Loving Life: July 2009

Fun on the lake

We met up with our friends, Todd and Trisha and their kids, and spent Friday on Table Rock Lake on their boat.

It was a blast! We explored the lake, swam, rode in a tube, fished--you name it. The kids even got to jump off some cliffs into the lake.

Walking to the marina

Todd and Kara

Brett

Leaving the dock

The kids in the front of the boat

Brett and Dan

Brett jumping in the lake

Brett

Casey

Casey swimming

Casey jumping off the rocks

Brett jumping

Riley and Brett in the tube
(Brett's hands are in the air)

We anchored just off a small island in the lake and let the kids fish and throw rocks.

Casey and Brett

Kara with one of the two fish she caught

Getting the fish off the hook

Todd showing Casey a crawfish he found

Casey and his new friend

Branson Landing

We spent one afternoon having lunch and walking around Branson Landing, a shopping area on the banks of Lake Taneycomo.

For you Wichitans, this is what our WaterWalk should be!

We had a great lunch at White River Fish House

Dan and the boys

Me and Casey

Shopping at Bass Pro Shop

Inside Bass Pro Shop

Branson Landing

The bank of Lake Taneycomo

Pirate mini golf

Brett had been begging us all week to take him mini-golfing. We picked a pirate-themed course and took the boys one night. I have to say it was hot out, but the course was really neat.

The boys in the stockade...where they belong!

Casey taking his turn

There were waterfalls throughout the course

Brett lining up his shot

White Water

We took the boys to White Water, a water park, on Tuesday. One of the rides was a three-story water slide that Casey went down twice. He was the only one!

Casey coming down the slide on the right

He made it!

Silver Dollar City

On Monday, we took the boys to Silver Dollar City, an old-fashioned amusement park in Branson. The boys rode some of the rides, even a runaway train rollercoaster.

Casey

Brett and Casey

Dan and Brett playing checkers

Casey in jail...where he belongs!

Crossing the swinging bridge

Casey after surviving Thunderation,
the runaway train ride

Brett and Casey on a much tamer rollercoaster

Casey on a pirate ship ride

Dan and the boys on the log flume

Brett and Dan in the Old Mine

Casey

Dan and Brett on the water toboggan
(It was like a waterpark ride)

Brett and Dan after the water toboggan

Dan and Brett in the fun house's slanting room

Branson vacation

We spent last week in Branson, Missouri with the boys for our vacation. We had a blast. There's always lots to do there.

Since we did so much, I will break up my posts so you don't get overwhelmed with vacation photos!

On Sunday, we drove to Springdale, Arkansas to see the Arkansas Naturals, the minor league team that used to be the Wichita Wranglers.

The stadium was great and the boys had fun at the game. Especially when we arrived and realized they were celebrating Nickelodeon Family Fun Day.

Brett and Casey at the gates of the ballpark

Getting autographs before the game

The field

The playground in the outfield

Casey with barbecue pork nachos
(They were surprisingly good!)

When we got to the ballpark, we were approached by someone from guest services who asked us if the boys would like to participate in a few of the contests for kids between innings.

Brett got to race the Naturals' mascot, Strike, to home plate. He won of course.

The announcer with Brett prior to his race

Casey was selected to have his photo taken with the groundskeeper's dog. They announced his name and showed him on the scoreboard.

Casey at his photo op

Since it was Nickelodeon Family Fun Day, of course, SpongeBob was there. They boys had to have a photo with their idol.

The boys and SpongeBob

The boys and Strike, the Naturals' mascot

After the game, we drove to Bentonville, Arkansas, the home of Wal-Mart. I really wanted to see the headquarters since we were so close. It's really no big deal, but I was glad I saw it.