Visit With Our Family....

Sunday, July 23rd - Sunday, July 29th we went down to Georgia to visit with our family.  We had not been down since March so it was good to see everyone again.  Thanks to all our family for the fun times and memories, we love all of you very much and always enjoy our time with each of you! 

On Monday morning, we went to a local mall with Mama Cook and Papa Doug to get our walking in.  They are walking each day to help Papa Doug with his healing and are up to 3 miles a day.  We are so proud of them!  They came up with a clever idea to make a scavenger hunt for the girls so while the girls were walking around the mall with us they had to look for different items that were on the list.  We broke up into teams and went in different directions to see who could find all the items first.  Mama Cook, Reece and I were on a team; Papa Doug and Riley were a team and Regan was with her daddy.   

 On the final lap we all gathered together to see what we all had left to find.  Everyone did exceptionally well and only had a couple of items left to find.  We decided to do the final lap together; however, Regan and Tony walked ahead of us.  Papa Doug and Riley as well as our team needed to find an oval mirror.  Tony and Regan had already found it so they were looking for other items; hence the reason they got ahead of us so they could try to beat us.

We found Regan and Tony ahead of us sitting in massaging chairs.  They grabbed our attention and focus which was their plan because those chairs were right past a nail salon that had the oval mirror that we needed to find.  They had hoped we would see them and walk right past the nail salon without seeing the mirror, which is exactly what Reece and I did.  BUT, Mama Cook is smart and observant and she stayed back and saw the mirror even with their great distraction.  Reece did not get back to Mama Cook in time so Riley and Papa Doug saw the mirror first and won.  So, eventhough Tony and Regan's plan somewhat worked it did not work fully. :)

After the scavenger hunt/walk, Papa Doug and Mama Cook awarded all the kids with $5.00 to spend how they wanted at the mall.  Reece wanted to ride the mall train so she and Mama Cook did that together.  Regan, Riley and Tony went to do slot car racing and Papa Doug and I watched them race.  Riley and Regan both did well for their first time racing slot cars and Riley won the race.  She beat her daddy!!!  They had a lot of fun and wanted to do it again.

 Mama Cook showing pictures of Papa Doug's experience at Emory Hospital to the girls.

 Of course we can't have a trip to Georgia without visiting the Varsity. 

 After eating at the Varsity, we went and walked around Emory's campus and walked through the hospital where Papa Doug has treatments.

We ended up walking about a total of 5 miles on Monday between walking at the mall and walking at Emory Campus.  We are so thankful for the progress that Papa Doug has made and how much better he feels now.

 Reece and Papa Doug looking through the scripture book we made him while he was in the hospital.

 Papa Doug decided he needed this medical attention all along.  He likes this approach to doctoring much better than what he went through.

 Riley and Reece helping Mama Cook in the kitchen.

 On Tuesday Night, we went to see a minor league baseball game.  The Gwinnett Braves were playing the Durham Bulls, so it was hard to know who to cheer for.  It was a very slow night at the ballpark so we did not have to worry about crowds. 

 One of the ushers gave Reece a ball that he picked up during batting practice.  Reece was very excited!

 Although this picture is a little blurry, I love the expressions on Reece and Uncle Dave's faces.  Reece just gave the mascot, Chopper, a high five and was very happy.  She is also happy to have Uncle Dave with us at the game, she adores her Great Uncle Dave.

 Riley enjoying her time at the game with Papa Doug.

The girls visiting with the mascot, Chopper, and Reece got her ball autographed by Chopper.

 On Wednesday morning, we went over to Uncle Dave's place and the girls enjoyed making forts with furniture, blankets and cardboard boxes.  Uncle Dave helped them construct a "two-story" fort and they played hard for well over an hour.  They always have a great time with their Uncle Dave.

 This is Reece's room in the fort.

 After our fort fun, we went to the Chick-fil-A Dwarf House with Mama Cook, Papa Doug, Uncle Dave and GG and GP.  Daddy thought it was funny that Reece was eating a cheeseburger and mac n' cheese at the Dwarf House.

 Regan and Riley put on a concert for everyone at GG and GP's condo and then we showed everyone our slideshows of Backyard Bible Club and Reece's Kindergarten year.

 GG is showing the girls a picture of Mama Cook, Uncle Dave and Uncle Larry when they were little kids. 

 After visiting at GG and GP's for a while, we went back to Uncle Dave's for more fort fun.

 The girls loved this green "pickle" pillow of Uncle Dave's.  He has all kinds of neat pillows and blankets for the girls to play with.  We always have a lot of fun with Uncle Dave!  Thanks Uncle Dave for letting us rearrange your condo and for the fun time and laughs we had!

A neat shot Uncle Dave took through the tunnel of the fort.

 The girls had lots of fun with their cousin, Jonathon.  Jonathon has been asking to see the girls all summer and finally the time arrived!  There was lots of hugging and catching up to do!

 Jonathon and Riley both LOVE dogs.  Check out their shirts.

 Jonathon with his baby girls, that is what he calls them. :)

 Love my sweet nephew!!!!

Reece coloring with Grandpa.

 On Friday morning, we met Aunt Kim and Jonathon at a local park to run/bike.  Riley and Reece rode their scooters while Aunt Kim biked and Regan, Tony and I ran.  After exercising, the girls, Aunt Kim and Jonathon enjoyed a game of "Hide n' Seek" on the playground.

 Jonathon loving on his Grandpa.

 On Friday afternoon, we went bowling with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Kim and Jonathon.  We had one lane for the kids and one for the adults.

 The girls were so helpful with Jonathon.  Riley would wheel Jonathon over to the lane, Regan would set up the ball ramp and Reece would get Jonathon's ball for him.  He had so much fun eventhough he was exhausted.

 Reece cuddling with her Grandma.

 Reece and Grandpa enjoying their time together.

 This is the final scores for the kids' first game.  Riley won with a 76.

 This is the final scores of the adults' first game.  I won with a personal best of 134!!!  This was a huge accomplishment and of course I had to rub it in to Tony. :)

 My sister, Kim, captured the moment of me rubbing it in. :)

 The kids' final scores for the 2nd game, Regan won with a score of 86.

And... Tony never gives up and of course he had to beat me the second game with a score of 151.  He also pointed out that his combined score of both games was 15 points more than mine. :(   The story of my life, he never lets me enjoy my victories very long before he has to come back fighting and destroys my victory.  And my parents wonder why I am so competitive now. :) 

 On Saturday afternoon, we visited a church friend of my parent's, Mr. Gene Rucker, who has 3 boa constrictors.  He was kind enough to let us come over so that Regan, Riley and Reece could see his snakes.  In the above picture, Mr. Rucker is putting a milk snake around Regan's neck.

 Mr. Rucker gave Regan a snake skin to keep that was recently shed from the milk snake.  She thought it was very cool.

 Regan holding the milk snake.

 Mr. Rucker is now showing the girls his rat snake.

 Riley is trying to hold the snake but he kept putting his head right toward her.  She did finally hold it.

 Reece getting a turn at holding the rat snake.  I could not get over how well the girls did with the snakes. 

 Regan holding the python which was very heavy.

 The girls helping Jonathon open his belated birthday gift from us.

 Jonathon loves his Uncle Tony!  The week before we came down to visit, Jonathon's speech therapist asked him, "What has your favorite part of summer been?"  He replied, "Uncle Tony."  He had not even seen his Uncle Tony yet and ummm hello...what about your Aunt KK or cousins??!! :)

 The girls with their Uncle Jeff. 

 Grandma and Cousin Katie.

 Jonathon, Aunt Kim and Uncle Jeff.

 Jonathon loving on Grandpa.

 My sister and I both got new hondas this summer - and they are identical!  We decided to park them side by side and get a photo.

 We surprised my dad with an early birthday party.

 Singing "Happy Birthday" to Dad/Grandpa.

Riley adding "cha, cha, chas" to the birthday song which made Grandpa laugh.

 Celebrating 76 awesome years...

 We love you Dad/Grandpa and it was a joy to be able to celebrate with you.  We thank you for all your love, support, and great memories over the years.  We especially love your great sense of humor, always being silly and making us laugh, your amazing gift of singing, and your bear hugs! 

The girls enjoying their time with cousin Katie.  We love you Katie Bug!!!

 It was not fun saying, "Goodbye" on Sunday.  Thanks for a great visit Mom and Dad, we love y'all!

On our way back home we stopped for lunch at "The Beacon" in Spartanburg, SC.  It is a yummy, grease pit and reminds us somewhat of the Varsity but instead of great hotdogs they have great hamburgers.  And as you can see the portion sizes are huge!  Tony and I shared this plate and could not finish all the fries.