Field Trips in Arkansas and Missouri

     We stayed in Arkansas a few days longer, and we were able to do some sightseeing. Our first little field trip was to the Old Mill in North Little Rock.

     The kids had never visited the Old Mill, and I had only been once with my parents soon after we had moved to Arkansas around 1993.

I was reminded how lovely it is.

     The mill is known for appearing in the opening credits of Gone With the Wind!

         The kids enjoyed running around, exploring, and playing chase.

     My oldest child was with us, but he was not in the mood to be photographed. It was a tough parenting day.

such a little hidden gem

          After eating lunch at Dempsey Bakery (a gluten free bakery with vegan food options), we headed to the Clinton Presidential Library & Museum near downtown Little Rock.

          Madam President

      I would like to eventually visit all of the presidential libraries.

nice views of the Arkansas river

               Another day we drove to Ft. Smith. We had a picnic in a park near the Fort.

          I had educational AND nostalgic reasons for wanting to bring the kids to Fort Smith.

 

          My grandfather had taken my brother and me here when we were young.

 

         From RoadsideAmerica.com: The gallows are here because Fort Smith was where the Lawless West met the Civilized East. And the man with his hand on the trap door level of justice was Isaac "Hanging Judge" Parker. From his courtroom, only a few hundred feet from the gallows, he sentenced 160 men and women to hang..."

  

     As the kids ran around collecting answers for their Junior Ranger booklets, I enjoyed reminiscing with flashbacks from my youthful visit and feeling a little teary (as usual) thinking about my grandpa.

 

     The kids and I really enjoy collecting Junior Ranger badges from our various state and national park visits. I think it's such a great program and such a good incentive to get kids out exploring and learning.

3 of their badges

          Being the great (?!) and well rounded homeschool teacher that I am...I also took the kids to a 1800's bordello. It is where the visitor's center is located by the Arkansas River. When we entered, the kind, delightful people who work there asked if we would like a tour. It's a typically beautiful restored old house, and we enjoyed peeking through the halls and dreaming about living in such a uniquely built home. It's the last remaining bordello in the area - I think there used to be seven in a row. The information was presented in an age appropriate manner for my kids, and I enjoyed the fun facts. In fun fashion, I was given a health certificate saying I had passed my test to become one of the ladies. I hadn't explained what it was before we went in, and by the time we walked out, they were like, "Uh, what WAS that place?" Haha. I think I explained it as "back then, men would pay for women to keep them coming and sometimes kiss them and pay attention to them."

     There were a few things we ran out of time to do in Fort Smith such as the Darby Museum. (My grandpa was one of Darby's Rangers.) We look forward to returning to this little town.

          While in Arkansas, we spent more time with Googie and Papaw. At Mellow Mushroom...

...and getting ice cream.

          The specific reason for the timing of this trip was Sis getting to attend the birthday of her BFF since preschool. Dash has become friends with her brother, too, so he went, as well.

     Next on our list was driving 3 1/2 hours to Missouri. I wanted the little two to attend VBS at my hometown church I attended growing up. They have attended this before. I still have feelings toward wanting to live in my hometown, where I feel so loved and welcome and well, home. (Living in a big city, it feels like our friends change every year.) At this time, though, the best I can do is give them little moments like this, some bits of roots somewhere.

          It's also important for them to get a little of their country on. Experience a little of their mom's hillbilly upbringing. Help them "get" my emotional reaction to country music.

     There is nothing like my very patient friends (and friends' husbands) who are willing to full on stick fight with my little ninja.

          They got the treat of playing with little piglets.

          They did get out of the pen, and we were all chasing after them to get them back to their mom.

 

     One of our yearly summer traditions is getting an old fashioned soda pop at the pharmacy in my hometown. Those cups (with fresh cherry syrup or vanilla, etc.) cost something like 40 cents. :)

          The kids had a play date with two of their old friends. We played the Lazer Maze Challenge at the Glowgolf place at the mall. Then we wandered by this Dragon Breath treat.

     I have since read that it might be a little controversial healthwise, but they did have a lot of fun. It was pretty cool. It tastes like crunchy cereal balls, and as soon as you start crunching on it, your mouth feels with smoke which you can blow out.

     I had promised the teenagers I would let them unwind at a boy movie by themselves. We love AMC's reclining seats!

          We didn't let them have all of the fun, though. We got to try out a new-to-us restaurant - Piccolo's in Nixa. I had heard they had plenty of vegan options, and that was correct. Pasta - even pesto, which is my favorite, cheesecake, and bread...I highly recommend, and we look forward to returning.

     We loved our summer trip, but it's always nice to be home. Our babies (all 6 of them!) were happy to have us back!