Our kids came for a visit last week. Matthew and his family arrived on Saturday morning, and Amy arrived on Saturday afternoon. We went to Kay and Robert’s home on Sunday for a family gathering. Just about all our kid’s cousins came, and we had lots of fun at the pool. We spent 2 nights in Russellville and went to Mountain View for one night. It wouldn’t be quite the same in Mountain View without some of Juanita’s chicken and dressing; Grandma didn’t disappoint! Amy was sick with a cold, but she participated in all the activities in spite of not being at the top of her game.

Nathan broke his arm a week before they came. It was a pretty bad break, but not a compound fracture (This six-year-old can explain what a compound fracture is). Both bones were broken. He had gone to a camp and slipped on some playground equipment about 15 minutes after arriving. His arm was set in place at the ER, but there was a question about whether he would need a pin. If so, they might not have been able to travel as planned. However, the doctor advised that he could come to Arkansas, and they would review whether he needed a pin after he returned home from vacation. While we were in Mountain View, we took Nathan to see Dr. John, an orthopedic surgeon who is the husband of Ann’s first cousin, once removed, so he could evaluate Nathan’s arm. Cousin John thought that he should try to reposition the bone for better healing. So, he and his partner, Dr. V. took Nathan to the operating room to re-set the bone. However, they found that the bone could not be re-set without a pin, so they put in a pin. That took quite a while, but Nathan was fine. He didn’t have a lot of pain that the pain medicine didn’t handle. He was much better the next day.

Amy left very early on Thursday morning so she could attend an important meeting at noon in DC. Believe it or not she made it to her meeting on time. That afternoon we went downtown to the Nature Center and to the Museum of Discovery. Nathan and Maddie enjoyed those museums but so did the adults. The Museum of Discovery is really quite interesting. We also rode the street car around Little Rock and North Little Rock. The driver also served as tour guide and explained various features of the city.

Matthew and Nathan helped me buy a new smoker. I’m looking forward great food! Nana took Maddie for a manicure and a pedicure.

I posted some pictures of out activities, here.

Maddie and Nathan and their Daddy give a concert of wigwam; I love how Maddie gets the feeling at about 23 seconds and 27 seconds!

A pool full of cousins having fun in the sun!

Maddie loved going down the slide; we couldn’t count the times she did it.  Here she goes.

Queen Maddie with her Aunt Mimi (Amy); that’s cousin Bob walking by.

Aunt Judy having fun in the pool and demonstrates a wine glass trick!

Amy shows that she can do the wine glass trick in the pool

Matthew shows that he can go down the slide and drink a beer

Nathan couldn’t go in the pool, but he enjoyed tossing water balloons

Maddie shows how good a swimmer she is!

Nathan learning bad stuff from Uncle Robert

Nathan playing with his new transformer by the pool

Maddie goes down the slide and swims to Nana

The one and only time Kane went down the slide; he was brave

Ann D. on the slide

Nathan catches a fish from the pond

The Sweet Williams were in full bloom around the pool. The butterflies and moths love them as I did.

Click here to watch even more videos!

We had a great time; I’m already looking forward to next year’s visit!!!