Roadtrips, injuries, picnics and fun!!

So here lately we haven't had much time together to do things as a family. With David's schedule, my work and school schedule and the kids we just haven't had much time to do things. Well Sunday was a quick trip because thankfully David had to work (but not until that afternoon), but I still wish that he didn't have to work Sunday's - but we manage. So this past Sunday we got up before the crack of dawn and were out the door and on the road by 6:15, headed to Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge hoping to see some wildlife. Well we did, the varmits wouldn't sit still ong enough for me or David to get their photos. But we had a good time and the kids had a blast and that is what is important. We had planned on staying in the area for a picnic but that was quickly axed by the amount of mosquitoes there were trying to suck everyone's blood.

6:15 comes really early, this is what they did on the way there and the way back!

A field with rolls of hey. The kids thought it was cool so I took a picture.

One of the creeks at the refuge.

The Arkansas River that the Refuge edges up against.

White wild flowers.

The biggest Horse Fly I have ever seen, just chillin' in my car. He soon left after Madelynne tried to kill him.

The turtle that peed on Zach.

Ok these next few I will try and explain as well Madelynne felt that she needed to up one on her brother. She had an accident while we were at the refuge, she took a tumble and these are the marks she got. It could have been much worse, and thankfully God is on her side and ours because she could have been injured much worse from the fall she took at the refuge.

After this tumble we made it out of the refuge as quickly as possible and got to the nearest store (wal-mart) to get bandages, peroxide, q-tips and neosporin. We used everything we had in the first-aid kit and with the injuries she had we knew that we needed to get more to get us home.

Ouchy #1

Ouchy #2

Ouchy #3 (This one is the worst of all of them)

Ouchy #4

Ouchy #5

Nothing is broken, she is just really sore. When we finally made it home, she soaked in the tub for over 30 minutes in a warm soapy bath. Got all the wounds cleaned as well as she could tolerate and then bandaged her up. I am thankful that is wasn't much worse and I am also thankful that she kept her sense of humor through it all. She helped not only herself but the rest of us from worrying and she put us at ease knowing that it was no one's fault, just a freak accident. She joked that she didn't want to be outdone by Nate and his injuries that he had gotten throughout last week.

At the refuge, there were birds but not many that we could see from this lookout. Wish we had taken binoculars.

Hummingbird at the refuge.

The Big Dam Bridge from the North Little Rock side, where we had a picnic lunch.