Kohake Girls Weekend!

I'm pretty blessed when it comes to family.  Both Kemper and Kohake sides care enough to know their family members.  It is a need that not every family possesses and it's a precious one.  On the Kohake side there are a lot of us girls, and they are busy women.  My Grandma was a Hulsing and that name has sort of taken on a trait all its own.  If you have ever spent any time with my Mom's family you will know what I'm talking about.  They are hard working, talented, wonderful ladies that can cook like you wouldn't believe and really could probably run the United Nations like a fine oiled machine if given the chance.

The sisters!

My Mom lost her Dad when she was a teenager.  He had rheumatic fever as a child and the enlarged heart he was left with just didn't hold out.  My Aunt Monica was only 4 years old at the time and his death left my Grandma and their four daughters and their farm behind.  My Aunt Joan put together a book some years ago about Grandpa Kohake and from what I read about him, it seems a lot of their hard working, caring traits came from their Dad too.  Needless to say, its been nothing but girls for a very long time.  In 2007, my Grandma Kohake passed away after what seemed a very short battle with cancer.  I truly believe she lived a very full life and although she wasn't on this earth as long as we really wished her to be, I knew her well and was very glad of that.  I only wished she could have met my kids.  I was just pregnant with Wyatt at the time of her death.  Florence Kohake

Not having my Grandma around was very tough for my Mom and my Aunts but as always, they found joy in a not so joyous situation and decided to hold yearly get togethers of all the girls in the family.  So, each year someone takes a turn to host the event and the sisters, granddaughters, grandson's wives and all great granddaughters (and the occasional great grandson) have a fun weekend together.  We laugh, eat fabulous food, talk about our grandparents and our lives and there is always some sort of shopping going on!

This year we met at my cousin Chalea's house on Table Rock Lake.  She has a beautiful home on the South end of the lake and it is always fun to visit there.  My Mom traveled down with the kids and me (see, there is always a boy in the mix somewhere!) and after we zig zagged through what seemed like half of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas we made it!  The first evening we just waited for everyone to arrive, visited and ate some yummy food (homemade pizza!).

Making pizza

The next morning we headed out for a trip to Eureka Springs, AR for a day of shopping, food and hanging out.  While the ladies stopped at a local fabric store, I took my kids across the street to a small park in Holiday Island.  The main attraction being a very cool static display of a military helicopter. 

Then it was off to Eureka Springs!  My cousin works at a fabulous store called Vintage Cargo and that was our first stop.  If you are ever in Eureka Springs it is a must see and you will find some fantastic items for your home.

The group outside Vintage Cargo after doing some shopping!

Of course all our shopping made us hungry so we were off to a quaint little tea room for lunch.  The Simply Scrumptious Tea Room and Emporium is amazing!  Don't let the Victorian themes and china scare you off.  This is a place my husband would love to eat!  Have you ever had strawberry soup?  It was a first for me and holy cow its like heaven in a bowl.  Lorelai couldn't get enough of it!  The entire meal, atmosphere and service was top notch.  Truly a place to go back again and again.

Lorelai and the Strawberry Soup.  Yummo!

Lunch at the Tea Room

The waitress showing us the desserts.  Holy cow were they fabulous!

After lunch it was back to shopping and navigating the streets of Eureka.  Eureka Springs is a one of a kind place.  It's literally built into the hills so the narrow streets sometimes go straight up (or down however you want to look at it) and the quaint homes are built right along the streets in manners that make you ponder their existence.  There is a lot of Victorian flair about the place in architecture especially.  The buildings are old and pretty amazing and walking along the sidewalks that mimic the roads is not for those out of shape.  Luckily there are plenty of places to sit and people watch and great little stores to duck in and have a snack or drink.  It is really a pretty cool place! 

The stairs right below me were pretty much straight down!

After hanging out in Eureka all day, we spent the evening at Chalea's looking through old photos and documents belonging to my Grandparents, catching up with my cousin who wasn't able to make the trip this year, via Skype and just chit chatting over life. 

Lorelai and Chalea coming back from checking on the neighbor kitty

Lorelai and her little friend Booger the dog :)  She called him Hamburger!

Wyatt and Talula.  That was one full bird after a weekend of treats from the kids!

Sunday after breakfast we all said our goodbyes and headed back home, looking forward to next year.  I know these weekends are always a lot of work for the hostess but the alternative is Facebook or email and even phone calls just can't compete with spending time with each other.  The importance of family sometimes gets lost in our lives today.  We are too busy, live too far away or just don't want to put the effort forth.  As I said earlier, I'm lucky.  Or blessed.  Or both.  Every family needs a Girls Weekend!!!!!