the lloyds: July 2012

We just returned from a 3,200 mile summer road trip to Arkansas and back:

We multi-tasked on the first day of the trip by meeting Cameron at the airport on his way home, where we also picked up our rental car and drove to Laramie, Wyoming- where he had been on his mission.

We scored big time with our rental this year. Tyler is my deal finder. This Kia Sorrento was only $13 a day, and we were able to test out one of the cars on our wish list. It was really nice. Thanks Hertz!

This was our only Diners, Drive-ins, and Dive eatery that we were able to visit. It was pure Kansas City Bar-B-Q, and it was yummy! We made it just 20 minutes before close. The service was wonderful and the food was fabulous. It really was just a plate of meat and white bread, and I did have heart burn after. Still, it was fun.

Tyler had several cheese stops for us, but this is the only one we managed to find time to stop and shop. It was a neat little factory in the Ozarks. They had 200 different types of cheeses along with assorted condiments. I'm pretty sure we spent like $30 bucks on cheese.

Happy 4th of July! We watched fireworks from the Bull Shoals Dam. They were perfect. Everyone had a blast. The whole week was full of food and fun activities with the cousins and siblings.

Yes. This is my home state.

We stopped at the visitor center. I think we were busy rounding up kids that this is the only photo we got.

It was very steaming and humid! We couldn't get dry.

Our campsite was near a peacock farm. They sure are beautiful animals.

Rachel swam everyday with fish in lakes and she loved every second of it. She even rode on a tube on the back of a boat. We didn't get a picture of that but her smile was from ear to ear.

Our RVs were right next to the river which apparently is famous for trout fishing. We woke up to fog on the river every morning and of course Rachel and Wesley loved throwing the rocks into the water.

Arkansas is beautiful.

This is the Bull Shoals dam.

Here are some more pictures of our visit to the visitors' center. PaPa made smashed pennies for all the little ones. He sure loves being a PaPa.

And of course, Wesley is playing in the water.

Camping was a whole world of discovery for Rachel. Her favorite discovery was lighting bugs.

The visitor center.

The park held some 4th of July games. Rachel almost won this one which was leaps and bounds from her Mom and Dad who ended up near the ground about half way through the race.

The three legged race! She and Tommy were last but laughed all the way.

Watermelon eating contest. The Dietz family won all three divisions. Go Dietz Family! Rachel made sure she had manners despite the contest which ultimately gave her last place.

We went through Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico on the way home.

Four corners monument:

We took the obligatory four-state picture, then bought some art and jewelry from the only Navajo vendor saavy enough to take credit cards at her stall.