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.

Wal-Mart headquarters

On the way back to Branson, we stopped at Roaring River State Park with the boys. It was really neat. It has a natural spring and a trout hatchery.

Roaring River



Brett and Casey on one of the staircases



The boys on one of the trails



The hatchery



Dan and the boys

Fourth of July

We celebrated the Fourth of July with a barbecue with our friends Joe and Melissa. Later that night, we joined our neighbors and shot off fireworks.

Melissa getting ready to light a firework



Dan enjoying a fountain



Julie and Missy



Captain Don helping the boys



The Tiki Mon



Melissa enjoying her handiwork



Joe and Melissa



Brett and Missy



Dan and me



Melissa and me



Me and Casey



Casey and Jack

Fourth of July parade and brunch

This morning, we went to our friends', the Knadlers, and watched the Crown Heights Fourth of July parade and then joined them and some other friends for brunch.

Watching the parade go by



An antique car in the parade



Casey and Brett



Casey



Brunch!



Lexy



Dave taught Brett how to play bocce ball



Brett's turn



Lexy and Kyle



Amy and Noah

Third of July party

We got together with a few of our neighbors on Friday night to have a cookout and let the kids shoot off some of their fireworks.

We were hosted by our friends, the Carvers.

Rick helping Casey light a punk




Mike with his big box of fireworks




This is a cool one.




Brett, Josh and Suzanne




Suzanne and Jack




Casey and Brett

Father's Day

We went to Kansas City for Father's Day weekend to see Nana Harla and Papa Frank and to go to a Royals game.

The boys had a blast swimming with Nana Harla. They even played "Monkey in the Middle."

Monkey in the Middle with Nana Harla



Brett and Casey playing catch



Brett



Casey

On Saturday afternoon, we took Brett and Papa Frank to the Royals game. There was a rain delay for about 90 minutes, but we passed the time by walking around all the new attractions. Brett even got a chance to take batting practice at the Little K, the mini baseball diamond for kids.

Brett on deck

We got special seats for this game. Before the stadium was renovated, you couldn't sit out near the fountains in the outfield. They have added a seating section out there now, so we gave that a try.

The Dri-Duck seats near the fountains



We were next to the fountains, but unfortunately
you couldn't see the four-story score board



The view from our seats



Brett watching the game with Papa Frank



Three generations of Royals fans

Baseball

Brett is playing kid-pitch baseball this summer. His team has hunter green shirts and they have selected "The Fighting Irish" as their team name. (No idea why! :) )

It's been tough-going--since this is the first year of kid-pitch the pitchers are learning to throw and the kids are learning to hit pitches thrown by a pitcher instead of from a pitching machine.

We haven't won yet, but we've managed to get some hits and stay in the game.

Brett, as usual, is just happy to be playing.

Brett in his uniform before his first game.



I love this photo.



Brett at bat.