CAROLYN!!!!!!!!!

So thrilled that my BFF came to see me in Texas this summer!  My poor Canadian friend braved the Texas summer heat to come and for a visit.  She flew into Dallas and drove back to Houston with us.  I am beyond thrilled she came.  It was soooo good to see her again.  There are those few people that you meet in your life and she is definitely one of them for me.  I am honored to call her my friend!

 Dinner at Club No Minors, El Patio with my parents

Mighty George!!

Our sweet friends, The Grings, BEAT CANCER!!!!!!!!  Hooray for Mighty George!!  George was lucky enough to have been chosen by Make-A-Wish to go to training camp with the Carolina Panthers.  ESPN ran a spot about the Grings and his time with Cam Newton and the team.  They then hosted an awesome viewing party at Dave and Buster's.  We drove directly from Dallas to the party to celebrate.

 Clayton making a sweet speech about Mighty George!

 O excited about it all!

 O and her BFF Katherine

 George and Cam Newton!

All of the sweet kids that came out to support George!

Dallas Luau Birthday Party

Olivia is one lucky little birthday girl.  She had so many birthday celebrations while we were home and this was just the first one.  Aunt Jenny, Delia and Emery (Uncle Tim was out of town) hosted the sweetest little birthday celebration for Olivia.  It was a purple (her favorite) Luau party, in which they invited all of the little neighborhood kids to.  What a fun time!  Aunt Jenny really outdid herself on this one!

 Her special purple birthday lei

 Emery and Delia spent all morning decorating for the party

 Sweet big cousins

 Cousin Emery

 All decked out!

 Awesome Aunt Jenny made this super fun water blob.  Duct tape a thick painter's drop cloth and fill it with water.  FUN for hours!

 The other drop cloth was used as a slip and slide.  The kids had  BLAST and got all sudsy

 The cousins and new friends having cupcakes

My babes

 The next day, they decided they wanted to wash the car :-)

 Sweet Uncle Timmy, back in town

 Silly girl!

 All of the other Stobaughs came over 

 Another awesome Aunt Jennyism--take a glow stick bath

 All of the cousins and Rocky!

Ray Girls with cousins Haylie and Aiden

She even let them paint her face with face paint!  She is way more brave and a whole lot less afraid of mess than I am!  What an amazing time in Dallas!!

Final Trip to Indy

This summer we went to see my Mom and Bill in Indy.  This will be our last trip there, as they just moved to Austin!!!!  So exciting.  We are thrilled we will get to see them more when we are home for the summers.  As usual, Nana's wheelchair and the Children's Museum were the big fun of the trip.  We will really miss their awesome Children's Museum.  It is truly an amazing place.

 Flying again!  The kids were amazed at how quick the flight was.  No food, no sleeping and only 1 movie?!!

 The always fun, electric wheelchair.  Eliza did fall out and get a little road rash soon after this photo...not too fun.

 Digging for "dinosaur bones" at the Children's Museum

Olivia could have stayed here for hours.  She loved it!

 Hanging with her friend, the Terracotta Solider.  Last time we went, the special event country was Egypt.  This time it was China.  You got on an "airplane" and "flew" to China.  These exhibits are so well done.  This was their favorite part:

They got to turn themselves into a Chinese opera character.  Too funny!

 Exploring a "shipwreck" with their diving gear on.

 Measuring their findings

 Eliza loved the water area of the newly renovated small tot area

 My girls, so sweet 

 Papa Bill showing them pictures of me and my mom from years ago

We had quite the flight delay on our way to Dallas.  Both of our flights were delayed and we didn't arrive until Midnight in Dallas, 5 hours late.  My trooper girls are the best.  This portable DVD player is the greatest purchase we have EVER made!  It kept Eliza from doing this anymore:

Arriving in Dallas with a stroller, a carry-on, 2 bags, 2 car seats, 2 sleeping kids and NO CASH was interesting, to say the least.  I just looked at all I had and laughed.  Thanks to Uncle Chris for coming to get us from the airport so late!

Dinner with The Wrights

That night we had dinner with our sweet neighbors in Houston, The Wrights.  Olivia and Eliza talk about Mrs. Pam and Amanda all the time.  They loved going over to play with them.  Hopefully next year we will have more time to visit with them when we are home, as this was the only night that worked out for all of us.  The girls had a ball with their big girl friend :)

 

They just love her!

Then the girls got the camera! Pam and Kip

 SSR and Aunt Carrie

 Head shot of Amanda :)

 Silly girl was in RARE form this night!