July 15, 2025-25th at Degray

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This was a slow morning in the camper. Robby had a few work things to do, so while he worked I read a little bit and slept some more. Robby and I took Bentley around the loop, and then when we came back we started on breakfast. Last night we said that we would make pancakes, but I think that we forgot because no one ever mentioned it.

We loaded up and headed to Mid America museum. Robby and I know that we have been there at some point, but I have searched the blog and can't find when it was. Nonna and Pops took the three big kids in 2019, but that is the only record of it that I have, so we have to assume that Keaton and Whitman had not been there. [Update: Robby found the post - last visit with the family was 8/4/2012 so Whitman had not been here and Keaton wasn’t quite one!]

Since we had to buy a pass for the Space museum in Huntsville, the museum was free today. We ate a picnic once we arrived. Actually, Robby stopped and picked up Panda Express for Keaton and I to share on the way there (it was a mystery shop). Whitman had cheese and crackers, and Robby had a ham roll up. 

We enjoyed the museum. Keaton said that she liked it better than the Museum of Discovery, but Whitman felt that the Museum of Discovery was more interactive. However, the both enjoyed the cave that you crawl thing. I think that the overall favorite was the exhibit where you could make a circuit and shock yourself or others. Whitman said that his arms were still tingling.

We saw everything there and then drove to see Friday's house. We also stopped at a gas station for drinks on the way home. And since we were right next to a Dollar General, Robby ran in there. 

The section of the campground that we are staying at is notorious for ants, and it is living up to it this week. Robby had sprayed everything well and used Borax around the camper. However, he does keep seeing a few ants outside on or too near the camper. Since he has used up his ant spray, we needed to pick up some more. Last time we were here, we were a little un worried about the ants, and we woke up to them crawling all over everywhere in the camper. It was bad enough that some of the kids now are scarred when it comes to ants!

When we were close to the camp ground, we took another little side trip, and went to see where we will be staying in August. We are coming down here to be cooks for Reagan and her friends. Back at the camper, we sat outside some-the weather is not beautiful like it was the first day. It is hot and humid.

Keaton, Whitman, and I played Phase 10 tonight, and I won. Afterwards, we heated up leftovers for supper-manicotti, pizza, and Panda. Robby and I took a walk, and while we were walking Keaton and Whitman did their school work for the day, and they also hid from us. 

I thought they were hiding in the cab like they did last night, but then I saw one of their heads going by the window. They eventually did come in, but they were enjoying running from us. Now, it is pajama and dessert time here. 

July 14, 2025-25th at Degray

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I think that the rain was softly falling when we went to bed-well, actually we were up late again tonight watching a few documentaries. These were about hostile church takeovers, and honestly, they were probably more scary than a murder mystery documentary. 

We all slept well, but I did wake up super early this morning. Robby eventually had to do some work, and afterwards he went to check us in since we didn't do that yesterday. By that time I was ready, and we took a walk around this loop. If you walk to both sides of this road it is a little bit over a mile walk so that's not too bad. The weather was really nice this morning just like last night. Tonight though it was a little bit warmer, but still fairly pleasant.

We came back in and started eating breakfast and waking up Whitman. Then we headed out for today's adventure. We went to Crater of Diamonds State Park. It was just about an hour from here so it was a pleasant drive. On the way, I did see my grandfather's sister's hardware shop that I remember going into one time, and I also saw the funeral home that my grandparents briefly lived in when I was a kid. (I actually spent a few days there playing the organ for fun and playing hide and seek with Jason around the caskets that were for sale.)

Soon we were at the diamond mine. We drove around the campground first, and then we stopped at the visitor's center. We looked around there, and then went to eat our picnic lunch. Afterwards, we bought our tickets for the diamond mine.

Now Robby and I could have probably passed on this part of the trip, but we are making memories so it was digging for diamonds we went. Thankfully, it was partly cloudy so we were not miserable. We rented a bucket, shovel, a square sifter that was two parts, and a circle sifter that probably had a real name. 

We entered into the mud field, and really I was ready to turn right around. We did all have on old shoes, but there was mud and dirt everywhere. It took us a while to figure out what to do, but we eventually figured it out-well, we didn't really figure it out because we didn't walk away with a diamond though.

Keaton was done a good bit before Whitman. He had walked to another area that had flowing water and was having the time of his life. As he walked back to us, he did have to dig his shoe out of the mud and probably thought briefly that he was in quicksand. 

We did have a few keeper rocks, so when we left we had to park person tell us about them. Mostly they were jasper, an agate, something that is toothpaste, something that he called "nature's asphalt," something that was used in xrays...the kid (he was probably 16) knew his stuff, but he just zoomed through everything. If I had been prepared, I would have labeled and bagged everything so we could know what we found. 

We did have to hose off ourselves when it was time to leave. Whitman suggested that we just throw his socks away, and Robby agreed-that is how muddy he was. This place is kind of a little boy's dream. Sonic is also a little boy's dream because as soon as we did get back in the car, Whitman was reminding us about the Sonic we passed.

We did get drinks, but first we helped the local economy-we bought some salsa at one general store and fudge at another. Then it was back to Arkadelphia. While tonight's pizza was cooking at Pizza Hut, we walked through Walmart for a few minutes, and then it was back to the campground and Bentley.

Back at home, Graham took Reagan to church so she could head to camp-this is her last week of work, and she is spending it at Praiseworks. We thought about driving by and looking for her tonight, but we might another day.

We ate our supper and sat outside for a while tonight. Robby and I walked while Keaton and Whitman did their school and took showers. When I came in from the walk, I played a few rounds of Uno with Keaton and Whitman. Robby even joined for our last few rounds. 

Now we are all in our spots-Robby has turned the news on so I will read for a bit before my shower. 

July 13, 2025-25th at Degray

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This morning was church, and we left a bit later than usual maybe because we were leaving this afternoon or maybe because everyone in the house was awake and going strong after 1 last night (I'm raising a family of night owls.) 

We still made it in plenty of time before the service started. Anderson, Keaton, and Robby all had the offering so maybe we should have tried to be a bit earlier, but it all was just fine. We took two cars because after eating lunch at Grannymom's house, Robby and I took one car to the store to pick up a few more things.

Yes, we did take the white van today-Robby drove it to church, but I rode in it to the grocery store. I even had to drive it to Degray this afternoon. I did very good and didn't freak out once. However. I did look around and even check near my feet a few times on the ride. There are a lot of places where a snake could climb inside of my car (or at least my imagination thinks so) so I made sure to check those places often.

When we did make it home with our groceries, we unloaded and got ready to leave. Keaton, Graham, and Reagan were all asleep. Anderson even fell asleep later in the day. Campbell was awake working on her nails, and Whitman never naps. 

I had to wake Keaton up, and by the time that she hopped in the camper, Whitman and Bentley were already inside it waiting to go. Robby pulled out in front of me, and I followed him most of the way here. I did stop off to do a gas station mystery shop on the way to Lake Degray State Park.

When I arrived, Robby was already here and backed in. We are in the nice, full hook up section. However, we are not right on the water, but we do have a really good trail going down to the water. The first question Keaton asked was about the kayaks-which we left at home. Reagan might bring them tomorrow on her way to camp. 

We are in a really good spot, and once we were set up, we walked around for a little bit. Keaton and Whitman are in a good mood this evening. We heated up manicotti for supper, and while we were eating the rain came. 

It was a quiet pitter patter of rain while Keaton, Whitman, and I played a card game. When we were finished, we all had a snack-popcorn for the kids and blueberry cobbler for us. Now Robby and I are watching a tv show before we all head to bed. 

July 12, 2025

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• Our first activity this morning was waking up Campbell so Robby could get her to a friend's house. She had a big day at the lake with some friends. It was this evening that Shannon and I went to pick her up-she was mighty red when she climbed into the car. 
• Robby ran some errands after dropping Campbell off. I was at home and started to work on a few things at home-packing, school prep, and even some baking (I made cookie dough for tonight but then burned half of the batch.)
• When Robby came home, the house started hopping with everyone getting ready for the Franklin wedding. And you know, we sure didn't take a single picture. Reagan, Keaton, and I spent the majority of the reception in the kitchen cutting and plating the cake. Reagan was so impressed with her cake cutting skills that she wondered if she should pursue it as a career.
• The boys left the reception as soon as they could, but Keaton and Reagan got to ride home to us with a stop to the grocery store. We were able to do our shopping quickly though. Once at home, we did a few things, and then the Wilson's came over for Sunday night supper on Saturday.
• When Shannon and I returned from picking up Campbell, I saw a huge black snack crawling up the brick outside of the garage. I had to fuss at Campbell because that girl was going to pick the thing up. I now wish that she did, because when they got the snake down, it crawled under the white van. Then the snake CRAWLED UP UNDER THE WHITE VAN. Robby moved the van in hopes that it will crawl on it.
• However, here's the deal-I have to drive that car tomorrow to Degray. I could just cry. I have googled it, and a snake really shouldn't be able to enter into a car, but there are so many pictures and stories of that happening. 
• It's probably not a good time for me to tell Robby that I'm never driving that car again...if I do though, I'll be wearing long pants and gloves!

July 11, 2025

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This morning I really felt like I had accomplished a lot. However, this afternoon and evening, we've done nothing except drive around and pick up my babies. 

I walked this morning in the heat. Then I did all of the chores that I could think of before going to the camper to clean it from our trip. It is tiny so it takes me max 15 minutes-20 if I were to shop vac in there too which I did not do this time. Really, there is no reason to stall that long. I did put clean sheets on the bed-the mattress is huge and really you can only get to it from half of one side of the bed so it makes things challenging. I got it done though.

Then I worked on making supper for tonight. When I had finished all my batches of manicotti, Robby and I took one to Grannymom before making some Amazon returns. On our way out of the driveway, we saw that the mail had delivered quite a few new school books for me. So I dug through them at Grannymom's house-like it was Christmas morning for me,

We left there and went to church to pick up Keaton and Whitman from their mission trip to Starkville. They both had a good time. Whitman said that he enjoyed it more than camp. Keaton said that the hardest thing she had to do was scrub the oven. And I think that overall their favorite was the water park.

We came home, through laundry in the wash and then turned around to go and get Campbell. She seemed to really enjoy her trip and told us about it on the way home. She was happy that they were able to stop at a Buccees on the way back though they only stopped twice the whole way home. 

I changed around some laundry at home before we left again. This time we didn't go to church but headed to the airport to pick up Anderson and Graham. They landed just as we arrived so it was perfect timing. They told us all about their trip-I think that they were both tired, and Graham is even a little bit sickly.

Keaton had stuck supper in the oven while we were gone, so everyone has eaten. Well, Reagan is out playing pickleball so she will eat her supper when she comes home. Two of the 5 loads of laundry have been folded, one is in the dryer, one in the wash, and one waiting to be washed. I don't think it will all happen tonight, but we shall see. 

July 10, 2025-July State Parks Trip

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Robby started to unhook things this morning before he had to sit down and do a little bit of work. I took Bentley on a walk around the loop and then came in to read for a bit. I had already started getting things ready for when we made it home (sheets of the bed, clothes in a basket, laundry by the door.)

We loaded the car and were soon on our way. I really enjoyed Millwood State Park-possibly even more than Queen Wilhelmina. The view was so nice-though I could hardly walk on the grass because I was always looking for alligator. 

We just zoomed right home with no problems at all. When we made it home, Robby worked while I began emptying the camper. It didn't take too long even though we are even washing our sheets this time. It also didn't take too long because I had a goal-I had some new school stuff delivered so when things were settled in the house and camper, then I could start opening the school boxes.

Soon I was going through school things and really I have done only that for the rest of the evening. Reagan came in after work for a little bit. This was her last day of work in the office-she has camp next week, and then she is free for the rest of the summer. She wasn't home long because she went to church and then to pickleball.

Robby and I heated up our leftover enchiladas, and now we are on the couch watching our show. I have quite a few pictures from the kids to go through today. This was their last day before they all head home. I haven't really talked to them much-Anderson did say that he tried to surf yesterday unsuccessfully. Whitman said that he had a lot of fun at the water park today-for Whitman to say he had fun, then he really did have fun. 

July 9, 2025-July State Parks Trip

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Let's start with the kid update: I don't really have anything. Reagan did give me a thumbs up when I asked for her to move my packaged off the front porch. Graham wrote a very short reply when I asked him and Anderson if they needed airpods. I have not heard from Campbell, Keaton, or Whitman today. I did get a picture from Keaton from a leader who said that she had scrubbed a kitchen for a very long time with the best attitude. Also, usually by now I have gotten a proof of life update from Whitman by now, 

I'm glad that they are busy and having fun so I guess I will let it slide today. In their defense, they have all sent me multiple pictures throughout the week. Tomorrow is everyone's fun day-Whitman and Keaton go to a water park, Campbell goes to the Cincinnati Zoo, and the boys were not thrilled at all about going to the San Diego Zoo. I tried to remind them that it is the premiere zoo in the nation, but they just reminded me that they had been there already.

Robby and I left around 11 this morning to head to Historic Washington State Park. It was about a 30 minute drive. We walked through the visitor's center, and then we saw that there was a horse and buggy ride about the park. Robby paid for it just as the horse and buggy pulled around the corner.

It was really a neat ride. The driver told us just enough information while we went around the streets of Historic Washington. (It was Old Washington State Park when we were growing up.) The most impressive thing was a huge old magnolia tree. Other than that, there wasn't a whole lot happening at the park today. (It is no Greenfield Village-oh, but it could be. And possibly it is Greenfield Village-ish during some of their special events.)

We decided to complete our visit we should eat at the tavern. Robby and I split chicken tenders which were very good. We also had green beans (fine) and mashed potatoes (not edible-Robby tried, but there wasn't enough salt and pepper to help. I'm not sure what happened because it isn't too hard to mess up mashed potatoes, but I don't really think that they were potatoes.

The horse and buggy man told us that the earthquake cake was very good-indeed it was. However, we didn't know that earthquake cake has coconut which Robby doesn't like. So I ate the bottom of the cake with the coconut, and he ate the top with no coconut. (Like the nursery rhyme-Jack Spratt would eat no fat, his wife would eat no lean, and between them both they licked the plate clean.)

We  stopped at Walmart in Hope on the way home because right before we left, Robby leaned over in the kitchen area and asked, "what's that noise?" I listened, but he quickly figured out that it sounded like water. He went outside to see that a plastic cap from the water heater had split. It was no worries since he carries spares (of everything). He had to fix that a little bit before we left, but he needed some special tape to put around the cap which is what we picked up at Walmart.

Back at the camper, we stayed in the house until it was cool. Then we decided to walk the 1.5 mile trail. Bentley wishes that we would have left her at home, and Robby wishes that he would have sprayed bug spray all over his body-especially his head where the bugs were swarming. 

It was fairly maintained trail-until it wasn't. It was at least well marked and followed the water on the other side of the camper. We were moving through the trail because who wants to be lost in the wilderness in the dark. Robby did see an alligator, but when he said something he slithered back in the water. I thought he had seen a bear so I was relieved that it was just an alligator that I missed seeing. 

Since we have learned our lesson about trails and Bentley, she received her beauty treatment when we made it back. We both had brushes and brushed the mess out of her. Under out picnic table, it looks like we have sheared a sheep. I tried to check her the best I could so hopefully there are no ticks on her. Robby jumped in the shower as soon as we walked back in the door from brushing Bentley, and I'm next.