We got back from Alabama an entire two months ago. I can't believe how long I have procrastinated updating this blog and how fast the time flew by!
Alabama was great. We went to the zoo twelve or thirteen times. Maybe more. I ended up losing count after five. The girls absolutely loved going, though. Their favorite part was probably the Parakeet Cove where you could feed the Parakeets. I ended up buying some bird food at a local pet store so that I didn't have to spend $2 for ten pieces of bird seed stuck to a stick. Whenever we went in with a hand full of bird seed the Parakeets would swarm us, which Kate absolutely loved. The girls also enjoyed the Giraffes. We fed them a couple times as well. I had never done that before so that was probably my favorite part.
Our second weekend in Alabama we were able to drive down to Hurlburt Field AFB, FL to visit my brother, Jared, and his wife, Kristen. It was only a 3 hour drive verses fourteen hours from where we are in Texas. Jared deployed a week later so we only went down the one time but it was awesome! We hung out at the beach the majority of our time there. When we first got to the beach we made both of the girls get in and try out the water. You don't know if you like something till you try it, right?! Well, they didn't like it, like hardly at all. So we set up some towels and they ended up have a great time playing in the sand and finding sea shells.
I was able to try snorkeling and boogie boarding for the first time!! Both were a lot of fun! Jared said that the water was not good for snorkeling, and it wasn't. We couldn't see more than a few feet in front of us, but I was just amazed at being able to keep my head under water for long periods of time and being able to see under the water - even if it wasn't very far. It was great!
Our third weekend we went to Atlanta to visit the Georgia Aquarium. It was SO awesome! I felt like a little kid when we first arrived. The fish and whales and sharks were HUGE! I couldn't believe it. Because we spent quite a bit of money on the tickets we decided we were going to get our money's worth and spend all day there so we walked through some of the different exhibits a couple times. Both the girls napped in the stroller which worked out great. We through the gift shop while they were sleeping so that we could get our souvenir without them begging for all the toys while doing so. After they woke up we went to the Dolphin show. That was amazing! Very entertaining to watch and the perfect way to end our day at the Aquarium.
Fourth weekend was Independence Day and my brother Jon was able to come out with his wife, Noreen, who just arrived in the states from the Philippians! It was a miracle she was able to get her visa so we were incredibly happy for them to finally be together after being apart for their first year of marriage. And! We were able to meet Noreen in person! She a wonderful person and we are so happy that she is apart of our family. Kate attached to her fairly quickly although it took a little bit more time for Kate to fully open up and talk to Noreen, but they had a wonderful time hanging out together.
Saturday we went and watched the fireworks. We went to a little town that was setting them off at their high school stadium. The show was fantastic. And the food! Yum! Wonderful time had by all!
Sunday we went to a different church we hadn't been to yet because it started at 11 o'clock instead of 9 o'clock. We sat down and Jon immediately leaned over to me asking me if I remembered a friend of Jon's from when we lived in Minot, ND. I said yes and then Jon pointed to the stand. His friend was in the bishopric. We met up with them after the meeting was over and caught up on the past few years. Because my parents were set to come in the next week we exchanged numbers to set up a dinner date.
Last weekend in Alabama my parents, my sister Kiersten, Jon and Noreen, and Kristen all came up for a half of the family gathering. It was great. We drove around Montgomery, did some sight seeing, went out to eat, swam at the hotel pool, and played games. It was a short visit, like all our visits tend to be, but it was wonderful!
Andrew, the girls, the dogs, and myself all packed up and drove out Sunday morning. We did 7 hours each day. Andrew stopped in San Antonio on the way back to pick up his mom from the air port while the girls and I continued home.
When pulling into the carport Kate teared up because she was so happy to be home. We went inside and it was like Christmas for the girls, seeing all their toys that they hadn't played with in ages. Kate jumped up on the couch and gave it a big hug and a kiss! Made me laugh. I guess it's always nice to be home no matter where you live, as long as your family is with you.
...pictures will be posted later.
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