Family Road Trip 2019 - Day 1

Thursday, June 13th we left bright and early and headed out on our family road trip. Other than driving to Walt Disney World several years ago, this was our first real multi-state road trip. We headed up HWY 259 towards Oklahoma and spent most of the day driving through the hills/mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas, with Eureka Springs, AR as our destination. 

Eureka Springs is like stepping back in time just a bit, as there are not any modern day hotels, but tons of small motels. We stayed at the Land O Nod. 

This was our room, 109. You parked right in front which made for unloading the van very easy! 

The room keys. 

After unloading and resting for a bit, we headed to the Passion Play. We had booked a Holy Land tour, dinner, and the Passion Play. 

The kids in front of the Passion Play. 

The was a replica of what a well might have looked like in Bethlehem, Eli was a huge fan of it, mainly because he wanted to throw coins in like at Jalapeno Tree. After the tour we headed too the restaurant for dinner. The food was very good and they even made a gluten free meal for Cason. It was a buffet with several different choices. Bradley said it was the best meatloaf he had ever had. 

The stage/set where the play takes place is huge. After checking out the set we headed to the Bible Museum and gift stores. 

Emory loved the museum because she was able to see and make connections to what she has been learning in school. I even had to send her 4th grade teacher pictures! She was pretty excited. 

The Passion Play didn't start until 8:30 pm,so while we waited for it to start we watched the sun set over the Christ of the Ozarks statue.  

Scenes from the Passion Play. 

The play was very good and everyone enjoyed it. Eli made it through about half of the play before falling a sleep. 

Day 1 was very long but overall we all had a good time. We made it back to the motel a little before 11:00 pm. 

Hello Summer

Today was the last day of 2nd and 4th grade! 

Both Emory and Cason had great years! Cason of course was ready for summer right after Christmas and Emory not so much, she loves school so. Cason likes socialization more than school work, even though he does well in school. 

Soccer 2019

This year was a very wet soccer season. I really didn't take any pictures except for the last day. Cason was on the Cyclones and Emory the Honeybees. They both had good season's and played well. 

Marco Polo

About a month ago this little parakeet landed on the playground at school. The 4th grade class was outside and able to catch him. After a trip to the vet the class learned that the little bird was very thin but overall alright. Emory's teacher decided that they would keep him as the class pet. Meet Marco Polo. 

Emory is going to miss Marco Polo next year, but says she can visit him often. 

2nd Grade Garden

2nd Grade is responsible for the school garden and along with Mr. Jobe (volunteer grandparent) they work in the garden all year. They have grown different kinds of lettuce, cabbage, carrots, beans and onions. The garden is probably favorite thing. He has already told me we have to go work and pick things this summer. 

Blake and his carrot. 

Mr. Jobe teaching them. 

Evan found a few carrots. 

They grew giant cabbages. Cason was impressed that they were all bigger then everyone's head. The kids were able to bring veggies home throughout the year they also used them in their boxcar stew from the Boxcar Children books.  Cason will miss the garden next year. 

2nd Grade Egyptian Day

Friday was Egyptian Day for Cason's class. They have been learning about Egypt all year and were excited for the day! 

My little Pharaoh!

The kids had lunch with Egyptian like foods, partook in an archaeological dig, made papyrus art, and watched a movie. It was a fun filled day! 

Cason and Evan

Srirum and Blake 

2nd Grade Egyptian Day 

Egyptian Princess Annalise

Check-ups

On April 16th Cason and Eli both had their annual check-ups. 

Eli isn't very cooperative with getting his weight and height measured, so his wiggly weight and height were 38 inches tall (65th percentile) and 31.4 pounds (50th percentile). 

Cason is continuing to grow, although he is still playing catch-up since his zero growth between 6 and 7 years and his Celiac's Disease diagnoses last June. 

Cason weighed 51.2 pounds (25th percentile - 7 pound gain from his 7 year old check-up) and is 3' 10.5 inches tall (5th percentile - 2 inch gain from last year). He goes to see his specialist's this month and the plan is to recheck his blood levels. Everyone still feels his intestine is healing, as he has grown tremendously in the last year, however the blood work will tell us more.