A Month’s Worth of Memories

We have taken a month+ hiatus from blogging due to our insanely busy but fun vacation.  It will probably take about 12 entries to catch up.  I think I’m going to take it week by week and try to remember everything we did through our pictures.  I just love summer.

We flew to Dallas on July 10th and spent the first few days of our vacation at Jim’s parents’ house.  We all had a fantastic time playing in their two inflatable pools in the backyard.  The kids especially liked spraying their grandmother with the hose. 

We were also able to spend some time with Uncle Greg, Aunt Ashley, and cousin Jordin.  Greg and Jim surprised the kith a water gun fight.

Alli and Avery enjoyed cooling off inside with their Aunt and Uncle.  Ashley is expecting Baby Max in Jan. so the heat was especially unbearable for her.

With naps out the window and 100+ temperatures, the kids tended to be a little tired by the end of the night.

The day after we arrived was our sixth anniversary.  Grandmother and PeePaw babysat so that Jim and I could go out to dinner.  We went to PF Chang’s, my favorite.  Then we went walking around this new shopping area that recently opened by his parents house and afterwards, went and visited one of our favorite people to see when we are in Dallas, Sharon.  We also decided on this anniversary that when our last child grows up and heads off to college, we will spend July 11th of that year renewing our wedding vows and “starting” our life as a married couple.  Three kids in six years has left little time for Jim and I to be alone and while we are loving the ages that are kids are right now and the demands that go along with them, I think we have many adventures in store for us in about 20 years too. 

We have been wanting to have an actual campout with the kids but we figured that might be hard to do with Avery right now.  Jim and I had the brilliant idea of camping out in an actual tent in Jim’s parents’ backyard.  We had not factored in the heat when we made these plans.  Grandmother asked around and found a tent for us which we decided to set up in their living room.  We made s’mores (yes, we even had a July fire in Texas) and told spooky stories.  We turned all the lights out and held flashlights while we each told our stories.  Cole’s was by far the most original. It was so much fun.

We were hoping to be able to spend a couple of days with some old friends in Oklahoma but our schedules were just not permitting it.  We chose to do a quick day trip to visit with some very close friends.  I do wish we had been able to see everyone but I think the kids would not have been able to handle too much more traveling.  We were able to visit Steve, Amy, Corban, and Nathan.  Steve was our old associate pastor.  Amy and I (as well as Steve and Jim) grew very close during our years at Ft. Sill.  Corban and Cole grew up together there and Amy and I shared our pregnancies and first year together with Alli and Nathan.  It was so great talking with them and seeing how much everyone has changed. 

The boys acted as though no time had passed.  It was so fun to watch them laughing and playing together again.

The day after we got back from Oklahoma, we met up with my dad, his new wife, her kids, Chrissy, and Steve and his girlfriend.  We all went to dinner, a rare treat for all of us to be together, and then went to watch Steve’s band play.  It was great to hear them play.  It has been a couple of years and they are always getting better. 

Andrea, Chrissy, and I at the show

That about wraps up the first week.  Alli is begging me to take her outside so I’ll have to write more later…