Oot and Aboot in Jacksonville

Merry Christmas to all my Aiga across the sea. Thank you so much for the packages that you sent. We received them today. You do too much for us. Thank you. We have had a great time here in Arkansas with Resa. The children have really enjoyed being with their uncle. We have tried exploring on our own and with Res. He has been such a gracious host to us. He took us to look at Christmas lights on Tuesday. So let us explain some of the pictures you had to suffer through to get to my awesome post. Let us start at the very beginning, a very good place to start: first up is the capitol building in Little Rock all lit up for the Christmas season. Very nice looking. Next up is a Noah's Ark light display at the Trail of Lights in Sherwood (a couple miles away). The display was a part of a drive thru display made up of several separate light displays (from bunny rabbits hopping, to Santa and reindeer, to Old Glory waving proudly). Awesome displays. Very fun. The next pic is back at the capitol building for a picture in front of the replica of the Liberty Bell. So cool. Dianna was cold in that picture and Jarod was still waking up from his nap in the car. After that picture, we went to a little place that was recommended by Rachael Ray on her show Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels. The place was called Doe's Eat Place. Very small, but good. Thanks Rach. While Res was working this past Monday, we ventured out on our own to the River Market district in Little Rock. Once again, a Rachael Ray recommendation. We had fun. We ate down there and also visited a very cool museum down there. It was all about Arkansas. Civil war stuff (weapons-guns, knives, swords, cannon, and the like), a display dedicated to the local Indians, furniture, and a children's play area. It was at this wonderful gem of history that we took these last two pictures. The first was at the children's area. We found a little room that was set up to look like a vintage photo studio. Very cute. The last picture is of the kids and I in front of a civil war era gatling gun. I pretty sure it is the one used in the movie "3:10 to Yuma". Well, that is all for now. We will post again tomorrow after lunch. Love you all. E manuia le Kerisimasi ma le Tausaga Fou.