Ponca, Arkansas

We left bright and early this morning to drive 7 hours to a dot on the map in Arkansas...a log cabin in an itty bitty town called Ponca.  We took the scenic route through the Ozark National Forest.  What we didn't realize was that there weren't many restaurants to eat at along the scenic route...and that's where we were when the boys were hungry for lunch!  We finally pulled off at a country market (aka gas station with enough bread and milk to classify as a grocery store for a town of 50 people) that had a restaurant inside.  The pizza was really good (and made fresh to order) so everyone was happy!  The boys thought it was a little funny to be eating in the middle of a "grocery store".  It was actually the cleanest and most organized gas station/grocery store I've ever seen!  It looked like a family (parents and kids) were running the store and we were impressed!

As soon as his belly was full, Barrett was out! 

Brody was too excited to sleep.  He spent most of his time talking to us about the views out his window. 

We were all excited when we saw an elk grazing in the field along the road!  We pulled over and watched it for a while.  I was kicking myself for not packing my telephoto lens!

Now this is a vacation home!  Check out the log cabin that we get to stay at this week!!!

Did you notice the hot tub that's just outside the doors to our bedroom?  How about the wrap around porch, stone chimney, or unlimited supply of firewood (under the awning on the left side of the picture)?  How about the unbridled enthusiasm of our 3 year old running down the hill to go explore?!?

The boys were eager to help.  The first thing on Mike's list (after unloading the Durango) was to start a fire in the enormous fireplace that was in the living room.  Brody and Barrett carried firewood (one log at a time) up the stairs to the cabin.

They took a break to test the porch swing...

and took turns jumping off rocks...

A little while after we got to the cabin, Daddy Steve, Namaw, Caleb, Audria, and Axton arrived!  We took the bedroom downstairs (with a king bed and a pull out couch for the boys).  It was the coldest room in the cabin which was perfect for Mike (and the boys and I are used to cooler temps).  Daddy Steve and Namaw took the room off the kitchen with a double bed and Caleb and Audria took the room upstairs with 2 double beds and plenty of room for Axton's pack-n-play.  Caleb and Audria's room was the hottest in the cabin (perfect for Audria! lol).  There's only one bathroom and we were all thankful when Namaw announced that she brought her air freshener for the bathroom! lol  The one oddity is that none of the bedrooms have doors.  Maybe that's why they're all on different levels of the cabin?  It may make it harder for Axton to sleep, but I love how the cabin creaks with every step you take!  There's not doubt that this place is all wood!  When I say it creaks...I mean it CREAKS with EVERY step! lol  If anyone has to walk through the house to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...we'll all hear it!  I think it just adds to the rustic cabin feel.

Daddy Steve brought his travel guitar and Barrett was eager to sit in front of the fire with him and listen to music.

After we got settled in, the guys headed to Jasper (1/2 hour away) to get groceries at the nearest grocery store.  It was dark before they got home and we had some hungry little ones that were excited when we finally got to cookin' some dinner!

It was so nice to relax and talk after the kids went to bed.  There were not any distractions from the TV (we don't get any stations out here), cell phones (no cell service), or texts/emails/facebook alerts (nope...not Internet either)!  We may have media withdrawals...but it'll be nice to be totally disconnected from the rest of the world for a few days!