First Annual Summer Trip to Gigi and Poppy's

Kaiden had been telling his mother all summer that he wanted to go to Gigi and Poppy's house so a visit was arranged.  Kaiden, Mailee and Alyssa flew to Amarillo for a week but Lichar had to stay home and work.

As an added bonus, since Kalum was gone to Jamaica with his youth group and it was the week of July 4, Ashley took a couple of vacation days and got to visit for a few days also.  

The first thing on our list of things to do in Amarillo was go for a swim at Amarillo Town Club.  Both kids loved the water!  The Hillside location of ATC is the perfect place for this age kids to play in the water.  Kaiden had taken a week of swim lessons and was able to practice what he learned.  Mailee is absolutely fearless of water so we had to be right next to her at all times!

The next day was the July 4 and I had forgot about the parade at Canyon until I got up and was watching Good Morning America.  So we quickly got ready and made it to Canyon just in time to park three blocks away and walk to the parade route.  We did have a little time to sit down before the parade began!  Everyone was decked out with their sunglasses!

He was a little shy at first about grabbing the candy that was thrown but finally got in the groove!

Mailee wasn't really interested in the parade!

Mailee's latest thing was going OHHH! when she heard a loud noise!

When the cast from "Texas" came along, we got our picture taken with Tucker Yelldell aka Kris Miller.  Kris has been a friend for a very long time and was a candle lighter in our wedding.

After the parade, we walked to the "Fair on the Square" for a foot long corn dog and funnel cake.  It was very hot and we were tired but we were lucky enough to get to sit down when my friends, Jeanine and Chris, gave up their chairs.  Thanks, Powells!  After we took the very LONG walk back to the car, we drove back to the Fair on the Square to get a Cheese on a Stick for Tante.  She owes us big time for that one! 

Not a great picture but we ran into Christy Chapman Cargin and her son, Christian.  Alyssa and Christy were close friends when they were small.

After the parade, we decided to stop by Maxwell's Pumpkin Farm where Poppy was working.  The kids got to ride the tractor with Poppy and then hop in one of the cows from the cow train for a short ride.

 Then Poppy took them in his "big red truck" without any car seats to see the pumpkins growing - so exciting!

Uncle Pete brought Aunt Peggy to meet everyone that evening and Poppy cooked some burgers.  Kyle and Connie came to eat with us too!  Aunt Sandy and Uncle Buck came for the fireworks!

Deeogee was groomed and got a red, white and blue scarf to celebrate the 4th of July!

Aunt Sandy showed Kaiden how to throw the poppers down so they popped!

Mailee wanted to push her chair all over the driveway until she heard the first loud pop!

Then she wanted to throw poppers like her brother and if they didn't pop, she stomped them!

We Skyped with Lichar so he could enjoy the festivities with the kids!

Then it was time for the sparklers!

Tante and Sage arrived on Thursday and we spent most of the day resting up from the 4th of July festivities.  But Friday was the day we had planned for our lake trip!  We drove to the closest lake with any water - Ute Lake in New Mexico.  On our way we stopped and had lunch at Russell's Truck Stop just across the New Mexico line.  They have an awesome car museum and Mailee noticed the Star Wars character right away. She is her daddy's girl!

It turned out to be an overcast day so it wasn't so hot and we had a great day of fun at the lake.  We decided to pull up to a "sandy" beach and play for awhile.

Again Mailee was not afraid of the water!

Sage LOVED the lake!

No - it's my seat!

Kaiden got to drive the boat!

Then it was time to ski!  Sage did NOT like Ashley out of the boat!

She was very happy when Ashley was back in the boat.

Both kids were very tired and took a long nap while we cruised the lake!

Sage was happy to be along for the ride.

Saturday was a day of catching up from the lake trip.  We did a little bit of shopping.  Alyssa broke her Nike sandals at the lake and wanted some new ones. We had saved a few Roman candles, sparklers and poppers to celebrate with Ashley and Sage so Saturday evening we went outside to this beautiful sky.

 

Ashley ready to light the fireworks

Mailee thought she could help light the Roman candle

You can just see the mischievousness coming out!

Kaiden and Poppy enjoyed watching.

Ashley's sparkler creation

 Ashley and Sage had to go home on Sunday.  The rest of us went to church and then home for a nice nap!  On Monday we were supposed to have a play date with Kage, Kane and Kate Hawkins but some late naps messed up those plans.  So we invited the Hawkins to come have some spaghetti with us.  The kids had a great time playing.

The car race track is always a favorite for Kage and Kaiden.

Kane tried to convince Pops to sneak him a drink of tea while his mom wasn't looking.

 We tried to take a picture of all five kids and this was the best one.

Mailee, Kaiden, Kage, Kane and Kate. 

I didn't realize how much they really do look alike!

 Tuesday morning we decided to take the kids to the playground at John Stiff Park.  Kaiden really enjoyed the park on his last visit and it was a nice cool day.

Love this kid's great grin!

He climbed right up the wall without any help.

She's thinking that if Kaiden can do it then she can do it too!

 Unfortunately they had to leave to fly home Tuesday afternoon so we took one last photo opportunity!

One last goodbye at the airport