Hanging Out in Missouri!

We recently got back from a trip to Missouri to see my family!  They live too far away...or we do...  Of course, a good time was had by all and we packed a lot into our short visit.

We didn't waste any time when we arrived in Ava and went straight to Ava Drug for lunch and nickel scoops of ice cream.  We didn't even go to Dad's house first, nickel ice cream was apparently more important.  Luckily for us, Dad met us there.

Noah, Papa, Seth

Silly pictures are a MUST.

Bub, Mindy, Gavynn and Riley came over to hang out with us.  There was a fast-paced game of 500 in the front yard.  I had no idea what this game was, but everyone seemed to have enjoyed it.

Guess where we went the next day?  Yep, nickel scoops of ice cream.

Noah in front, Seth behind Chris

These two are so cute.

We also headed to Vera Cruz to enjoy the creek.  It was perfect...except for the 10 minute pop-up shower.

Chris tried to teach the boys how to skip rocks. 

Bub and I spent many summers at Camp Joy.  Somehow we didn't realize that it was about a minute from where we were at the creek.  We decided to head over and check it out.  It had been so many years since we went there and WOW did it bring back memories.  So many good memories of camp and our Mema.  There were a couple of new buildings and the old cabins were replaced by newer ones, but many of the structures that we remembered from camp were still there.

We had some very special visitors to Dad and Judy's.  Hank and Judy Flageolle stopped by and I don't think anything could have made me happier.  I miss them...

Noah, Judy, Hank, Seth

We also went to the catfish pond to get in a little fishing.

Noah in gray, Seth in orange.

Seth caught a catfish!  He didn't want to hold it.

Noah caught a bass...at the catfish pond.  Strange.  He was excited, though.

Papa caught a catfish!

Bub caught a BIG catfish.  He was the winner.

The boys teased Bub by calling him Uncle Ant (they usually call him Uncle Bug)...he kept threatening that he was going to get them and at the pond he almost made good on that threat.  He told them that if they called him that one more time, he was going to throw them in....  He didn't, but it sure looked like it.  Neither one of the boys were scared for a second.  They loved it.

Noah

Seth

Saturday we were thrilled to attend the Step Up Walk for Down Syndrome and support team Rockin' Riley.

Riley wanted to ride with the bubbas.  I turned around and saw them like this before we left.  They love each other...and Riley's iPad.

Seth, Riley, Noah

There were so many fun activities at the event.  We spent some time enjoying the games and entertainment prior to the walk.  The walk consisted of the group walking over to Hammons Field before the Springfield Cardinals game (which everyone also had tickets for!).  Such a fun event!

Batman, Noah, Seth, Spiderman

We played at the cake walk until each one of us won.  Noah had a very difficult time choosing his cupcake.  Admittedly, I did too.  There were so many to choose from!

This picture is so funny!  Bub very enthusiastically celebrated his cake walk win.  Judy must've thought it was a little loud.

Noah, Aunt Ninnie, Seth

My brother is too much.

The obligatory nose-picking picture.  As always, I'm basically pretending to pick Bub's nose while he has his finger crammed up mine.  Ewww.  Our parents were always so proud of us and our maturity.

Within 2 minutes of walking in the door, Dad insisted on having his picture taken with this character.  None of us know who she is supposed to be, but she was hanging around with Batman.

Noah, Seth

Seth and Gavynn right before we walked over to Hammons Field.

Rain was predicted for the day, so we came prepared.  Before the walk was to begin, it was raining so we pulled out the ponchos.  Thankfully, right before we left it stopped raining.

Noah, Seth

As a group, we walked over to Hammons field and then around the around the field.  Information about Down Syndrome and the Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks was displayed on the big screen while we walked around the field.  It was a sold out game that evening, so the message was shared with a very large group of people.  We were all so glad to support this organization.  If you're not doing anything next year, think about joining Rockin' Riley!  You won't regret it.

A ridiculous number of selfies were taken.

Me, Seth and Gavynn

We had to get a picture with the balloons!

Chris & Noah

We made it to our seats and were excited for the game.

Noah, Gavynn, Seth

We had some drinks, were all settled in and then.....

....the game was cancelled because storms were rolling in.

Bub and Mindy have a fantastic backyard and the boys spent most of their time in the pool.  They stayed in until about 5 minutes before we got in the car to leave.

Seth, Riley, Noah

My beautiful niece, Gavynn, and Noah.

This is how the cousins said good-bye.  Seth was on the bottom and when Chris asked him if he could breathe, he squeaked out 'A little'.  I'm so glad they all love each other so much that they want to smother everyone.

-Shelby