Oklahoma!!!

In August, the girls and I visited Cassandra and her family in rural Oklahoma, just over the Arkansas border. Wow, what a different way of life - you can see stars at night, when you hold still outside, you don't hear highway traffic, and people on horseback are common passersby on the road in front of the house. Reminded me a little bit of growing up on Alden, IL. The girls were ready to buy some property nearby and build us a house so we could live like that, too! They live on a large enough piece of property, that when the kids are outside playing, or in the schoolhouse nextdoor, sometimes the easiest way to call them in is to ring a cowbell rather than yelling. Totally cool. Anyway, here are some pictures and videos of our trip...

Nikki and baby Fulton at snacktime in front of the TV

After a hard day of playing, Logan and Nikki decide to take a break.

Another snacktime photo with Shannon, Caroline, and CJ
Cassandra with Fulton who was just getting over a fever and rash

Another shot of exhausted kids taking a quick break to watch Gilligan's Island

Ryan and Fulton and Nikki

Fulton snuggling up to CJ

Caroline's turn to torture the baby by making him wear an American Girl Doll hat

While Jay and Ryan worked on Memah's house, the rest of us visited historic Sequoyah's Cabin nearby

The girls with their flutes that they bought in the gift shop, and CJ peeking from behind the statue

Caroline, Fulton, and CJ in a fireplace behind Sequoyah's cabin

The girls and me taking a break from the walking in the hot sun

The legendary ducks of Thunder Duck Ranch

Caroline entering the schoolhouse, probably to play chess. Alot of Horseopoly and chess were played that week in here

The girl cousins playing with the wagon and some hay

The tetherball long gone, the kids have found new ways to have fun with the pole by playing King of the Pole

Making caramel apples as our last snack before leaving for NJ

Men at work, putting drywall up on Memah's ceilings

Visit www.hillbillyhilton.blogspot.com to see the progress on Memah's house.

Videos of kissing cousins, and hayrides. Enjoy!