Lake Charles Summer 2012: Out and About

I'm always looking for ways to give our kids experiences while we're in the states and look for ways to do fun stuff since we don't have as many opportunities here in the Kingdom.  So, while we were home we made several visits to a play center at our local church and let the kids play and have some fun!  The boys love going up and down the slides and climbing all over the tubes.  This trip, Miles was physically able to climb up and down by himself so he might have had the most fun!  We had multiple play dates at the the play center with friends and cousins so the boys were never bored!  

We had our share of doctors visits while in the states... whether it was for vaccinations, colds, or a stomach virus that swept through EVERYONE in the house...we got to visit the Childrens Clinic several times!  At one point, our doctor, who is a very good friend, even made a house call when Miles, me, Gavin, and Brooklyn all got pinkeye and I had no idea what was wrong with them.  Yea-- that was fun!!  I didn't even know adults can get pink eye.  Sadly, not only did we pass around our pink eye, but we passed the stomach bug around to other family members as well.  Again, no fun!

One new thing we did this trip was make a visit to a local water park that I knew was there, but had never had the chance to go to, and I'm so glad we did!!  I left Brooklyn with my mom since she was getting over a cold and thought it'd be easier to run around and play with the boys.  We went with my SIL, Anna, and her two kids so everyone had someone to play with. Gavin and Miles went down slides, swam in the pools, ran around on the splash pads, and laughed and giggled non stop.  Miles was extremely intrigued with the splash pads that had water shooting out from the ground and multiple times would stand over a hole looking for the water, which then caused him to get splashed when it came out-- he thought it was funny!  We will definitely go back there next summer!

 

Another fun find that we had never done before was a splash pad near a local park.  We had gone to the playground nearby and made several trips there, but never brought our swimsuits and played in the water.  Again... GREAT, GREAT time!!!  The kids laughed and played and splashed around!  They shot each other with water guns, dumped water on one another, chased each other, jumped in water puddles and had a BLAST!!  It was all perfect for them.  Nothing was overwhelming and there was always something spraying them that got their attention.  My mom had a good idea to bring lunch and popsicles and make it a picnic out there, which the kids loved even more!!

 

We had dinner several times at my brother Bryan's house where the kids had even more time to play with their cousins.  They played on the swing sets, rode the four wheelers, jumped in a jump house, and did lots of imaginative play.  Fun times for everyone!! 

Lake Charles Summer 2012: At the pool

This summer we spent a lot of time at the pool, swimming.  All 3 of our kids LOVE the water and spent many days splashing, swimming, and playing.  Earlier in the summer while in Arkansas, Gavin and Miles got their feet wet trying new things in the pool-- attempting to jump off the diving board, swim without floaties (Gavin), or swim with new floaties (Miles).  Brooklyn even had her share at becoming more comfortable in the water and preferring to play in her tube versus being held! By the end of the summer, all the kids had made some huge accomplishments! 

We spent time at the pool with my parents, siblings, and our cousins and everyone had a fun time together.  I can't find all our pool pics so these are just from one time swimming.  Like we do every summer, we'd go to the pool late in the evening and would all eat dinner together while the kids swam.  Made for relaxing and enjoyable times!  

Miles became a dare devil when it came to the water, but that's nothing we didn't already know.  Literally, I'd have to put his floaties on him before we got out of the car because he just jumps right into the pool the moment he sees the water.  He had no fear when it came to the slides, diving board, or going under water without floaties if I was holding him.  

Before we left Saudi for the summer, Brooks taught Gavin how to swim without floaties and Gavin really enjoyed that new freedom!  So, while we were in LC, with some major help and convincing from my mom, Gavin decided he would try and swim in the deep end without floaties and when he did it... he was awesome at it.  The video below shows him doing the techniques Brooks taught him with his breathing and I'm pretty sure he said he was swimming like the guys on TV (Olympic swimmers).  

Lake Charles Summer: Extended Family

Our families were eager and excited to get to meet little Miss Brooklyn once we arrived in the USA.  We had a dinner for all of our extended family-- my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a few cousins came over and we had a fun evening.  We saw a majority of all our extended family throughout our time in Lake Charles and always had a great time together.  Sure do miss our family while we're living here.

4 Generations

Lake Charles Summer 2012: Friends

One of the things I love and look forward to when going home to the states is seeing friends and visiting and I always cherish that time together!  So, while I was in Lake Charles, I got to get together with some close friends from all over- Houston, Baton Rouge, and LC.  It was extremely enjoyable to get to catch up with people I use to get to do life with (even during different seasons of my life).  Several people I got together with I didn't have my camera.. boo, but there were lots of different dinners, afternoon get togethers, and one on one time at houses! 

Because our schedules were hectic a little, some of my visits with friends were squeezed between other  arrangements causing us to meet up in various places or even driving half way to meet up.  

My friend, Jess, had a baby a few months after we had Brooklyn and we wanted to see each other's babies!  We met up at the Galleria in Houston and found a large play area for the kids to play while us moms got to visit.  Jess and I were in the same small group at our old church, CCCC, and had gotten extremely close!  The big boys had fun together and the babies did great!  Loved the visit!

One of my camp friends, Kaitlyn, who lived next door to me in Baton Rouge while we were both going to LSU, and I got together with our kids at a Jump House.  I'm so glad we met up somewhere that the kids could play at and we had some quality time together.  Kaitlyn had a baby girl since our last visit, and we had Brooklyn so we got to meet each other's daughters.  Too cute!  The boys had some serious fun together playing and running around together.  After eating lunch at Chick Fil A and spending a few hours at the Play House, our visit was cut short when one of her kids got extremely sick.  Still, everyone had a great time!

I got to get together and spend an evening with a group of friends of mine from high school at a local shop called Painting with a Twist.  We all brought snacks and treats and took a class where we painted a boat in water.  The class was a blast and we were all impressed with our artwork!  There were a ton of laughs and fun memories made!

She said YES!!!

Meet Kate.  

She is one of the sweetest, cutest, most precious girls I know and she is about to be my sister in law and a part of the family.  She is Brandon, Brooks' little brother, fiance... and it just so happens she was a camper in my cabin years ago at Brookhill.  Um.. yea-- love how things have worked out.

So this happened while we were in Arkansas this summer.

and she said YES!  

Brooks got to help Bran set up everything and it was by a far an extremely special and emotional evening for everyone!  Just to see these two in a place where they have the chance to look forward with and prepare for a future together... amazing!!  Brooks mom, Missie, planned a big surprise engagement party for these two and invited all their family and closest friends.  The party was a huge surprise for Kate and definitely not something she was expecting.  

Told you she was cute!!

Can you tell I was a little excited?  So was everyone else!

 

Here's the cute couple with their engagement cake.  I worked with a bakery in Little Rock and gave them my ideas and design and they did an amazing job!  Totally impressed and it looked great!  Just sad I wasn't able to make the happy couples cake for them!

Everyone enjoyed the party! Friends mingled and people ate. We heard stories about how Bran proposed, Kate's reaction and response, and several close friends and the family shared some blessings over their lives!  Again, very touching and incredibly sweet moments!

Congratulations Bran and Kate!  We can't wait to see what the future holds for the two of you!  We're so excited for both of y'all during this special time in your lives!!  

Arkansas Summer 2012 Part 3

Another part of our trip to Arkansas was spent with family at the Ranch.  We love getting to go to the Ranch and let our kids play with their cousins and Mim and Pop.  The kids had a blast and all the adult cousins got lots of time visiting together.  I think everyone enjoyed meeting Brooklyn.  Camp was going on during our visit so we got to take Gavin over to the pavillion and show him where mommy and daddy met and a little of what we use to do!!  We wanted to let him go horseback riding, but just missed the horses being let out by mere minutes.  Oh well, next time.