Allreds & Drakes in NWA

We just had the best time with our Drake and Allred cousins. 

The Allred started their annual pilgrimage to Arkansas and stopped in Texas first. Then the caravanned to our house to play for a few days. 
Our first stop was "Arkadia- Retro Arcade" It's such a fun place. 
You pay a flat fee and then you can play all the arcade games you want.

The kids were so happy to be all together.

They had a great time playing all the games. 

That night we had to get creative with the sleeping arrangements. 
We don't have the biggest house but we love having family visit so we had to make it work. Aunt Laura and Aunt Julieta shared Bailey's room. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Johnny stayed in Tanner's room. 
That left all the cousins in Tucker and Benson's bedroom. We shoved air mattresses wherever possible and the kids all piled in. It was comical. 

The next morning we went to the open house for the Bentonville temple with Nanny and Papa. 
We followed that amazing experience by getting lunch and ice cream at Braums. 
The kids just love being together and its my favorite. 

After lunch we went back to our house to change and then we all went to Lake Avalon in Bella Vista.

The kids had a great time playing and swimming together. 

We rented kayaks and the kids built sandcastles.

 

We stayed and played for a couple hours before we decided it was time for dinner. 

That night, Nanny, Papa and Aunt Laura left to drive home. Sadly, my house was jam packed and there were no more beds and they wanted to be home for their Sunday meetings.
We went to church that morning and had a quiet Sunday together.

On Monday, Aunt Sarah, Aunt Julieta and I took the kids to the "Redneck Waterslide". 

We drove over and played for about an hour on the huge waterslide.

Hazel was terrified to go down the slide, but I was able to talk her into trying it with me and she ended up loving it. We did it over and over again and she even went on her own. 

 

I took lots of children down the slide and had the best time doing it. 

Even Grant went down the slide with me a few times. The kids were all so brave.

 

Then we had to do a "mom train". We were laughing so hard. Julieta did not ride at all until this point and we were so happy to have her ride with us. She loved it. 

 

I just love these cute cousins. 

On the way home from the waterslide, we had to stop by "Shortstop" grill and get the massive ice cream cones. The kids loved it and a lot of them tried the new cherry flavor. 

Then yesterday we ended our cousin time with a trip to the Roger's Aquatic Center. 
As per usual, the kids had a blast. It's nice as the kids get older they can run off together and do water slides and stuff and we don't have to stress so much. 

These two were the first to call it quits. They got cold and decided they needed to snuggle to stay warm. 

The rest of the kids played hard and had a lot of fun together. 

Then we ate a nice picnic lunch outside and then the cousins left to drive to Mtn. Home. We are meeting them there tmrw but they were anxious to see Nanny and Papa and get some time in there. 

We are all meeting in Mtn. Home for the Drake Reunion and I can't wait. It will be so fun to see all my cousins and their families. We are all getting old and our kids are getting so big. It's going to be blast. 

Until then, thanks for the fun Allreds and Drakes.