Summer Road Trip Week 3

The third week of our road trip was spent visiting Angela's side of the family in Norman and Oklahoma City.  Kaye K and Big Daddy returned to their roots and moved back to Oklahoma this past year, along with Angela's brother and his family, and Nana.  So much fun to be had with so many people to visit!  Ryan had to fly home after a couple days (someone has to work!), but the rest of us stayed for a great week.

We took the kids around the OU campus on electric scooters - a fun way to see my parents' alma mater

Fun times with the cousins!  We took advantage of the morning $1 movie

Special treats with Kaye K

We spent an evening at a neighborhood pool with fun slides and a lazy river

Nana treated everyone to our favorite Oklahoma ice cream: Braums!

Even on vacation, I find surprise photos on my phone:

Family time under my parents' new deck patio - delicious homemade ice cream and a rousing game of Family

Big Daddy took the kids fishing at Uncle Bob's pond - Rooke caught the biggest fish!

We spent a day in Oklahoma City, starting with a visit to the OKC Bombing Memorial.  

The Cowboy Hall of Fame was beautiful and impressive

Fourth of July celebrations!  

Dear family friends joined us for a patriotic OKC Philharmonic outdoor performance

The redheads made a patriotic jello cake for our picnic

I want to be as cool as she is some day

The fireworks were great!! 

Everyone should have a Big Daddy

One last meal together: delicious breakfast at Cattleman's

We loaded up and left early for two long days of driving.  My dad drove every. single. minute.  The entire way home!  It was a gift beyond measure.

We love you, Big Daddy & Kaye K!  Thanks for making the last days of our road trip special!

Summer Road Trip Week 2

 The second part of our summer road trip was spent with family and friends in Tulsa.  It had been too long since we'd been back to Oklahoma as a family, and we were grateful for a string of days to enjoy time with Ryan's family and to catch up with some friends.  

Uncle Sean and G-Daddy are big fans and regular players of disc golf.  Rooke was happy to join the team and to learn about Kevin's disc collection.  The guys literally played at least one course every day!  Rooke and Kevin even played in a tournament together, bringing home some pretty cool swag =)

Grammy Deb hosted a beautiful tea party for the ladies, using her fine china and serving delicious treats from a local bakery.

We were excited to check out The Gathering Place - there were so many cool spots to explore

These sweet cousins had so much fun playing together.  Over the course of the week they enjoyed a two-night sleepover, put on a music show, a fashion show, AND a magic show!  They happily entertained one another with forts and legos, and whatever else they were doing that brought our laughter and smiles from everyone!

The sleepover living room pallet became the disc golf watching zone when the intensity of the tournament built to the very last hole

Our dear friend is a professional photographer and was kindly willing to take family photos

She also caught Ryan and I showing how awkward we can be!

At the end of the week, we took the kids to OBU.  We met up with a college friend who is now an OBU professor!  The kids were patient with our memories and stories as we walked around the campus.

My freshman dorm:

Ryan's junior and senior year apartment:

Go Bison!

Summer Road Trip Week 1

We mapped out our summer road trip and set off early in our trusty white van (AKA "Snowball").  Our first stop was Greenville, SC.  Dear friends moved last year and we were grateful to visit their new home and catch up in person.  

 After two nights in Greenville, we had another long day of driving to Stop #2: New Orleans.  Being a Saints football fan, Ryan has always wanted to visit New Orleans.  We timed it to arrive on father's day and celebrated our favorite dad with some delicious BBQ

Our full day in New Orleans started at the Superdome where the Saints play.  Ryan picked out his own Father's Day presents in the gift shop =)

The rest of the day was spent basically eating our way through the city!

Cafe Du Monde

The "original" Muffuletta sandwich

After a lot of walking around and a visit to the aquarium while a storm passed through, we thoroughly enjoyed a cajun dinner: alligator nachos, fried shrimp, étouffée, blackened fish, etc . . . =)

From New Orleans, we headed west to visit the Payne homestead.  Kevin and Deborah met us there, along with Kevin's cousin, who provided detailed history about Grandaddy IB, his nine siblings, and the generations of Payne history.

The family history lesson continued . . .

Later in the day, we made our way to Ryan's grandmother's house where she's lived for over fifty years.  We enjoyed time with her, looking at old photos, hearing wonderful stories, and eating at a few of her favorite local spots.  We also introduced her to one of our favorite places to eat: Smoothie King - it was her first smoothie! =)

Kevin and Ryan walked the kids to the neighborhood corner store where Kevin frequented growing up.  The Maggio family has owned the store for years and still recognizes when a Payne walks in!

We love you, Grandmother!

Four generations of Paynes