Adventures with four girls: Our summer in the U.S. (1st 1/2 of the summer)

Our Abu Dhabi adventures have turned into U.S. adventures this summer as the girls and I are spending two months here and Jake is able to join us for a month of that time (1 week at the beginning and three weeks at the end).

I already blogged about 4th of July weekend and my continuous birthday celebrations and now plan to do two more - broken into the two main 1/2s of the summer. First half in Arkansas with my side of the family and second half in North Carolina and southeast near Jake's.

Even though it sounds like a long time when I said we spent a month in Arkansas, it really was a whirlwind. We had an active and special time with my dad's side of the family over the 4th (see previous blog). We then sent Jake back on his way to return to Abu Dhabi to get some work done. Although he knew he would miss us, he also looked forward to some quiet time where he could focus on some of the "important" things on his to-do list and not just the "urgent" ones (for you Stephen Covey fans, you know what I am talking about!). His NY Times deal ended up being pretty busy so not sure how much quiet time he had but it sounded like a productive few weeks.

The day after Jake left, the girls, my mom and I drove up to West Plains, Missouri to see my great aunt and uncle (Aunt Bettye and Uncle Doc) and cousin Robin from St. Louis. It was so nice to see them. My mom was in Aunt Bettye's wedding, Robin (Aunt Bettye's daughter) was in my mom's wedding, I was in Robin's wedding and Robin's daughter, Melanie, was in my wedding. There has only been one daughter in all those generations until my set of four. Will be interesting to see if the tradition continues (no pressure, Melanie!). Robin fed us well during our visit - thank you, Robin - even if my kids aren't the adventurous eaters that I hoped that would become living overseas!

Next stop was Kanakuk camps. Regan has been asking to go to sleep away camp since she was in first grade - so we signed her up this year. Plus once I found out about Kanakuk when I was in college, I was really envious that *I* hadn't gotten a chance to go when I was little so I get to live vicariously through my children! Brave little Regan didn't know a soul there and wasn't nervous at all (in fact, she wondered why she couldn't go to the 1-month session instead of 1 week!) until we walked through the gates of the camp and she started looking a *little* uneasy about the whole thing. In spite of Jake and me pretty much panicking over thinking she was having a miserable time, she completely reassured us when I picked her up that she had the best week of her life. I don't doubt her as we watched every Kanakuk video we could find on their website and on youtube while we were in Abu Dhabi (check out the bottom left "What Does a Kanakuk Day Look Like" video on their website if you need convincing on how fun and amazing this place look: Kanakuk Video Wall - What Does a Kanakuk Day Look Like?

Plus a fun small world story is that we ran into friends at Kanakuk dropping of their three middle and high school boys. Kevin and Ellen are old family friends and used to live outside of Chicago. Jake left his car in their driveway while he was in NYC for his summer internship. Jake and I weren't even dating yet!

Before we made the Kanakuk pick-up, Jane, Meredith and I had a little fun in Branson, Missouri. We left Anna with my parents and had a little "big kid fun." We hit the Shanghai Acrobatic show, stayed in a hotel with a built-in water park, spent a day at Silver Dollar City (a wonderful Ozark style amusement park) and initiated them into putt putt golf. We fit all of that into less than a day and a half - whew! It was so nice to get a little more individualized time with my two middles.

After the fun reunion with Regan after camp, our next stop was Fayetteville, AR to my brother's house for a mom's side of the family gathering and a special time to catch up with college (and one high school!) friends. Friends Jeff and Jill hosted a very fun gathering (with some of the *best* babysitters I have ever seen - we didn't really even notice that there were 12+ kids there - I wish I could take one of those sitters back to Abu Dhabi with me!).

My brother hosted two family gatherings and we ended up with so many overnighters that he got booted to the Carnell Inn (a wonderful hotel on the University of Arkansas main green). I don't think he minded because soon after my mom went and reserved him a room and brought a key back, John was gone! He was the host with the most and certainly deserved a little quiet time after turning his house over to 11 (yes, 11) visitors.

A special visitor was Nibal - a dear friend from Charlotte who moved to Kansas when we moved to Abu Dhabi. She left her sons with her husband and brought her daughter down for a girl visit. What a treat! We stayed in Fayetteville that week as Regan had oral surgery to remove an extra tooth she had between her permanent tooth (it had not emerged yet so they had to go up to get it - poor thing). It required general anesthesia but Regan was a trooper and did great. She has been nervous about this procedure for months but after our consultation with Dr. Bolding (who was wonderful), she really felt at ease and hung right in there. We're so proud of her.

I spent the weekend in Jackson with some girlfriends for my birthday (see previous post) while my mom, dad and brother John took care of the girls. I think they got some swimming in and maybe another trip to Fayettville's great library. We went back to Morrilton and spent a day and a half packing up all our stuff. I also had another birthday celebration with high school friends (and cousin, Leslie) who hosted a special lunch for me at her parent's house while she was home for a visit. Big fun to see Leslie, Kirissa, Pam, Melinda, Tracy and Angela.

The last leg of the first 1/2 was to head to Nashville (after a quick stop in Memphis to see more extended family) to see cousin Alexa who is about to start a nurse midwifery program at Vanderbilt. I got to hang out with her and her sons and mom stuck around for a while to help out while Alexa deals with all the logistics of moving to a new city and getting registered for school. I picked up a rental minivan in Nashville and started the next leg on my own stopping in Asheville with brother- and sister-in-law and nephews on my way to Charlotte (longer visit with them coming up next but great a great "preview" visit!).

All in all, a fun and busy month where we were on.the.go. The longest I put my head on (roughly) the same pillow was the six nights I stayed at my brother's house and many places were for just one or two nights at a time. That is a lot of packing/ unpacking and setting up/ taking down Anna's pack and play!

Off to the next leg of Charlotte, Asheville, Cashiers, TBD and Washington DC. Happy summer!

Backyard fun at Gammy & Poppy's house

I (and my mother-in-law Lynne) did all the girls clothes shopping
for hopefully much of the coming school year. We're going through
the piles of clothes here. Thanks, Lynne!!!

Anna enjoys the new clothes (her shoes but Mere's new Pjs,
sweater and socks).

Enjoying our visit with Aunt Bettye, Uncle Doc and cousin Robin
in West Plains, MO

Extended family gathering in MO

Small world - we ran into old friend Ellen and Kevin Harker
while dropping Regan off at camp.

Regan's tee-pee at camp (she was in Komo 1)

Regan (on right) with camp friends

My girls were quite taken with Aunt Cathy's
dog, Lil. They got lots of tips on what kind
of breed to get when we get a dog.

Extended family fun at my brothers (on the back, it's
me, cousin Kimberly (Ft. Smith) , cousin Alexa (Nashville),
Aunt Cathy (Bella Vista), and cousin Kathryn (Austin)

Admiring doggie Lil's doggie stroller. She got lots of spins around
the house!

Creek fun with cousin Abram

Who's that???? Yes, it's Nibal and Leila
on a quick adventure to Fayetteville!!!

Meredith cuddling with Jessie (aka Anna)

Nibal transfixes five girls with bedtime stories.

Anna (clearly sweaty and hot) with one of the amazing
sitter that the Bells know. We could even forget
that there were 12 kids even there!!!

Nibal has fun at Fayetteville library with Leila and Anna

Meredith dreaming of cold and snowy weather
(or just playing dress-up)

Jane and Meredith hanging with cousin Alex in from Tokyo

Regan ready for camp - we are just pulling into Kanakuk

She gets a 1st time camper sticker so she can
be properly welcomed by everyone.

Unsure about climbing latter for welcome intro and
slide down fireman's pole

Regan just into her new home for a week (tee-pee!)

Anna gets a shoulder ride from Poppy

Meredith, Regan, Leila and Jane ready for sleepover. Regan and
Jane were happy to help take care of Leila who looked excited
to be around so many girls!