Oklahoma!

I am singing that title as I am typing it...  Just so you know  :)
Anyway, I am really out of order with my blog posts, but hey, at least I am finally getting some pictures up!  Before the Ga trip, all the Banes (minus Daddy, who had to work) went to Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit Cathy's sisters and Joel's grandpa, aunt, uncle, and cousins.  Little did we know how LOOOONG of a trip that was going to be!  Whew!  I was super excited when we left earlier than we anticipated, BUT instead of being 8-9 hours, it took us almost 11.  Yikes.  We were all sooo ready to get there!  Cathy and I rode together with the girls and followed Justin, Laura, and their two girls.  Thankfully, once we got there, we truly had a wonderful time!!!  The girls slept well being in an unfamiliar place, and it was so special to see many of Joel's cousins and their kids  :)  And then we got to introduce Grandpa to Natalie and Kennedy and spend time with the Bane side of the family as well.  We went to the park, played in the backyard, napped, talked and laughed with family, and enjoyed our time.  I am so glad we went, but the drive was no fun.  We drove in on Thursday and stayed until Monday.  Oh and we also went to church with Cathy's sister and her husband - it's called GUTS.  Isn't that cool?!?!  We liked it  :)
Here are some pictures from our time in Tulsa ~ 

Natalie loved going over and visiting the neighbors dogs... she "fed" them leaves and grass through the fence.  She loves animals!!!

Me, Kennedy, and Rosalee - Ken just loves babies!  She kept hugging and loving on her  :)

Rosalee is the daughter of Joel's cousin, Hana

I just realized that I think my camera died on this trip, so I used Cathy's camera most of the time.  So I will have to add more pictures later.  Sorry!

The girls went down to Georgia

Emily, the girls, and I went down to Conyers, Ga to visit my parents (Nana & Papa) and also to say farewell to the home we spent the second half of our life in.  My parents plan to move to Nashville this summer (or as soon as their house sells!) which is very exciting  :-)  We moved to Conyers in May of 1994 and there are lots of special people there that we will really miss.  Anyway, so we made it a girls trip and left on a Thursday and came back on Sunday.  We mostly spent quality time with Nana and Papa - enjoying the nice weather and playing outside, going for walks, eating good food, shopping, and visiting the Georgia Aquarium.  We also made a stop at Shoal Creek Elementary, where my mom is a teacher assistant (and retiring at the end of May!)  A big shout out to Mr. Craft and Shauna Miller and all the other "sharks" who visit our blog!!!  Sunday we went to church at Rockdale Community, where there are also a lot of very special people - so glad I could give you hugs and introduce many of you to Natalie and Kennedy!!!  Well, onto the pictures  :-)

Peek-a-boo Papa!

All we really had to play with was one beach ball and some bubbles

Then we decided that rides in the wheelbarrow would be a good idea

The girls weren't too sure about it at first

Checking out the bubble wrap we put in the bottom of the wheelbarrow

Yes... Natalie still sucks her thumb  :)

What kid doesn't like bubble wrap?  POP!

This was probably our favorite part of the aquarium - the pool where the sting rays were swimming

It was so cool to feel the sting rays and see them swim so close!

Giddee-up sea horse!

Oooh, a mermaid!!!

Natalie's famous "serious face"

Papa and his girls

Playing piano with Papa

Trying for a good family shot... think they turned out good  :)

I love these four!!!