Cakes, tea shops, tree houses and hay rack rides!

We headed to Arkansas again, to see the kids for the 3rd weekend in a row.   This time it was to celebrate birthdays.  We stopped along 400 to get a picture I've wanted for a long time.  I wonder what stories are behind this house?

Arriving at Josh's 5 1/2 hours later, we found Josh and Elijah starting to work on the tree house that was Eli's birthday gift.

When Josh was about the same age, he and a neighbor friend built a rickety 3-story tree house themselves in our back yard.  It was probably not at all safe, but they had fun.  This one was going to be a lot sturdier and safer for sure.  Safe enough for Staci, Grammi and Beebop and us to climb!

In the evening we played Ticket to Ride with the family.

The next morning, Josh showed Al his plans for the treehouse and then they spent the day working on it.

Staci and I took Emeri over to her friend's home.  This house is one that was chosen for an HGTV segment on Flip or Flop and will be aired this coming month.

Emeri and her friends were going to do a cook-off.  Emeri is quite the cook, even making a groom's cake for a wedding!  Emeri is 13, y'all!  Here are some of the cakes she has made.

After dropping her off, Staci and I drove into town to a cute little tea shop.  Staci had a gift card to do a little shopping with.

You could sample various flavours.

This area was reserved for a little tea party for little girls.

We drove around looking at the fall trees and then into a unique neighborhood.

When we got back to the house, Josh, Al, a neighbor and Eli were still working on the tree house.

Later, Josh sent us this picture.  Almost completed.

Staci has the prettiest flowers on her deck.

Eli told his Papa that he wanted to make sure they did 3 things; sword fight, wrestle and have a nerf battle.  Check, check, check.

Time for a bonfire and roasting hotdogs!

Emeri made Eli a Lego birthday cake.  Emeri was going to have her cake and a sleepover with friends later, although we gave both kids their birthday gifts now.  Their birthdays are 2 days apart (and 2 years).

After cake we had a hayrack ride.

Eli's other grandpa (Beebop) drove and we rode in the trailer

while their neighbor "Uncle" Josh told spooky stories.

After the neighbors went back home and the kids were in bed, we sat around the fire with Josh and Staci and her parents.  We talked until late. 

For several years, our church put on Judgement House during this same weekend.  We were heavily involved in that so could not come to the kids' birthday celebrations.  We really enjoy this time with them now!

Three weekends!

 Recently we were able to see our Arkansas kids 3 weekends in a row!!  It is a 5 1/2 hour drive to their home, so this is quite unusual.  Well, it has never happened before.  

The first weekend we drove out there, it was because our granddaughter was in a school play and of course we wanted to see that!

*****

On the way to Arkansas, we were driving by a cemetary and I had to have a double look.

I have never seen people hand dig a grave before.  Usually there is some sort big backhoe that digs them.

When we got to our son's home, Eli showed me some deer in their back yard.

Josh showed us a zoom-type alumni worship team he was a part of for John Brown University.

Pretty neat!  We unloaded our overnight bags at our "hotel" next door.  Because Staci's parents want to keep social distant, we entered through the back deck into the guest room.  

A nuthatch at Dan's feeder.  I don't have these in our back yard so am delighted to see them here!

I  brought some dahlia's from my backyard for them.  They were dinner plate size! 

Grammi helped Emeri get ready for the play since Staci was still at work.

After supper, we went to Emeri's school to see the musical she was in called "How to Eat Like a Child".

It was so fun! Emeri is in the green plaid skirt in this picture.

and in the yellow pjs here.  A mom made all the costumes! I'm impressed!

You can barely see the plastic shields covering their faces.

The songs were from our era so Al and I loved this!!

Emeri on the phone asking someone "Is your refrigerator running?.....You better go catch it!"  I had to laugh because I had pulled the exact same stunt on my algebra teacher in Japan, Mr. Inouye.

We were so proud of her!  

The next morning, Josh and Al prepared breakfast.

Eli was busy with his carving hobby.

After breakfast, Eli needed to sword fight with Papa.

It was time for us to head back to Kansas as Al had to work the next day.   We took pictures with the "star" of the show 

and with her brother too.

The following weekend, Josh's family went to Colorado so they stopped in to say hi and to grab a bite to eat.  They stretched their muscles because they had another 8 hour trip ahead of them!  It was good to see them for a little any way.

We would see them the following week when we would be driving back to Arkansas for Emeri and Elijah's birthdays!  To be continued....