4th of July

What a wonderful holiday weekend for our little family.  Why was it so wonderful?  Because my little family doesn't need a fancy vacation. We don't need to spend a lot of money. We just need a little adventure, to experience a little new, and spend some quality time with each other.

So we ventured down south to Oklahoma City.  With Beau not being your typical pre-teen boy who loves to blow things up - not being home on the 4th was no big deal.

We stayed in Bricktown and ate at the famous KD's Southern Cuisine.  So.Darn.Good.  I mean....give this girl a chicken fried steak, fried okra and mashed potatoes, and I am in heaven.  That would totally be my last meal if I ever went to prison.  ha ha

Here are some pictures of KD's. Even Sis knows who Kevin Durant is!  I think some of the best pictures Beau took with his iPad.  He was super excited and proud to show off to his friends where we was eating.

Then we walked around Bricktown finding our way to the Water Taxi, which gave us a complete tour of the water canal.  BEAUTIFUL!

Then we went to the hotel to check in, swim, and Mom and Dad took naps!  Finally around 6:30 we headed to the ballpark to watch the OK Redhawks Triple A Team (for the Houston Astros) play the Iowa Cubs.  It was a great evening.  Beautiful ballpark, right on Mickey Mantle Drive.

Johnny Bench statue

Mickey Mantle statue

View from our hotel room

Lemme take a SELFIE!

My hair looks good here.  ha ha. Gosh we are cute in our Red, White, and Blue!

And the Redhawks one with an 8th inning rally.  4-3.  Let the Fireworks begin!

Watching the fireworks.  This from the boy that doesn't really like fireworks, but during the middle of the show he turns to me and says, I think I'm over my fear of fireworks.  Sweet boy. And yes, Bren wore her sunglasses during the entire fireworks show.  It last 20+ minutes!  Spectacular!

Okay, so Saturday morning we got up, ate breakfast, and then headed to the OKC Zoo.  This was really Bren's part of the "vacation," but Beau said at the end that even he enjoyed it. It's a terrific zoo, and by 12:00, we had walked it and were wiped out.  I didn't take a ton of pictures, but I did manage to snap a few.

So happy and in her element.

The baby Rhino!!!  He has yet to be named, but was SOOOO cute!

Beautiful peacock over our heads as we walked.

Monkey See. Monkey Do.

Cutest family ever!!

Butterfly Garden

Petting the Stingray's at Stingray Bay.  So cool!

Zander the Sea Lion at the Sea Lion Presentation

He was so good at doing tricks.

Going through the Aquarium petting starfish.

After the zoo, we grabbed a sandwich and then headed to Crescent where we met Mom and Dad and passed off the kids to spend the night, so Brian and I could have a grown up evening in OKC.  The kids and grandparents couldn't have been happier, and neither could we!

We ate at Mickey Mantle's steakhouse right across the street from the ballpark. It's safe to say that is the nicest place we have ever eaten in our 13 years of marriage. It was an amazing meal and very cool atmosphere.  Then we walked around Bricktown that evening people watching with the best of them.

On Sunday we headed to Garber to get the kids, ate lunch, and then headed back home. We were tired when we got home, but I know everyone had a great time.  We definitely started July off right!

Sigh. Summer.

Summer and outdoors have not been great to Beau Charles Grant. Besides his constant congestion, he has been struggling with poison ivy the past week. I took him to the doctor last Monday when it was around his eyes, but she said until his eyes swelled more, really the only thing we could treat the rash with was cortisone and over the counter allergy medicene. So now a week later, his neck area is better, but he has random spots showing up on his chest. The area around his groin is not better at all. This is no fun whatsoever and especially not for Beau. Everything I read says it just takes time. If you didn't know already, I have no patience so I'm not good at waiting this thing out. I want him better ASAP!

Today we found two warts on his hand. I mean. Gross. So we started over the counter treatment on those today also. Poor guy. His skin is a wreck.

Sister on the other hand is basking in summer love. Between tea parties with her "friends" and her "garden" she is relishing. This baby girl. 

 

Trying out her new goggle and snorkel set.

She decided she likes hats now.

The little red bloom bottom of the picture.... That's from her potted plants. 

State Baseball Tournament

Well, this year's state baseball tournament (now playing as a AAA team), didn't go quite so well for the Tigers. But before heading out of town licking our wounds, we did get the obligatory Joe's Crab Shack meal in. I think the kids were looking more forward to Dad wearing the bib than we were to the food! 

Some of my favorite shots and thoughts

Our kids are getting big.  Growing up so fast.  So when an opportunity to hold Beau's hands or wipe his tears - I take it.  The opportunity to snuggle with my baby girl in the morning when she is still sleepy and wants to tuck in close to me.  I take it.

Because a few minutes later, my big boy is making his lunch for camp. Brenley is waving to me as I drop her off at "school."  I don't even walk her in anymore!!  Wasn't I just carrying the car seat into that door every day to drop her off?  It is crazy how independent they quickly become and while part of me knows that I should be proud they are doing more stuff for themselves, part of me can't believe how quickly it happened. I mean. If only you could see the smile on Bren's face when she waves goodbye to me as she slings open that heavy Northridge door.  I know she is proud of herself.  That's what a Mama should hope for their kids, right?

Anyway..... baseball season has been TOUGH this year.  All around the boys are not playing at the same level they were last year and it's taking it's toll on the poor boys, their coaches, and even parents.  So while I've had my camera out, these are just some of my favorites captured over the last few weeks.

Brenley maneuvering the twins.

The Tigers played in a baseball tournament in McPherson at Grant complex.

Dad giving Beau some instruction.

And it continues....

My doll having fun at the ballpark.

This is supposed to be the boys good luck charm. Think it lost it's mojo from last year, but I love this picture.

Baby girl keeping cool with her fan mister.