June 10, 2026-State Park Camping during Camp Week

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Robby and I woke up and immediately started getting ready to leave. It didn't take us long to pack everything up and get on the road. Robby did stop to empty the tanks on the way out of the park. Then, we just zoomed on down the road without any problems. 

We made it home, and I had about 30 minutes to work until I needed to run to the store quickly and then pick up the kids. I knew that they were going to be a little late, as they always are. However, I wasn't expecting them to be 2 hours late. There were a lot of other things I could have been doing at home, but at least there were a lot of people to visit with while we waited.

I knew that the kids would be home when they were supposed to get home at 12:30, but by the time we finally all got in the car they were starved. Robby had ordered pizza so we picked it up on the way home-we even devoured the breadsticks before we made it back to the house.

While I was waiting on the kids, Robby had finished emptying and cleaned the camper. So I went to work on washing the kids clothes-and I have just finished. I do still have clothes in the washer and dryer, but those are just blankets so I will be able to finish the laundry before bed. 

The kid all had fun during camp. Campbell's team one the week, and I think that Graham's team came in second. From all I've heard, Whitman had a really good time. Keaton and Campbell have been downloading their pictures from the week all afternoon long. 

June 9, 2026-State Park Camping during Camp Week

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Another pretty perfect day. Robby and I started our morning with a walk down to the swimming area of the lake. It is a huge swimming area, but since the river is so low to get to the swimming area you have to really walk quite a bit. The river really looks to be flowing, but I guess it isn't too bad near the edge. We took the dogs down there, and Bentley was headed in so I almost found out all about the water. Thankfully, I managed to stay on my feet.

After our walk, I read some, and then we headed out for lunch in Batesville. We ate at a food truck called Meme's Burgery. I'm not really sure what all our burger had on it-I know it had an egg, bacon, and delicious sauce. It was absolutely huge and messy, but oh, it was delicious. Plus we got their loaded fries-they had some name too. We couldn't finish them even though we split the burger. They were excellent as well. I think that this place won the best burger in Arkansas award last year, and it was well deserved.

We then ran into Kroger because I needed to pick up something for Reagan that was on sale today. Then we meandered back to the campsite and took the dogs on another stroll. Robby worked the rest of the afternoon while I napped and read (I've read 3 books while here, and finished an audio book.)

This evening we had a shop at Hardee's and ran a few more errands. We ate when we came back to the camper, and then we repeated our evening walk from yesterday. It might have been hotter out today because I'm still pretty sticky.

Anderson worked all day today again, Reagan comes home Monday for 24 hours, and all of the camp kids get home tomorrow. 

June 8, 2026-State Park Camping during Camp Week

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I did wake up this morning to make sure that Anderson was awake at home. He was and even headed to work early. He had to be at work this morning at 8, and he should be done at 9 tonight, but it might even be later. I really shouldn't have worried about him getting up today, it will be tomorrow that I should worry about. (He is just working two days this week, and possibly two days next week of the same schedule.)

We soon got up and drove to a trail to walk the dogs on today. We could have walked to the trail, but it was ok to drive. The trail was just a mile or less, but it was in the woods so we hurried on. I have kind of decided that I don't really like walking through the woods. I look sidewalks and bug less places. 

When we came back to the camper, we brushed the dogs super good to make sure there were no bugs on them. If I have understood the vet, he said that their flea and tick causes those bugs to not bite them, but it doesn't cause them to not get on their fur...then they will crawl on over to us and bite us. (This makes me wonder why we don't take flea and tick medicine ourselves.)

I started a new book and read it while Robby did his work. We then drove to Jacksonport State Park which was about an hour away. The dogs did fine, but they both wanted to be in my lap which I had to put a stop to. 

This park is on the White River right near where the Black and White rivers meet. It kind of reminds me of Maumelle park, but there are only 20 sites, and only 4 of them are full. This was an old steamboat town until the refused to pay to get the train to come through their town. So the train went just down the road to Newport (it was the New port). 

We unloaded and set up everything-and by set up, I mean I put out the two mats and our table by the door. Then we took the dogs on a short walk before we had our lunch. I was looking forward to it-crackers, salsa, and cheese, but I was disappointed. I'm not sure why though..maybe my tastebuds are changing.

We then went to the visitor's center to look around, and, of course, there is a courthouse attached to this park that we looked at. Then we ran some errands-the post office, a gas station, a subway, and even a stroll around Walmart to buy some ice cream. 

When we came back, Robby did some work on his computer while I napped for a minute. Then we took off on a walk by the river. We came back in the road which was built kind of on the levee, and even though we were walking in the sun, it was incredibly breezy.

Now, I'm finishing the blog, and we will have our supper in a little bit-a frozen dinner of butter chicken. We are looking forward to it!

June 7, 2026-State Park Camping during Camp Week

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This morning Robby and I woke up and started moving around because it was supposed to rain around lunch, and we had a few things we wanted to do before the rains came. Today at the visitor's center at Lake Charles, while talking about the lower lake levels, the lady said that they are always calling for rain here, and it never rains. It didn't rain here until 5, and the all day of rain that was predicted just ended up being for about 20 minutes so the rain never messed up our plans.

We walked the dogs this morning on Cedar Trail which left our camping loop and walked around the lake-well, around some of the lake. It is a 645 acre lake which is a good little bit. Our walk ended up being over a mile and a half by the time we made it back to the camper. We achieved our purpose-make the dogs tired.

Bentley hopped up on the couch, and she probably stayed there until we returned hours later. Marley wasn't too keen on going in her kennel, but she did with the promise of a treat. Robby and I then left go to Davidsonville Historic State Park. It was another lake, but it also had a huge town that they were discovering from an archaeological dig-though they weren't digging today, and possibly they haven't done much with some of the park in years.

Our next stop was a Sonic for a bite to eat in Pocahontas. Then we drove around Williams Baptist college in Walnut Ridge-it was not what I was expecting. Also in Walnut Ridge, the have a little park dedicated to the Beatles. The Beatles landed one weekend night in Walnut Ridge to change planes into a smaller plane to go to a ranch in Missouri for the next night. Someone heard the large plane coming in and sent some teenagers to check it out. They knew who they were, and word got out so when the Beatles returned from their trip to get back on their plane, the whole town was there to greet them.

Next up was another Sonic where we bought our supper, followed by our last state park of the day: Powhatan Historic State Park. This was a nice preserved courthouse with a friendly park worker. We walked around the courthouse, and then we walked down to see some of the other preserved buidlings.

From there, we hurried back to the camper since we had been gone a few minutes. We took the dogs and headed on another walk. Our phones said rain was coming, but we trusted the park lady and pressed on. As we were about to take one long trail, a man drove up and cautioned us of the mosquitoes in the woods. That was all the warning we needed.

We kept walking on the main road until we came to a short trail in the woods but not near the lake. We did it, and by the time we made it back to the camper with the dogs, they were ready to come in again. It is odd that they know their way to the camper and start pulling on their leashes once we get close.

Since then, we have just been in the camper, and it's been wonderful. I've finished one book and started another. Robby has worked and worked on drawers and cabinets and moving things around. I'm about to fix our supper, and then we will probably take the dogs on another little walk. 

June 6, 2026-State Park Camping during Camp Week

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This was a fairly busy Saturday morning. The first real happenings were Robby going outside to work. He did admit that he possibly has ADD because he bounces from task to task especially when he is working outside. One of the task that he bounced to today was mowing the yard. 

I was in the kitchen and heard something hit the big kitchen window. I glanced at it and breathed a sigh of relief that whatever the lawnmower threw over there didn't break it. However, I didn't look close enough-right in the bottom corner, there is a hole from a rock. Thankfully, it is in the corner and just dinged one pane. Robby thinks there is something he can buy to put in it to stop it from spreading to save some time before replacing that window.

Next up Anderson and Whitman left for hair cuts. Anderson felt like his was a little short, but it looked good though. Whitman's might not have been short enough, but it also looked nice. When they made it home, I made Whitman take a shower to get the hair off of him. He was adamant that there wasn't any hair on him, but I was even more adamant that he would take a shower still.

My first trip was to drop off Campbell and Graham at church to go down to camp at Ouachita. First though, they wanted to stop at ChickFilA. I stayed long enough at church to check them in, but then I told my two bye and left. I dropped off books from the library and headed home.

I wasn't home long, but Robby arrived with lunch for everyone. We all ate, and then I was back in the van dropping off Whitman and Keaton for camp. Whitman is not crazy about camp, but he walked right in and started talking to a friend. I ran to the store on the way home, and when I made it home, the Wilsons came over for a little bit delivering us treats from their getaway to NWA.

Then Robby and I said bye to Anderson who is holding down the fort this week, and then we were off. We headed to Lake Charles State Park. It was a two and a half hour drive, and we just sailed here. We had no trouble-except both of the dogs wanted to sit in my lap. I have a blanket in my lap because of their sharp nails, but since my legs were crossed, my legs went to sleep!

Lake Charles State Park is in the middle of nowhere, but it is pretty. We have the best campsite-we are right on the lake. We got here, unhooked, and Robby set everything up. Then we walked around our loop and another loop. There are a few trails, which we didn't do tonight because we were hungry, but we may not get to do them tomorrow because it might rain.

We had a baked potato for supper which was really good-or maybe we were really just hungry. We then sat inside. Robby worked while I read and even napped. Now, he has just had his shower, and I'm going to take mine soon. My book has gotten good so maybe I can read some more tonight.

June 5, 2026

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• This was the first morning this week that we didn't have to wake up super early. I still woke up at a decent time and started on my chores. Robby soon ended up on top of the camper working on the roof.
• Campbell was the first one to leave this morning to go to a birthday party, plus she had a few errands to run to get ready for camp. Keaton and I left next because she was eating brunch with some friends. While she was doing that, I got my hair cut and ran around Walmart buying Graham a few things for his dorm room. 
• When I came home, I helped Anderson fill out some paperwork. Then I left for a meeting at church. Anderson also left to check out what he has to do on Monday. We both made it home about the same time. 
• Then the next item on my list was to pack the boys. Campbell and Keaton to not need any help packing, but Graham always wants me to help him put everything in his suitcase. Of course, since he takes about 50 changes of clothes, he definitely needs help. Whitman could probably do decent, but he is still my baby so I probably do too much for him.
• Campbell and Keaton left in the middle of their packing to go and babysit this evening. Robby brought home some supper for everyone. Currently, Robby and I are eating healthy pretzels on the couch while the big boys are playing basketball outside. 

June 4, 2026

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• This was the last day for Camp Geyer this year, and we all survived, and we all even had fun. When my group finished, the janitor man swooped in before we could even finish cleaning and took over. We let him! We had been leaving our room super clean and neat each day though.
• Whitman and I went down to the Family Day while Keaton, Campbell, and Graham spent some time cleaning up the sanctuary. We ate, and then Whit and I left to run to Kroger to pick up his camp snacks. 
• After that, we met Anderson and then Robby at Top Golf. We played quite a few games-then Anderson and Robby tried to hit the ball as far as they could. My Top Golf skills have not improved or become more consistent at all! Though I do think that Whitman can hit the ball further than when we started.
• I have a few things on my summer bucket list-the first thing I completed was finishing my blanket yesterday, but today after golf I went to Barnes and Noble to complete another item on my list. (Going to Barnes and Noble). Even though I have a gift card from there, I still didn't buy anything. I did enjoy looking and have a few ideas of things that I want to buy.
• When I came home, I worked on some paperwork with Anderson and some thank you notes with Graham. Robby brought home supper for everyone, and right now no one has left to go out tonight. I think that the girls are leaving soon though, and possibly the big boys are outside playing basketball now.