ARKANSAS!

We are back from a 2-week trip to Arkansas. We had sooooo much fun! The boys were champs on the car-ride (15 hours - 2 travel days). We stayed with Uncle Charles & Aunt Betty, saw lots of friends (I didn't post pics b/c I didn't know if they would want them on here or not) and family in NWA, went to a Naturals game, ate at some of our favorite restaurants, and even visited the doctor (Carter had an ear infection). Then went to Dallas for a couple of days to visit Nana & Papa Larry and the Livers, then to Little Rock to visit Mimi & Bah Bah, the Owens, and cousins Becky & Bok and went to Wild River Country - a water park. Mimi made the trip back with us to help me. I think I would have been sad to come back to Pittsburgh after such a fun trip "back home," but Reagan was here waiting for us and we were very excited to see him (we had not seen him in over a week-he came back after a few days in NWA). We can't wait to go again!! Enjoy a few pics from our trip.

Mimi & Bah Bah and the grandkids

Strike the Naturals mascot - Byron won't go near him and Carter doesn't seem to fond of him either!

The Livers & Binns kiddos

Nana & the boys

Byron and his "girlfriend" Katie (the picture quality was horrible b/c the 2 would not slow down)

Touch a Truck

Last Saturday we went to the Junior League Pittsburgh Touch a Truck event, it was a lot like the one in Northwest AR, I wonder if the Pittsburgh League got the idea from the JLNWA b/c they started having this event a year later. It was a rainy day. Our new Alabama friends from church went with us (I didn't put any pics of them on here b/c I forgot to ask if it was ok with them). We had a lot of fun and Byron absolutely loved it! Carter hung out in the stroller most of the time. The event was downtown.

Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Game

We took the boys to see the Braves vs. Pirates. The Pirates are awful, they hardly ever win a game, but they are fun to go to (they actually did win against the Cubs yesterday, Byron and Reagan went to that game as well. Carter and I stayed home b/c he has an ear infection and was sound asleep when they left).

The stadium is really nice, it is right in the middle of downtown. The boys did great. Byron LOVES baseball, he will sit and watch a whole game. Carter had fun just looking around at everything and soaking it all in. Byron has really gotten into playing baseball as well.

Byron's New Bike

Byron got a bike for a potty training incentive. He absolutely loves it! I can't believe how fast he caught on. He can pretty much ride it by himself. He is getting to be so big! He already tells people he is 3. I asked him why he tells people that because he isn't quite 3 yet, he said "Because Calliou is 3." Calliou (on PBS) is becoming one of his favorite tv shows, I like it too it is cute :) Byron says some of the funniest things!

At the park watching Byron ride!

We are now over three months into our Pittsburgh experience, Kristy and I are transitioning pretty well. We've found a church that we really agree with, and have sparked a few relationships. It's a little odd trying to make new friends...... In some ways, it's like dating

• we get a little anxious about going out (to lunch or dinner in our case). These could be our new friends.....


• we want to make a good impression and don't want to come across as desperate, but


• we really want it to work out!
  

I remember how difficult it was to make friends when I moved to Tulsa, OK many years ago, and I thought I was busy then. Now with a young family, 2 realities have set in: 1) if you don't have good friends by the time you make it to this phase in life, it is increasingly difficult to invest time in new relationships (we are making every effort to do that!), and 2) it took me 30+ years to build the relationships that I have today - that cannot be duplicated in 4 months!

But this is a good post! We still lean on our friends in AR, TX and MS. Kristy and I have become closer through this experience, and we are slowly breaking into the community here. Also, Byron and Carter are becoming best buds. They are crazy about each other.

Together at bathtime!

Hanging out on "Momma's bed"

Byron in Carter's bed. We find him in there from time to time. This borders on he probably shouldn't be climbing in there and is going to end up hurting himself or Carter vs. It's just too cute.

Clearly, Carter is not comfortable with the flash. Byron, on the other hand, is right at home.

In closing:

"'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show
Will settle the finding for 'ee
Nine hundred and nintey-nine of 'em go
By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him
The rest of the world don't matter;
For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim
With you in any water."

by Rudyard Kipling

Happy Mother's Day! I had a great Mother's Day.

We went to church, out to lunch, and got a long nap.

Baba and Pop Pops (Kristy's Dad & Step-mom) came to visit us last week.

We had a lot of fun with them. We went to the outlet malls, a candy factory

(Sarris Candies-pics above), Reagan and Pop Pops took Byron to Dayton, OH

for a Ham Radio Convention while Baba and I took Carter to the Carnegie Art

and Natural History museums.

Race Day

Reagan just completed his first 1/2 marathon in 2 hours 3 min... in the rain! We are so proud of him. The boys and I rode the T (Trolley) to downtown and tried to wait for him at the finish line, but with a double stroller and umbrella it wasn't going to happen. So, we waited for him to come through the line after he finished.

Other cute pics of the boys. We haven't really been up to much lately!