Family
Greenville: Bouncing Around at Pump It Up
Fun group of kids!
To celebrate the last week of Summer Break we joined friends at the Pump It Up in Greenville, SC. The kids had a blast bouncing around, climbing the rock wall, building items, and more. The kids played and were able to burn off some of that extra energy while the Moms had a few minutes to chat. Thankful for a time to get together with friends.
Karlie pausing to give us a smile as she plays at Pump It Up!
We found Brina perched on this bouncy castle!
Greenville: Splashing Around at Otter Creek Waterpark
Brina and Karlie going down the blue slide together on a double tube!
Our end of Summer Break activity was going to the Otter Creek Waterpark! None of us had ever been to this Greenville Waterpark so we decided it should be the one we try out to celebrate the end of summer. It was actually one of the closer ones to us since we were coming from Easley. The girls had a BLAST swimming around. We arrived shortly after they opened and didn’t leave until late in the afternoon. We splashed around in the water and went down the slides many times! It was a lot of fun hanging out at the waterpark with the girls!
Brina having a grand time at the waterpark!
Hanging out with the girls at the Otter Creek Waterpark! Great way to wrap up summer vacation!
Brina doing flips under water!
Going down the huge orange slide together. They went down all the slides many times!
Karlie’s coming!
Carrying up the double tube. It was quite the teamwork to get the big tube up the stairs without bumping into too many people!
Splashing around!
Brina all smiles!
Karlie loving the water slides!
Come on Mom, stand right over here…… Hmmm….this looks like a trick?! BRINA!
Yikes! There’s something coming at me under the water!
Brina enjoying our fun day at Otter Creek!
Karlie doing flips under water!
Brina arriving at the bottom of the green slide!
Karlie at the top of the white slide! She LOVED it! I did all the slides many times, but the white slide once was enough for me. WOW, it was so fast and my heart was in my throat as I flew down it. Not to mention with that much speed once you hit the water you had received a nice swimsuit wedgy, ha! Karlie on the other hand did the white slide many times!
Karlie flying down the slide again! It doesn’t look as steep in this picture, but trust me it was plenty steep! I thought I was going to fly right off of it I was going so fast! Fun times with the kids!
On the Farm: Horsing Around
The kids enjoying a ride on the carriage at Grandpa and Grandma’s house!
The horse and pony are a big highlight for the kids when visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Kansas! The girls would probably spend a good chunk of their days out with the horse and pony if they could. They both really enjoy animals especially horses! Grandma Penny was kind enough to let the kids go for a ride on the horse, pony, and in the carriage. All four of the grandkids that were visiting at the time got turns to ride!
Grandma and the kids walking to the pasture to get the horse and pony.
Karlie riding Buzz (or should we say on Buzz while he finds some delicious green grass to eat)!
Brina going for a ride on Misty!
Nathan wanted to start off leading Misty while the other three kids go for a ride on the carriage!
Karlie leading Buzz while Brina, Nate, and Brandon go for a ride in the carriage!
Nate and Brandon going for a carriage ride!
Karlie and Brina riding in the carriage behind Misty!
Brina loved petting and leading Misty around. I think Misty was a nice size for her.
Brandon riding Misty!
Nathan enjoying his ride on Misty.
Misty stopping to eat grass as Brina rides her.
Brina didn’t mind letting Misty grab a bite to eat during her ride around the yard.
Even Uncle Josh went for a short ride on Misty!
Grandma leading Karlie around the yard.
Karlie having a blast riding Misty around the yard!
Nathan riding Buzz (Buzz is a little bigger)!
Brandon on Misty and Nathan on Buzz!
Brandon and Brina going for a ride on Misty!
Karlie and Nate riding Buzz!
On the Farm: Wheat Harvest, Animals, Irrigation, and More!
The girls were very excited to “help” Grandpa cut the last little bit of wheat harvest!
Every day at Kansas is an adventure for the kids when they are visiting my parents on the farm. They love exploring the different equipment, fields, and getting the opportunities to spend time with their grandparents while doing exciting farm activities. It is always neat seeing them get excited about the things that I grew up with in Kansas.
Brina and Karlie were thrilled to ride with Grandpa as he cut the last strip of wheat from harvest.
The John Deere combine looks so big when you put the girls right in front of it.
Bringing treats to the pony and horse!
Riding Misty in the yard.
Misty even got her mane breaded! So pretty!
Buzz standing still, but not sure about all this attention.
Karlie petting Buzz
Our gator crew (including the furry ones), such great helpers!
A view of Dad and Mom’s house from the top of Windy Point.
Walking the bridge again today!
Grandpa instructed the four kids on what they are suppose to be doing for irrigation today.
The race is on…..
Midnight loves going to do irrigation too!
Nathan concentrating on his work!
Brandon won the race on that side!
Our irrigation crew! It’s a fun one!
Helping Grandpa with irrigation!
Even though it was freezing cold they had a blast running through the BIG SPRINKLER!
The kids thought the sprinkler was great and were fascinated by it as well.
Playing a game of card Monopoly with Grandma and cousins!
On the Farm: Irrigating the Corn & a Horse Ride at Sunset
Karlie was impressed with the height of the corn in the field!
The girls always enjoy coming to Kansas to visit our family. Thankful for opportunities to spend time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great grandparents, and more extended family! They look forward to their time spent and adventures while in Kansas.
Brina making sure Midnight had company after finishing her stretch of irrigation pipes.
Karlie using a wrench to start the water in a new corn row.
Counting the rows so she can make sure to water the right ones.
Checking out the fields and walking across the irrigation bridge.
They are fascinated by all the neat stuff Grandpa Russell does on the farm!
Of course, Grandma and Grandpa’s animals are always a big highlight for them too. Going for a carriage and horse ride at sunset!
A fun ride as the sun sets! My camera was having a hard time with the lighting and all the animal movement.
A beautiful sunset to end a fun day in Kansas!
Travel & Vacation: Kansas Family Reunion
Our family at Lake Milford this summer!
All my immediate family members were able to come to Lake Milford this summer for a long weekend together. We had a blast! We went swimming, boating, skiing, kneeboarding, tubing, played games, celebrated birthdays, ate great food, laughed, and had a wonderful time making some new memories together. Even our family’s soon-to-be newest member was able to join us for the weekend. My youngest brother Josh will be getting married later this year and his fiance Megan (who we have known for many years) was a part of the fun family weekend! Grateful for a weekend to catch up and have fun!
My parents, siblings, spouses, and kids!
We are a wild crew at times, drive each other nuts occasionally, but all-in-all we know how to have a good time together! Yes, I am blessed to call this crazy bunch my family!
Relaxing for a few minutes at Cracker Barrel.
Rocking and playing checkers!
Travel & Vacation: The Grown Up Kids Having Fun Paddleboarding
Megan and Josh did really well on the paddleboard!
The lake was perfect for paddleboarding. Not only did the kids have fun trying out their talents on the paddleboard, but the adults had a blast too. It was great seeing everyone get up and zip (yes some faster than others) across the lake on the paddleboard. Thankful for some time of fun, laughter, and the chance to try a new activity with family!
Amber showing off her paddleboarding skills!
Who says the kids have all the fun! I think the adults had just as much fun on the paddleboard! At least Amber did!
Jake taking Brina with him on the paddleboard.
Megan and Josh gliding around the lake on the paddleboard.
Dad heading out to the middle of the lake on the paddleboard.
Keeping it steady.
Becky taking off!
Becky and Nicko on the paddleboard.
Lee was up and going in no time!
Nicko going for a ride with his Dad!
Dad teasing Jeremy before take off!
Jeremy paddleboarding on Lake Milford.
Uncle Lee and the kids!
Looking a little crazy!
Nathan and Grandma Penny
Grandpa Russell and Nathan
Lee and Becky going for a ride across the lake.
Nathan taking his Mom on the paddleboard.
Fun times at the lake.
Jake started out kneeling….
Once he was out a little ways he decided to stand up….
And he was successful! Jake cruising around Milford Lake on the paddleboard.
Travel & Vacation: Kids Paddleboarding on Lake Milford
Yes, five kids can fit onto one paddleboard – Sierra, Brandon, Karlie, Nathan, and Brina
On our last full day at Lake Milford Nate used his money to rent a paddleboard for several hours. It provided a lot of fun entertainment for everyone! The kids had a grand time as well as the adults trying their balancing skills on the paddleboard. Thanks Nathan for sharing with everyone. What a fun day!
Nate and Brandon on the paddleboard!
Brina and Brandon going for a ride on the paddleboard
Getting instructions from Uncle Jeremy
Nate and Sierra on a roll
Sierra and Nathan cruising across the lake
Karlie steering and Brina on for the ride
Brina’s turn to paddle while Karlie rides (or splashes in the water)
Nathan and Karlie on the paddleboard
Karlie in control of the paddleboard now as Nathan hangs on
Brina trying it out on her own…don’t go too far!
Karlie testing her paddleboard skills
Sierra going for a ride with Brandon on the paddleboard
Sierra demonstrating her balancing talents!
Brandon is a little concerned that Sierra’s balancing acts may result in getting him tipped over
Brandon, Brina, and Sierra all standing on the paddleboard. This is a lot harder than it looks because you have more movement and it is much easier to tip over.
Goofy kids!
Trying to catch their balance without flipping the paddleboard.
HOLD ON…..
Brandon thought it was hilarious that all the girls fell off the paddleboard.
Karlie, Brandon, Sierra, and Brina trying to get back on!
Gliding across Lake Milford
Brandon driving the paddleboard now
They are having a grand time!
Beautiful day for paddleboarding across the lake with cousins!
Brina smoothly sailing around on the paddleboard
Karlie taking Brina and Brandon around the lake.
Travel & Vacation: Tubing on Lake Milford
5 kids + 1 tube = loads of fun on the water!
Tubing was a huge hit with the kids again this year. I think almost all the kids went on the tube at some point over the weekend. We had two of the exact same tube in two of the boats so if one boat was water skiing and knee boarding the other boat would be doing the tube or something else.
Brina on the tube with her two cousins Nate and Brandon.
Nate, Brandon and Sierra went a little faster on the tube!
They got some air under that one!
The expressions on their faces crack me up!
You can’t go as fast with 5 kids on the tube, but they still had a grand time!
All smiles! Who knows what they were laughing about this time around!
Waving at the water skiers and knee boarders from the other boat!
Ready for a wild ride?! Bracing themselves for the next bump!
Smiling as they zip around the lake!
Always a couple of dare devils in every crowd!
Lunch time! Sandwiches and grapes on the tube (makes a good picnic table)!
Karlie and Brandon hanging out on the tube!
Travel & Vacation: Splashing Around at Lake Milford
Grandpa’s ready to go swimming!
We spent the majority of our day in the water at Lake Milford. On our final full day at the lake we swam near the cabins so everyone could come and go as they wanted. It was a lot of fun being able to swim and splash around in the water.
Nicko having fun at the lake!
Karlie using her balancing skills!
Brina using Jake’s shoulders as her diving board so she could spring into the water!
Karlie preparing for another big splash!
Karlie flying through the air!
Look out! There goes Brina!
Hanging out with Zachie as he enjoys his blue Lollipop!
First Aid Kit! Yes, Karlie discovered that zebra muscles on the rocks were not her friend (quite painful actually)! Ouch! Thanks Aunt Amber and Daddy for coming to her rescue!
All the kids (and some of the big kids too) enjoyed digging in the sand on the beach!
Becky and Zachie having fun!
Karlie hanging out with Grandma and Uncle Lee!
