Doha Days: August 2011

Monday, August 29, 2011

Townley Togetherness!

After unpacking at Honey and Papa's our Arkansas family arrived for a few days. Jerry and Terry (my mom and her sis) have always been close which in turn has kept Ashley and I close with Sharon (our cousin). We keep in touch frequently but make a point to see each other every summer. 2 sisters, 3 cousins and 8 little cousins! Its crazy but so much fun!!

Papa squeezin in a little football

Spent the day at the pool with the little cousins while Mom and Aunt Terry had a sister-day-out.

Anna Lou and Courtney

Big Brother

Whitney and Georgia getting their chance at a bath. Bath time was CrAzY!

Anna Lou didn't want to miss out on any fun so she stayed for the slumber party!

Always good stuff comin from the kitchen!

Our crew with Aunt Rosie (my grandmother's sister)

Papa put together a little backyard bonanza for all the kiddos

The heat was insane, which only means one thing. Snowcones...next time in the A/C.

We spent one morning at the indoor safari in Plano. Pretty cool place if they had more employees!

We thought these were pretty funny....kids loved them.

Why not? And why not take her picture!?

Riding the train...

Poor Graham...he thought he wanted to go and then changed his mind.

Taking a cousin picture sounds like such a great idea...if its cool weather and your kids are robots!

Love all those sweet ums!

Aunt Terry and Sharon have been so faithful to pray and support us while we live in Doha. They are such special people to me and I'm so so thankful we can get together every summer. Although oceans apart they don't make it feel that way. There is nothing like loyal loving family. I love you Arkansas peeps!! We enjoyed every second of our visit!!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Pit Stop in Waco

We couldn't pass up the opportunity to drive through Bear Country on our way North to Dallas from Houston. Our besties Shannon and Justin wanted to travel with us and also hosted us for a night at her parents' house. Staying with the Smiths is like staying with family. So easy and always so helpful with a house full of rowdy boys!

No doubt we're on the road in Texas...truck full of chickens. Just a little concerning.

After dropping our stuff off we headed over to Shannon's generous in-laws for a pool play date with some Waco buddies.

Julia, Katy, Kacey, Ann, me, Shannon

Julia and me with our Brooks boys!

Georgie

Later that night we celebrated Shannon's dad's birthday The boys had a blast with Papa Snuf and of course loved celebrating a birthday!

Papa Snuf jumped in the middle of these crazy boys and helped so much. He took them swimming again the next day...all had a blast.

Just so happened one of my dearest friends from highschool and Baylor was in town from Austin.

Jaime, Georgia and me

We finished up our weekend with another best friend Ann and the Kennedy Crew.

How bout it!?!? What a welcome!

In college Ann and I swapped parents. I lived with her parents in Waco for a while one summer and a year later she lived in Plano with my parents. Lots of fun Baylor memories with the Stewarts and of course my precious friend Ann

Ann, Janice (Ann's mom) and me...it was late and we were all tired.

Boys get their first experience with the Wii

On Sunday we loaded the truck with all of our luggage but made some significant Baylor stops before heading out of town.

Sic Em and the stadium

This was Daddy's house while he was at BU

And this was my pretty apartment which we named Pete's Palace after our landlord.

Living conditions are just a tiny bit different than they were 10 years ago. This is what you might see a current Baylor student living in. I'm still a little shocked by what poor BU students live in.

Really??
Student housing?

Absolutely couldn't miss Judge Baylor.

Georgia heading for the Bear pit.

Future Baylor Students if we win the lottery.

Master Brooks at Brooks Hall...always remembers and wants to see his very own building.

(now referred to as the fancy pants Brooks Residential College)

Sic em Bears! Beat the horned frogs!!

Farewell Houston

To wrap up our Houston rondevouz we shacked up again with our Doha family, the LaRovere's for a few last H-town nights. They're house is so accommodating for all of our stuff plus they know the joys and pains of living out of luggage all summer. Their type of hospitality is a gift. Being in their home feels like being at home!

Jackie graciously opened her backyard to host a little swim play date for some of our best Houston friends we miss so so much! Katie, Kim and me were in the deep trenches together as first time mommies. I take with me so many wonderful memories and lessons learned from those early years. of laughing, crying, anxiety, stress but mostly partnership. 6 years later we have 11 babies between the 3 of us. While I confidently know they are still loyal friends, I terribly miss the blessing of our daily friendship and interaction. Its been 3 years since we moved and I'm still not used to their absence.

Jackie, Wendi, Katie, Kim

Our Kindergarteners!!

Aubrey, Brooks, Kaylinn

Barrett and Emery

Few of the crew...

Kim with Carter and other peanuts

John David's amazing dive

Katie and adorable Lissie

I'm happy to marry these 2 off in about 25 years!

Besides family, there are only a few people you can hand your kids off for life to and Katie Tuley is one for me. I'm know she's thankful this blog isn't an official document for raising my children and that she hasn't agreed. This girl has her hands full with 3 little ones and another coming in just a few weeks! She's an amazing Godly woman which makes her a gifted mother, wife and friend.

For our last day in Houston we went to a Doha Day at the Duncans.

The Duncans were our first fast friends in Doha. They moved to Houston last fall and again...we miss them so much. Jackie, Lindsay, Jennie and me all came over for one last hurrah. Crazy how we all lived in the dessert and how easily we can see each other when we're back in Houston. So thankful for that!

Brooks, Barrett, Cooper, Cres, Jacob