Kids Visit, April 07

The kids have come and gone, we all had a great time and it sure was good seeing everyone again. This is the first time all our kids had been together in one place, it was really great. They all flew in from Orlando Florida, except Kaileigh who drove in from Oklahoma City. In the photo above, Me, Sheryl, Cassie, Michael, Kayla, Chris, Kaileigh and Charity in the middle!!! I have not seen Charity since she was just over a year old, and it was Sheryl's first time meeting her also. She took right to both of us and what a cutie she is, and smart to boot!!!

Michael and Charity arrived on Tuesday 24 Apr and Kayla and Chris arrived on Thursday, the 24th was Kayla's 23rd B-Day so Cassie had made her a cake and we had a little celebration Thursday night. Sheryl and also got to know Chris (Kayla's Boyfriend) we had met him earlier at Kaylas collage graduation but they were just friends back then. Chris is a great guy, he treats Kayla well (that is the most important thing), Michael gave us his seal of approval. He seems to be a genuine and honest person, so he has our approval and I hope everything works out for them and they will be together a long time. Ok, Chris, don't go getting a BIG HEAD reading this....lol Mostly we all just got in a good visit, chatting and sharing stories. Played games and cooked out with family and friends, what better way to spend time together.

We did however had to show everyone around the area, so off to Palo Duro Canyon we went. Poor Sheryl had to work so it was just the six of us The Canyon is just south of Amarillo and is known as the Grand Canyon of Texas. The canyon id several miles long and a mile or so across with several hiking and horse trails. It is also a state park with a visitors center and camp grounds.
At the visitor center Mike and Charity got to meet a real cowboy! ok a fake cowboy, but a photo op ensued. hrity did however get to meet a real cowboy later in the day, as we stopped to get drinks and hot dogs at the park store, Charity announced very loudly (as kids do) LOOK DADDY A REAL COWBOY!!! as one of the horse stable workers came in for a soda. He did come over and chat with Charity for abit and just made her day, it was too cute.

Of course photo ops were everywhere, this is me and Cassie.

Kayla and Chris, what a good looking couple!!!

While hiking a trail, a couple of horses came along, the people were very nice and even let Charity pet one of the horses, this was her first encounter with a horse or large animal of any kind. This should make for a great memory for all of us. Cassie showed her how to pet the horse and not startle him. The riders were thanks and on their way they went.

Michael, Kayla and Chris did alot of rock climbing (ahh to have the energy of those three!!!) here is Michael and Kayla on a outcropping.

Saturday, we decided to go to Lake Meridith for a picnic, swimming and to let everyone try their hand at kayaking. The lake is a national rec area just north of Amarillo. We did up a picnic lunch, loaded up the kayaks and off we went. Sheryl's sister Carol also met us there and got to met the gang from Florida.

Sheryl finally got to try out her kayak for the first time, we paddled out quite far before coming back in. She really seemed to enjoy it, can't wait till we can get out together for a longer day of paddling. Oh and just like her honey, she didn't flip once!!!

Everyone took turns in the kayaks, and enjoyed their rides, thinking Chris and Kayla may end up with a couple of their own, for as much fun as they had.

Her are the three amigos all proud of themselves after loading up the kayaks for the trip home, yes it is Captain Mike and his fearless crew Kevin and Chris!!!
That evening we celebrated not drowning at the lake with a trip to our favorite Mexican eatery in downtown Amarillo, a fun place with great food.

The ladies, Charity, Sheryl, Kayla and Kaileigh

The boys, Michael, Kevin and Chris. I ordered a large beer, so the boy did too, you should have seen the look on their face when they showed up...now that's a BIG BEER!!!

Charity decided she was going to dance to the live music, so gampa couldn't let her be the star of her own show and got up to swing a little also.
Wow, what a great time we had, can't put all the photos and laughs we had here, but rest assured we did. Sunday the kids were off on their trip back to reality and us back to work come Monday. We hope to do this again sometime, think it will be a trip to Florida for us though.

So until next time, enjoy your loved ones as we did and always do, and remember to love life for it is way to short to do it any other way!!!