'Distractions' that look like fun : it's what 'family' does

'Tis no secret that dogs in our family ARE like family members to us. Laura, Allyson and Brian were raised with dogs in the house (Micky, Bo, and Bear) and so canine family members soon became natural extensions of their new families once they established their own homes.

And saying 'goodbye' is never easy.......

After two years of steady health decline (for which nothing could be done)for Kai, the American Indian dog that Tim and Ally had had for eight years, yesterday was the day to say 'goodbye'.  They'd done a great job of talking to Silas and preparing him (and themselves) for the last week and so Silas and Cora spent the morning with us.......

                doing some major castle building in the sandbox.......

wielding prehistoric light sabers (sparklers) .....setting things on fire can be quite cathartic, y' know.........

                 and introducing Cora to the novelty of water balloons
                                        (a.k.a soak Pop and Noni)

     While Tim, Ally and Silas went out to lunch and to a movie, Cora entertained us with her new-found independence in use of a spoon......well,  
        she got MOST of that yogurt into her mouth!   So precious!

 

When the movie-goers returned we enjoyed such a great visit out back while Silas showed off his sand castle, Cora enjoyed patio furniture just her size (adirondack chairs for 'littles'----ooops can't find that cute pic!) and everybody got good and sticky with their popsicles!

 

Family. So thankful.

 

A Bridge (NOT) Too Far

We had a delightful adventure with Brian, Lara and Blake over to the Bentonville area a week ago to the Crystal Bridges Museum and hiking trails.

http://crystalbridges.org/

They'd been before, but it was our first time and we LOVE being the 'newbies', getting introduced to experiences and places that are meaningful to and fun for people we love.  Such a great day it was!

The weather couldn't have been more beautiful as Brian took us up the scenic Hwy. 10 from Tahlequah, paralleling the full and running Illinois River,  to Hwy. 412 and then over into Arkansas.

While dad and son chatted in the front, Lara and Blake and I had some good talk time,  covering lots of topics like her upcoming travel plans with  her family, Common Core implementation and, of course, singing and playing with Blake......

 

We enjoyed a nice lunch in Bentonville......

 

made all the nicer by having Blake as tableside 'entertainment'.

 

Then we headed on to tour the wonderful museum and trails at Crystal Bridges.  This is a truly an amazing place, not only beautiful in the environment in which it is situated......

but the architecture and design elements throughout are 'art' in and of themselves.  The place was busy on this warm Friday in June and in front of several of the works small groups were gathered, seated on portable canvas 'camp type' stools, with docents, discussing the pieces.  Oh, how we'd love to return and get in on that experience. 

 

They have available a several-page guided activity book for kids, as a well as a game sheet to help with acquainting visitors (of all ages, really) with the pieces on display.  And all this is........free?  Yessiree!

 

 

There's a lovely restaurant and adjacent to it a coffee bar called 'Eleven' where Brian, our favorite barrista, treated us to lattes. 'Eleven' gets its name from having opened on 11-11-11 at 11 a.m.  clever;)  We headed up one of the trails, enjoying beautiful wildflowers on both sides of the path.

Blake decided he wanted to trade hats with 'Pop'...... and Lara, our expert geocaching guide, led us on a short hunt for the treasure that soon yielded results near the Tulip Tree Pavilion!

Once we spring for 'smartphones' this could be a hobby we definitely could get interested in!!  So fun!!

Then we headed back down the trail and took our chances and becoming a 'work of art' ourselves!

 

Such a wonderful day with our precious family! #blessedbeyondbelief

 

 

 

Down the 'Pike' with Kady Grace

Kind of late sharing about this but we had such a great day with Kady Grace on May 29....headed out after breakfast with our sights set on the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History in Norman.  We'd been planning this for some time, but Kady's Aunt Lara, knowing that we were going, sent us the news that the Museum is offering free admission through June as a blessing to all residents/visitors because of the tragedy and devastation the people of central Oklahoma experienced on May 19-20.  We'd encourage anyone who can to visit this great hands-on, kid-friendly museum!  Kady will certainly give it a rousing testimonial!

Made a 'snack stop' along the turnpike......kady chose some fruit-flavored stringy-things and we picked some trail mix (our favorite's a mixture of cranberries, raisins, sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts).  Kady had one taste of her 'stringed' treat, decided it was too sweet (yea for her discerning palate!) and then opted to share some of our trail mix, of which she couldn't seem to get enough!!

had to stop out front of the museum to see how we 'measured up next to a 'wee bit larger than life' great American bison.  He obligingly stood very still for the photo op;)

 

Lots of specimen drawers to go through and talk about......

....and so many 'flaps' to lift and read underneath.......

 

a dug-out canoe

...........and the handprint wall in the Hall of the People of Oklahoma.  Unfortunately, we didn't discover, until after we'd been there that there's a scavenger hunt (pdf online document) for kids for this portion of the museum.  Check it out!

        Comparing the length of her thighbone to that of a dinosaur..........

 

In the Discovery Center she solved puzzles with archeological artifacts,

flew a butterfly around the center.....

 

checked out the 'live' specimens......

and tried her hand in a simulated archeological 'dig'!

And for her bravery in the face of such harrowing danger......

she was rewarded with a VERY LARGE drink of her choice from among the 600 flavors at this Route 66 iconic stop!

 

One happy girl waitin' on her chicken strips (after which she slept most of the way home).  Such a great day!