Branson, Missouri

On our way back from the Altus training and visiting family in Texas, we decided to take a few days and take the north route back home to South Carolina.  We went to Wichita, Kansas first to see our good friends from Germany, Paul, Kara, and Connor McCluskey, and Chad and Suzy McGarry.  That was a great time, and Wichita really is a pretty city!!  Then we went to Branson, Missouri for a few nights and spent a day at Silver Dollar City.  It was a beautiful day, but very hot.  We really enjoyed Silver Dollar City, and it was a lot like I remembered as a kid.  Here are a few pictures from our time in Branson.

Nathan is showing Elizabeth how to pump water, but I am pretty sure she was trying to figure out a way to get in the water to cool off :)

This was the ice cream shop where we watched them make the ice cream using the old machine, and of course had to taste test the finished product...it was very refreshing :)

She loves suckers now, so we had to get something to keep her still for a few minutes :)

Elizabeth playing on the tractor at Silver Dollar City

We went down to the area by the river called Branson Landing and had dinner at a great Mexican restaurant.  You would think we had our fill in Texas, but we still needed some good Mexican food...especially because Elizabeth LOVES guacamole!!  Here are  some pictures of her running around at the park by the water. 

Playing with friends and family in Uvalde

Elizabeth and I had so much fun at home in Uvalde!  We got to see so many good friends and spend time with family.  Elizabeth always gets so spoiled in Uvalde!!  She got to visit a lot of people, swim a lot, ride a horse, go to the Frio River, go to the pasture with MiMi and PaPa to feed cows, ride on the mule around the pasture and house (one of her favorite things!), and just play in the dirt :) 

Mammaw, Elizabeth and Aunt Ann

Aunt Jill, Elizabeth and MiMi 

having a snack at the river

Claire, Cate, and Grant at the river

Watching PaPa feed the cows

riding with Aunt Jill

on the horse all by herself

seriously...all by herself...she loved it!

Grayson giving Elizabeth a sweet hug

Elizabeth and Cate playing at the block party in Uvalde

It's really hard to get three kids to smile at one camera :(

playing in the small airplane at the block party in Uvalde

with LeeAnn, my college roommate, at the river

Elizabeth with LeeAnn and Jimmy

Elizabeth with Uncle Aaron and Aunt Jill

Girlfriends in Uvalde:  JoAnna, Rachel, Meredith, Shelly, Beth, and Kathy

4th of July

We went to Lake Buchannan for the 4th of July!  It was such a great time!  We played on the water a lot and got to hang out with a lot of our family!  Elizabeth really likes the boat and even got to ride on the seadoo a little.

Elizabeth has gotten so good at giving hugs and kisses!  
The boys hanging out at dinner.
On our way back to the house to go watch fireworks on the boat.  We got off to a late start so most of the fireworks were almost over, but that was ok because Elizabeth just wanted to lay down and sleep on the boat.  She kept saying "I go sleep".  

Going for a morning ride (coffee in hand) around the neighborhood.  Everyone rides around on their golf carts, ATVs, or Mules...so you are sure to see someone in the morning getting ready to go fishing or just out for a walk.  

So much fun in Dallas!

We had so much fun playing in Dallas with the family!  Elizabeth LOVES playing with Kaitlyn and Kylie.  We went to a water park one day, Wiggly Play Center, lots of shopping and plenty of ice cream!  Here are a few pictures of the girls and some of their activities!

Elizabeth really knows how to dig into an ice cream cone.

yummy ice cream...

Kaitlyn, Kylie, and Elizabeth enjoying their ice cream!!

The girls playing at the Wiggly Play Center in Frisco.

Sweet Cousins!

Elizabeth and Kylie riding the roller coaster!

Riding in the Big Red Cars!

Great friends in Dallas, TX

I had my 30th birthday on June 9th, YIKES!  Then, Nathan and I packed up the car to head cross country to Oklahoma for Nathan's last training in Altus, Instructor School.  So, we are in Texas/Oklahoma for about 6 weeks.  We stopped in Dallas, Texas on the way to stay with my sister, Keri and Bryan.  And apparently, Nathan and Keri had a great surprise planned for my birthday :)  They managed to get a lot of friends together for a surprise dinner at a great Sushi Restaurant!!!  I was so surprised and thrilled to see everyone!!  I feel so blessed to have such great friends!!!

Mandy and I

Jason, Kelli, Brent, Chrissy, Kathy, Nathan, Carol, and Jamie

Forrest, Kathy, Tara, Nathan, and Luke

Carol, Jennifer, Keri, Kathy, Shawna, Tara, Kelli, and Chrissy

Jennifer, Shawna, Kathy, and Kelli (all Aggie Alumni :) )

Jennifer, Kathy, Shawna, and Carol (more Aggies :) )

Fun at the Beach

Elizabeth loves to go to the beach.  She likes to play in the sand, but not as much as she likes to jump right into the water and play in the waves.  She has no fear of the waves or water, which really concerns me and Nathan!!  

She thinks that she can take the wagon right into the water, but she figured out fast that it was very hard to get it out on her own.  

Elizabeth's friend, Tressa, has so much fun playing with her at the beach, especially when they play in the sand together.