Hot Springs Trip

Our family left last Saturday morning for a trip to Hot Springs, AR. Every year Kevin's employer has a planning meeting toward the end of July and family members are welcome on the trip. In the past it's been in Branson, Memphis, St. Louis and this year was Hot Springs.

Saturday afternoon, after many stops, we finally arrived in Hot Springs. We found our hotel and set out to have some fun. We drove to the lake and looked around for a while. Then we rode bumper boats. This was Mason's first bumper boat ride. He rode with Kevin, and Anna and I rode together. Anna and I ended up more soaked than the guys.

Wet after the bumper boats.

After bumper boats we played games in the arcade room. After many dollars we won enough tickets for Anna to get a plastic bracelet, fake dollar bills and a fake coin. (It would have been much cheaper to go to Walmart and buy these items but where is the fun in that?)

Next we rode Go-Karts. This too was a first for Mason. I was actually surprised that they let him ride. I told Kevin that Mason could ride with me because I would go slower. After the ride Anna said "I thought you said you were going to go slow!" I couldn't help it. Mason and I had a fast car and we had to take advantage of it. He seemed to really enjoy the ride. Anna enjoyed it too. Everytime I slowed down, so Kevin and Anna could catch up with us, she was grinning from ear to ear. We ate dinner at our favorite place, Olive Garden. (Can't wait to get our new Olive Garden locally.)

The fast car.

After dinner we headed back to the hotel for some swimming. That was what Anna and Mason both wanted to do. (Kevin and I reminisced about our childhoods and swimming at the hotel being our favorite activity. Apparently we passed this trait on to our children. Now my favorite activity is eating!)

Sunday morning started by attending worship service at the Church of Christ at Airport Road in Hot Springs. It reminded us a lot of our home congregation. They even gave out loaves of bread to visitors just like at home. (I always remember as a child that if my family was on vacation that we found a church to attend. I think that was a great lesson by example that my parents instilled into me. I can't say that I've always followed that rule but it should be followed 100% of the time. Having Anna and Mason has really made me think about that. I want them to see that a vacation from home doesn't mean a vacation from God.) After worship service we offered a few choices of restaurants to Anna, and she chose Crackies (a.k.a. Cracker Barrell). After lunch we set out to ride The Ducks. (These are vehicles that go on land and water. It took us on a tour of Hot Springs and provided intersting history and facts about the area. We also got to try out the water ability by riding on Lake Hamilton. I must say I was a little nervous and was glad to make it back to shore. I couldn't stop thinking about the Duck that sank and killed people several years ago.) We bought a Duck Quacker for the ride.

Quack, Quack, Quack!

I can do it too!

Sunday evening dinner was provided by Kevin's employer. Anna met up with her friend, Rylee, another employee's daughter. Soon after dinner they were down in the pool having a blast.

Swimming fun!

Monday Kevin had meetings most of the day so the kids and I had time to play. We went with Rylee and her mother, Melissa, to the Arkansas Alligator Farm. It was really neat (and creepy with all the alligators). They also had other animals like a mountain lion, wolves, turkeys, turtles, ducks, lemurs, deer, donkeys, and a petting zoo with goats and sheep. We were able to feed bread to the goats, sheep, deer and donkey.

Feeding a baby goat.

Creepy!

After the Alligator Farm the kids and I went to the mall and drove around town. Then we went back to the hotel for Mason to take a nap. While he napped, Anna watched TV and I finished reading another book. Once Kevin finished his meetings for the day we set out for more fun.

A mountain outlook point.

We drove up to the Mountain Tower and went up to the top.

Riding up the glass elevator.

At the top of the tower. The wind was blowing and it was much cooler at that elevation.

Then we took a drive through the West Mountain. It was a beautiful drive.

We walked downtown along all the shops and bathhouse row. We stuck our hands and feet (quickly) into a hot spring that was 143 degrees!

Talk about a Hot Spring...143 degrees!!

That evening we ate dinner at Red Lobster. The kids were fascinated by the live lobsters in a tank in the waiting area.

Tuesday Kevin had meetings that morning. After breakfast Anna went with Rylee and Melissa to play while Mason and I returned to our room. I started packing everything back into the suitcases, and Mason played in the room. Later Melissa and the girls came to our room to visit. Anna and Rylee had so much fun together. Melissa said that four people asked if Anna and Rylee were twins. From behind they do look a lot alike. Their hair is the same color, texture and style. She said everyone was shocked when she told them that the girls weren't even related.

Twins? Sisters? Nope!

Kevin's meeting ended a little early, and we got an early start for home. We stopped in North Little Rock for a late lunch at Applebee's and a little shopping for me. Seems everyone drunk too much Dr. Pepper at lunch...we had to make several restroom stops on the way home. But we arrived home around 4:30 which left time to unpack and start some laundry before bedtime.

We had a great trip but it is good to be home. There is no place like home and no bed like your own bed!