good times in Batesville

 Ariel & I visited Mom in Arkansas.  I had an informal 25th high school class reunion.

First, we both got haircuts from Sheila at the Hair Loft.

 We visited Terence and company at the antique mall, then played in puddles in the pocket park on Main Street.

 Enjoying world-class Mexican food!  Yes, Batesville has great authentic Mexican food.

 Meeting Margaret and her family.  Margaret & I have been friends since 3rd grade.  She lives in Florida now, but we gathered at her mom's house with Terence, too (should've had a group photo, but we were too busy talking.)

 Margaret's son, Ozzie, loaned Ariel his Star Wars jacket to nap under.

 Picking out pumpkins with Grandma Alice.

Spa time in Alice's luxurious bath tub!

Bring on the rain

 Waiting for the bus on a rainy morning.

Our cutie pie

 Riding a donkey somewhere near Dupont Circle in DC.

 at the breakfast table

 I was singing to her about letters.  She's very studious, you know.

 Waiting for the school bus with Dad.

Neighbors handed down this great toy kitchen to us.  Ariel and the cats like sitting in the oven.

My weekend with Tricia

 This is Ariel with Tricia.  Trish & I have been friends since 1988, when we met in ROTC.  She's now Norfolk, so she came up to see us one day in August.  This was her first time meeting Ariel.

Last month, I left Jeff & Ariel home together, so I could visit Tricia in Norfolk.  We had a fun girls' weekend, and I got to meet her friends, including one of my long-lost co-workers from Peterson AFB.

 I also visited Shannon, our old neighbor in Japan.  I got to see her two kids, two cats, and new dog.

 Meanwhile, Ariel and Jeff went to a sushi train at Tyson's Corner.  Apparently, she was in rice heaven!

 Queen of play mountain.

The carousel at National Harbor with Jeff.