Carolina Mommy

We were keeping an eye out for National Parks & Monuments along the way. We purchased a National Parks pass before our trip as we planned on visiting several places in AZ and it would be more economical to go that way. But, this also opened up many opportunities to make "quick" visits to additional parks along the way. This was also what we used for school while we were on the road. The Jr. Ranger programs are wonderful! Some parks are better than others, but all in all a great wealth of information. I learned so much in working through the books with the girls. Washita Battlefield was the first National Park that we stopped at. It is located in western Oklahoma about 20 or so miles north of I40. I must add in here how much we loved Oklahoma! Yes, the "breeze" was a bit much at times. But, the temperature was perfect, no humidity and no bugs! It was so beautiful looking out across the site. We pretty much enjoyed everything about Oklahoma. Well everything that ...

We stopped at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas on Wednesday. It was lunch time and we saw the sign so we traveled about 30 miles off the highway. It was well worth it. The children enjoyed some hands on displays in the visitor center. We then ate lunch and played on the playground. Webb and I got a much needed recharge to our batteries. Touch table at visitor center Josh being a ham insteading of eating his ham The view as we started our hike Turtle rocks....very neat looking. They really did look like turtle shells! Family pic at the entrance to the cave. This cave was huge!

We are in ARIZONA! Thankfully we made it all the way. We are tired (and by "we" I mean Webb, my mom and myself). The children are excited. Taking in their new surroundings, enjoying each thing. It is amazing what I can learn if I just pay attention to what they think is important. We left Henryetta, OK at about 10 on Thursday morning. We had lunch at Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in Cheyenne, OK. We took a "mom guided" tour around the battlefield after lunch and the girls all earned their Junior Ranger Badges. We all learned a lot and had a great time walking around learning some US History and enjoying God's creation. From there we went to Groom, TX to see the cross. I'm sure a lot of you have heard and/or seen this 19 story cross. It is quite a sight. We walked around the grounds and it actually opened up some great opportunities to speak to the girls about why Christ died on the cross. Sam was very upset at seeing the statues where they na...

We made it to Henryetta, Oklahoma last night. I cannot tell you how wonderful it felt to lay on a bed when we walked into the room, and to lay my head on th pillow. Oh, WOW, was it great! Thank you Lord for such small comforts. So the first leg of our journey was not without issue, but comparitively the issues have been quite minor to the joys that we have expereinced. Apparantly the girls believed me when I told them that whining and fighting would not be tolerated. All three of them have been doing wonderfully! Josh on the other hand did not get the memo. I can't say that I blame him too much. I know it can't be all that comfortable to sleep, eat, play and just sit all strapped in. Mom got sick. She thinks from something she ate, I hope that is all. I am also very thankful that our stop by the side of the road in the wee hours yesterday did not cause a chain reaction with my girls, cause typically their weak stomachs cannot handle it! We stopped for lunch at Jean Petit State ...

I am in the middle of preparations. Trying to get things together that should have been together already. As I am typing this my bed is strewn with toiletries, misc. bags, diapers, pull-ups, carriers, cameras, shoes and a bunch of other stuff. The only one completely packed for this trip is my husband! His bag is a small duffel about half the size of mine and I didn't think that I packed all that much. I feel so out of my box! The last trip that we made was for a weekend and we only had 2 little ones at the time. This time we will be gone for just shy of 2 weeks and we have 4 little bundles to entertain along the way. I am excited! Very excited! I will get to see my brother who I have not seen in several years. My baby brother who is graduating from college! The only one of us to actually graduate from college! My dad who I have not seen in 8 years. And a grandma that I have not seen in over a decade. I do not feel old enough to use the words "a decade ago", but the trut...