Branson Trip

This past weekend we took the kids to Branson for a little fun in the sun.  We used to go pretty often and hit up Silver Dollar City, but hadn't been in about two years.  My parents and sister went with us, and made the whole trip better! 

We stayed at a Marriott Resort property called Willow Ridge Lodge.  It was great, and I would highly recommend it for families traveling to Branson.   There was so much to do, and we were able to stay at the resort and chillax most of the weekend.

We were able to do some of our favorite things.  WARNING: Lots of pictures to follow!!

Swimming~

M was a big fan of the large hot tubs.

Lots of Cannonballs

Pool Noodle Race - M and his friend Logan finished LAST!

This guy gets mean with the water guns.  He was overheard saying
"Ali thinks she's protected because she thinks I won't shoot Ellie." 

Eating~

The pool snack bar served Nachos...yum!  I LOVE snack bar

nachos!

Ice cream

More Ice Cream

Make your own sundae at the Cabana

Lunch at the landing

Smores

 Playing~

Ping pong anyone?

They had a little kiddie room where baby boy could play.

M would have spent our life savings trying to get
that Tiger at the very front right of this machine.

Spending time with loved ones~

Sweet Taters

This is a pic of the kids about five minutes after we got in the car to head home.  Both babies were sound asleep.  :)  I think a good time was had by all!!!

Talk to ya soon,

Angie

Show Us Your Life - Mantels

I am linking up with Kelly's Korner again for Show Us Your Life.  The subject today is Mantels.

In our home the area above the mantel was designed to hold your TV.  This really limits the decorating possibilities.  It was hard for me to like it at first because I was so used to the mantel being the focal point in a room.  I do like that I don't have to worry about having a tv stand or big armoire elsewhere in the living room.  I hope a few other girls with TV mantels link up so I can see what they are doing with theirs!

Paint color on our mantel is SW Urban Bronze.

Talk to ya soon,
Angie

Playing Catch Up

We have been having a lot of Summer fun the past few days so I wanted to do a little "catch up" post.

Friday B and I were both off work so we took the kids to our town square, but got there a little late for the First Friday activities we were planning on.  Everything was sort of in an intermission so we decided to stay downtown and eat at the Flying Fish instead.  I really like the atmosphere there, and I LOVE the Gumbo and Grits.  If you get a chance...try it!  After we ate we headed to the splash park to let the kids run off a little energy.  You know they had plenty of it after attempting to sit still and eat for approx 30 minutes!

This pic just makes me laugh!

 Friday evening we met our friends Josh and Amanda at their neighborhood pool for swimming and a cookout.  Josh was Brent's training officer when he started at the PD and our families have gotten to be good friends over the past couple years.  I love their pool and clubhouse.  Almost every time we go we have the pool all to ourselves.  Granted, when we meet up we bring a crew of six kids all under six years old with us so there is a possibility that folks hear us coming and make a quick exit!!  :)

Josh and Brent

Ellie and Allie

M swimmin' it up

Kids Table

Dessert!

Jackson and Ellie

Saturday evening my parents watched the taters, and we went on a date.  Woohoo!  We love to go to the movies when we are by ourselves, but there weren't any movies on we wanted to see.  This might be the first time ever that I can remember us not being able to find something we wanted to watch.  Instead we grabbed a quick dinner...we decided neither of us were that hungry so we ate at Qdoba where B had a burrito the size of his head, and I had an entire plate of nachos. :)  We did a little shopping, and then since we were both still not really hungry we got TCBY as a "night cap"...haha.  It was nice to have some time to ourselves!  Thank you mom, dad, and sister for helping out!!

Looking cheesey...obviously we were excited to get away!

Sunday we did our normal thing...church, B left for work, and then the kids and I headed to the in-laws for the afternoon.  BUT this Sunday we got a suprise late afternoon visit from this handsome officer!  He even let me get my picture with him! :)

Wanted to post this pic of Ellie in her sweet sailor dress.  She was out in front of the house waving a little flag for awhile, and then she came inside and fell asleep holding it!

Monday we went to a swim birthday party for M's friend Knox.  These boys have been friends since nursery at FBC Bentonville, and are still in preschool together this Summer.  They both start kindergarten in the Fall! 

I think that swim aid is crampin' M's style

The littles

Tried to get a group pic on the way out, but E and baby R got in

a tift over her party goodie bag!  I think he is going to be able to

hold his own once he starts walking. 

Rhett had his one year checkup today and he looked good and healthy.  He was in the 25% for weight and 75% for height.  Long and Lean...he must get that from me.  Bahaha!

Talk to ya soon,
Angie

Happy Belated 4th of July!!

We had a very laid back July 4th around here.  Our church and community both put on large fireworks displays, but my kids are at a stage where they are not big fans of fireworks (or anything loud)...so we stayed away from the shows.  On the actual 4th we did go over to my SIL's house and watch a nearby church's firework show from her back yard.  We had a good time, and of course got to spend time with our family.  Oh yes, and baby Jonah resides at my SIL's house so we wouldn't miss a chance to see his sweet face! 

Ellie & Jonah with their matching plaid!

Ellie and WeeWee (my SIL Leah)

Meemaw, Pawpaw, and the kiddos

A peek at how the kids reacted to when the firework show began.  Keep in mind we were in a backyard far away from where the launching site was!!  I told my brother the other day that if we were not going to be fans of something I was ok with it being fireworks!  haha.

Rhett was just not having it!



Michael did stay outside, but covered his ears

the entire time. This is actually a big improvement

for him.  We are making progress! 

Ellie had Meemaw take her straight inside when the show started!

Just for fun I thought I would post some pics of the taters last year at 4th of July.  They have changed so much!!  Rhett was around 2 weeks old.  Oh how time flies!

I posted this on my facebook, but want to put it on here so I can remember it.  On the 4th I spent some time talking with Michael about what Independence Day is about, and the history of our nation etc.  Later that night I asked him if he remembered what the 4th of July was all about, and he answered "redcoats died and we started making the rules!"  I guess that's it in a nutshell!  :)

We are so thankful to live in the United States, and grateful to the men and women whose sacrifices make our freedom possible.  God Bless the USA!! 

Talk to ya soon,
Angie

Big D Road Trip

This past weekend we loaded up and took a little road trip.  Not the foot loose and fancy free type road trip you may be imagining, but the kind you take in a mini-van (we like to call her the Mothership) with 3 whining kids, a cracked windshield, and a crick in your neck from too much turning around in your seat to hand out bottles, snacks, drinks etc.  Not to mention, all we can hear are the Berenstain Bears, and GI Joe blaring from the movie player in the back seat THE ENTIRE TIME we are on the road.  The other day Brent and I actually caught ourselves talking bad about Papa Bear!  No joke...seriously a new low for us. 

Anyway....we packed up and headed to Dallas to visit our good friends the Moss's.  They lived next door to us for several years before they were relocated to Dallas.  We miss them, but are so happy that they are still close enough we can visit every once in awhile. 

The matriarch and patriarch of the Moss fam.  Affectionately known to us as Bumpy and Gam.  :)

While we were there we got to see their youngest daughter, Sydni, compete in her very first horse jumping competition!  It was so fun, and something different we would not normally get to do.  Syd is only ten, and most of the other girls competing were older than her.  She did a SUPER job. 

Syd and her horse Sebastian

The kids and I also got to take a a little peek at that barn where she practices.  I am not a fan of horses, but I still thought it was pretty neat.  Ellie Rose held her nose the entire time we were in there because she thought it smelled bad!  She did the same thing at the rodeo earlier this year.  Haha.

I thought the horse on the right had a funny hairdo so I got his pic.

I also wanted to have a pic of the warning sign below him to add to

my "reasons I don't ride horses" list.

We asked and the instructor let E sit on one of the

horses for a bit!

The rest of the time we did a little swimming and a lot of hanging out.  I tried on a bit of equestrian gear at the Tack Shop one afternoon.  I don't like horses, but I do like the clothes.  However, I quickly learned I can't afford the clothes.  I couldn't get them off fast enough once I saw the price tags!!  B told me to be careful and make sure I didn't tear anything!  God knew what he was doing when he decided not to make us horse people.  Heehee. 

Horseshow Angie.  I think this little ensemble would have set me

back about $700.  WOW.  I didn't try on the pants...I seriously think

that no girl who has birthed children should ever be made to wear

riding pants!  :)

Devin and E

Michael, Sydni, and Ellie snuggled in with a movie

Me and The Boys

Devin, Ellie, and Bumpy

 Brent had to work on Sunday afternoon so we drove overnight to get back in time.  The kids slept through the trip this time so it was much quieter!  Sunday the kiddos all slept late and then we headed over to Meemaw's for lunch.  We relaxed over there most of the afternoon, and got to spend a little time with baby Jonah.  Rhett wasn't feeling well so it was nice to have Meemaw and Pawpaw to help entertain him all afternoon. 

It was too hot to be outside so Pawpaw took the

kids strolling around the house.  :)

Rhett with his sick eyes.  Poor baby.

We're looking forward to the July 4th holiday tomorrow!  We plan on watching fireworks at my SIL's house. 

Talk to ya soon,
Angie