mamaw will enjoy sitting outside on the porch this Fall when all the leaves are changing.  We had a great time playing in Mamaw's cool chair and watching her do tricks in her wheelchair!  We loved our time with them...it just always goes by too fast!

 

 

 

Silly picture!

 

 

 

When we left Hot Springs, we headed to Ouachita Baptist University to get Matthew checked in for basketball camp with his cousins.  Nate has gone to this camp the past few years and loved it, so we decided to give it a try!  The camp was from 9am to 9pm.  We had some tired boys by the end of the day!  Matthew's favorite part of camp...the cafeteria!  He says he thinks he can go to college there now that he knows he likes the food.  Silly boy!  He loved the camp and hopes to go back again next year.  While they boys were at camp, Aunt Kara and I had lots of time to visit, play with Ben and Molly and hang out with Nana and Papa Doc.  Nana spoiled us by cooking some delicious meals and making her famous blackberry cobbler (made from Papa's home-grown blackberries).  Yum!  We took Ben and Molly to an old park where I had my 6th or 7th birthday party, went to the bluff on the Ouachita River, drove out to DeGray Lake where we used to camp, went to Atwoods, walked on Feaster Trail and just enjoyed being "home"!   



 

The boys just before their first day of basketball camp!

 

 

 

 The boys with the head basketball coach...Coach Nutt

 

 

As soon as camp was over, we headed to Little Rock to see great-grandparents!  Our first stop was to see Memaw and Papa.  We took them milkshakes to celebrate Papa's 98th birthday - WOW!  They were in good spirits and Papa even sang us a song..."The prettiest girl I ever saw was down in Arkansas...and I got her!"  Molly loved the wheelchair and the kids enjoyed checking out all their "cool" stuff.  Once we said our goodbyes, we went to see Mamaw Ann, Papaw Don and Papaw Curtis.  When we got there the kids were excited to see their cousin, Hayleigh, and their Aunt Karen.  So great getting to see them all and visit!  We are so blessed to still have our great-grandparents around to love on!  They are all super special to us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a wonderful week with lots of great memories made!