Phoenix: Heading home

Noah and I stopped in Phoenix for a few more days before we made the final 6 hour flight home.  We got to enjoy more time with family, and Noah got to meet Aunt CeCe's new puppy!

Puppy Love!

 Talking about trucks with Great Grandpa & GG

Flying back home to Kauai

 

We had a wonderful time on the mainland seeing all of our friends and family, and we want to thank you all for taking the time to meet up with us when you could!

Papa's birthday & Father's Day

Our timing in Kansas was perfect because we ended up being there to help Papa celebrate his birthday and Father's Day (which fell on the same day this year) with him :)

As part of Papa's birthday gift, we took him and Grandma to a Wichita Wingnuts baseball game!

I sent this picture to Ely (since he was still at training in Texas) and he asked who the 6 year old in the photo was! Noah looks so grown up!



Noah helped Papa get the morning paper

 One of Noah's favorite activities at Papa & Grandma's house: mowing the lawn with Papa

Helping clean up the patio

On Papa's birthday we went out to Red Lobster to celebrate :)

 

Noah wasn't really sure if he wanted to touch an actual lobster...

Being silly with Papa

We had cookie cake back at the house, and Noah was very excited about singing to Papa and helping him blow out his candles

(on a side note, Noah just saw this picture as I'm working on posting it and he started singing "Happy Birthday to Papa" again :-)

 

Being silly before bedtime

Spearville: Visiting Great Grandma Stein

On one of our last days in Kansas, we took a road trip out to Spearville to spend the day with Great Grandma Stein!

Relaxing in the car on the way to Spearville

Noah was watching a DVD and asked me if he had the headphones on right ;-)



Uncle Ron joined us for dinner, and Noah requested a ride in his big truck!

Mommy, Noah & Great Grandma Stein

Derby Days

My hometown of Derby, KS usually has "Derby Days" every summer with various events including a parade and carnival.  This year they didn't have the volunteers to get it organized but the people who set up the carnival decided to go ahead and set up all the games and rides anyways.  So Noah got to have his first *big* carnival experience. (Our church in Kauai has a fun little carnival that we enjoy, but they don't have any of the rides.)

One of Noah's highlights: making this "airplane" go up and down!

 

 

 

 

Riding on Nemo!

 Noah made his fishy face the entire time :-D

 

 Driving the big truck

Love that face :)

 

Cruisin' on the motorcycle

 

Riding the carousel with Grandma

Noah had to ride on the rooster again!

 

When Noah first saw the Ferris Wheel he was really excited about riding it, but then when we actually got in line he changed his mind...so we had to go on another ride instead.  Luckily, we were able to convince him to go on it right before we left!

 

 

Emporia: Lunch, Playdate & Photo Session

Noah and I took a little road trip to Emporia for lunch and a play date at the park with one of my best friends Kelle and her son Peyton.

Friends since 6th grade :-)

 

 Peyton, Kelle, Heather & Noah

 

 

Along with being a nurse, Kelle also has a photography business on the side so we had a little photo shoot at the park :-D

 

(Noah cooperated about as expected...haha)

 

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of the fabulous Kelle at Shabby Chic Photography :-D