Memories...

...it is hard to go "home" now and not have "home" be the house that I grew up in. This is the house I lived in from the time I was 2 years old until I moved away for college. I have so many wonderful memories here...

...playing with Melissa & Justin...family dinners...laughing with friends & family...holidays...I even got engaged in my backyard at this house...

But, if being an Army wife has taught me anything, I have learned that a "house is a house" and home is where your family is...you can take your memories with you wherever you live. My parents are in the process of selling this house (and I do hope that it sells soon for them), so I had to go visit the house one last time on my trip home. I took several pictures, but the only one that really means anything is this one of my brother, Justin's hand print in the cement at the bottom of his basketball goal...

I don't remember how old he was when he got this, but I am pretty sure it was for one of his birthdays. I miss him so much, and wish he were here to make memories with us in my parents new house, which I love and I know that Justin would have too! I am so blessed and thankful to have so many wonderful memories of Justin that I can take with me in my heart wherever my home is! I love you, Justin!

Tex-cation!

We had a great time on our Tex-cation! Here are a few more pictures that didn't make it into any of my previous blogs, but I wanted to include from our trip!

The boys hanging out with Poppy by the grill!
Katie, John, Parker, & Carter cuddling up on the couch after a long day of playing!

Ready for our evening ride...

John ready to go again...

Katie dancing around with the iPod!

John shooting the marshmallow gun! Too bad it was so hot the marshmallow were melting inside the gun!

Katie & Parker listening to some tunes together!

John trying to figure out the crossbow!

Fish Camp!

A great restaurant in Royse City! A perfect place for the kids to play and fish outside while you relax and enjoy the beautiful outdoor atmosphere! We had dinner at Fish Camp on our last evening in Texas with my cousin, Tesha and her family! It was the perfect evening to dine outside, too!

Here are the kids lined up fishing off the dock with the poles and bait (corn & fries) provided by the restaurant.
John with his first catch of the evening!

Katie with her first catch!

Katie and Poppy, a fishing team!

Carter with the biggest catch of the evening! WOW!

My boys playing around on the alligator!

Parker and John...not sure what these two boys are up too!

Dallas World Aquarium...

...is a great place to take the kids on a hot summer day! A great combination of animals found in a rainforest and in an aquarium! You start out on the 3rd level in the Orinoco Rainforest, which takes you through the "river rainforest exhibit" and go down through the levels into the freshwater aquatic level. Then you go into the Aquarium with marine life from around the world! They even have an outdoor South Africa penguin exhibit!

John, Parker, Ryder, Carter, Katie, & Luke ready to start our animal adventure!
Me & the kids in the rainforest!

Katie & John (who is already tired of having his picture taken) in front of the waterfall!

Melissa & her boys in front of the waterfall!

The kids got to feed some of the birds blueberries! Here is John feeding the bird! They take it right out of your hand! Pretty cool! Who knew they loved blueberries!

The 3-toed sloth...

Carter, Katie, & Luke checking out the sloth. He wasn't in a cage or anything, just hanging in the tree right above our heads close enough to touch if there wasn't a sign that said not too!

It was feeding time for the tortoises!

Katie & Luke checking out monkeys! There was a momma with a baby on her back that was so cute!

The kids checking out some fish!

The flamingos...

Everyone checking out the Jaguar...The Jaguar was so beautiful, probably my favorite animal to look at the whole day! But, we all felt sad she was just laying there all alone!

The penguins at the outdoor exhibit!

We ended our day at the aquarium with feeding time at the Shark Tank! They had all different kinds of sharks. It was the kind of tank that is a tunnel you go in and are surrounded by sharks and sting rays!

Parker, John, & Katie looking looking around at all the sharks!

You can see this shark eating the squid right above us! Very cool!

Next it was feeding time for us! We headed across the street to El Fenix for some Tex-Mex! Yummy to my Texas tummy! We had to get in some good Mexican food before we headed back to NY!

Another fun filled day in Texas!

Hawaiian Falls Waterpark!

All the kids LOVE the water, so what better way to spend the day than at Hawaiian Falls Waterpark! We got there at 10:30AM when the park opened, and quickly found a spot in front of the wave pool to drop our stuff! Mimi stayed at home with Ryder, and Uncle Brandon took a day off work so he could join us at the waterpark, too! An extra set of hands is definitely needed with 5 little ones in the water!

Luke testing out the water at the wave pool!
John hanging out in a tube in the wave pool!
Aunt M & Uncle B taking a break from the waves! It is hard work keeping up with the kids in those waves!

The crew in the Lazy River...not really a lazy river when the kids don't want a tube and just want to race around in the water! At least Luke will stay in the tube, but at 2 years old you don't have much of an option!

My best friend growing-up, Jaime and her little boy Cooper joined us at the waterpark too! Although we didn't get much time to catch up while keeping up with the kids who didn't always want to do the same thing that day! We did all get to eat lunch together!

After lunch and a little more sun screen it was back to the water! Luke on one of the little slides!

Playing in the water!

One of the kids favorite rides was the Pineapple Express! Katie & John on the way up to the slide with their mats.

Ready, set, SLIDE!!!

Katie, John, & Parker after a great race down the Pineapple Express!

We all had a great day at Hawaiian Falls...hanging out in the wave pool, the lazy river, sliding, and splashing around! None of the kids were ready to go when it was time to leave, but Aunt M, Uncle B, and I were worn out! Spending a day at the waterpark reminded me of when I was little and we used to go the waterpark all the time! Another great day of FUN in the sun!

Lil' Cousins...

Ryder & Luke! Ryder is 11 months old & Luke is 2 years old. Luke loves do what the "big" kids are doing, but he also loves to play with his lil' buddy Ryder!

The little boys playing together!
Luke also likes to zoom around in Ryder's walker, which he is WAY to big to do! But, he just looks so cute!

Ryder taking Luke for a ride on the back of his walker! Luke climbs on the back and Ryder just hauls him around! Pretty strong for such a little guy!

Luke decided to give Ryder a break and give him a push!

Luke playing on Ryder's favorite toy!

The boys playing on the chair together!

Ryder boxing up Luke! I think he is trying to send him back to NY!

I love this picture of Ryder! So cute with that little smile hiding behind his upside down "pop"!