Hot Springs 2013

We LOVE going to Hot Springs!  We both grew up going there and, not long after we were married, went there on our first vacation.

We have gone there every few years until about 2007, when we started going yearly.

Our favorite time to go is fall.  It is just so beautiful.  The mountains, the trees wearing their fall colors, the leaves on the sidewalks, the acorns on the ground.  Really...just amazing!

Some photos from this years trip...

Us swinging

Our view from the swing



We went for a ride up West Mountain

There are overlooks where you can stop and take pictures.  It was sprinkling but that didn't stop us from enjoying God's creation.



We have a beautiful view from our condo.  This is from our balcony.

We ate at McClards Bar-B-Q, a well known Hot Springs restaurant, for the first time.  Chad loves barbecue and said the ribs were excellent.

We also visited the hot tub.



The last day it rained cats and dogs but we still enjoyed ourselves.  We watched movies in our condo and took a nap.  Perfect way to spend a vacation, if you ask me.

That night the rain stopped and we went to eat dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse.  It was delicious and a place we never go when we are home.  While we were waiting to be seated they had an Etch-A-Sketch out to be played with.  How fun!  I remember playing with mine a bunch as a kid.  I'm obviously out of practice.

The last morning we woke up to the prettiest weather.  So thankful for the sunshine to make our drive home easier.



Until next time...

Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans

I was not super excited about our trip to New Orleans.

Chad would be at the Southern Baptist Convention.

I would be with the kids in a strange city.

Have I mentioned I'm directionally challenged?

But we decided to go with Chad and make the best of it.

What I wasn't expecting?  I had a GREAT time! 

After getting settled in our hotel room we hit set out to ride a street car and headed towards St. Charles.

Parker's favorite thing to do was pull the cord to let the driver know we wanted off.

While on the street car we saw a place to eat and ended up at New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Co.  It was really good!  I was SO proud of my Hayden.  He is adventurous with food. At every restaurant we went he ordered seafood...he had etoufee, gumbo and crawfish dishes.  No chicken nuggets for this kid!

This was Father's Day and I thought the boys looked so handsome so had to get a few pictures before church.

Funny faces...

 

Two boys and their Dad. 

On Father's Day we went to church at Franklin Avenue Baptist.  Where Rev. Fred Luter preaches.  Two days after that church service he would make history becoming the first African American President of the Southern Baptist Convention.

We met up with the Tweens from Airline Baptist who were in New Orleans on a mission trip for church.  It felt good to see familiar faces!

After church we went to eat with the Tweens at Deanie's in Metaire.

Sunday Night started the Pastor's Conference and the Convention followed.  Chad was so sweet to spend as much time with us as possible.  We were fortunate to be within walking distance of the convention center so he could come and go easily.

On Monday morning, the kids and I walked to the Louisiana Children's Museum.  It was a neat museum and reminded me of Sci-Port in an older building.  It had some really fun things for the kids to do.

For lunch, Chad met back up with us and we went to the French Quarter for lunch, shopping and beneigts.

Lunch at Montrels

Beneigts at Cafe Du Monde.

It was SO windy that day and we had powdered sugar all over us!

While we were in New Orleans...we had to get a picture with the Dumaine sign :)

On Tuesday we went to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas...

 ...and Imax.

On Wednesday before leaving town we stopped by the Audubon Zoo...

Hayden had done some research on John James Audubon in 3rd grade so we had to take a picture with his statue...

Can you really avoid sticking your finger in the nose of a chimp statue if you are 9 years old?
I think not.

Chad monkeying around...

At the zoo...the kids had gotten wet playing in some water.  We found this hurricane booth that blew 85 mile per hour winds.  We though it might be a good way for them to dry off.  Parker was dancing...silly boy!

Parker the Crocodile Hunter...

Hayden the Crocodile Hunter...

A real turtle just hanging out on the grounds of the Audubon Zoo...

On our ride home...my little Parker-man reading his book, passing the time on our journey home.

We really did have a wonderful time!  Thanks New Orleans!  See you soon!

The Graduate

Earning a master's degree is not easy.  Earning a master's degree while having a full time job is not easy.  Earning a master's degree while being married is not easy.  Earning a master's degree while having two children is not easy...

but Chad did it while working full time, being a husband and a Dad to two young children!

Chad H. Mills

Master of Divinity

Louisiana Baptist University

At 3pm Friday, May 4, 2012 Chad graduated with his Master of Divinity.  Graduation was held at Summer Grove Baptist Church. 

Me and the graduate!

Sugie loves Chad.

Can't you tell they are proud?

He was a celebrity for the evening...

After graduation we attended a dinner to celebrate the graduates...



I'm a very proud wife!

My gift to Chad (okay, maybe a gift for me, too)...

We left the Monday after graduation and had a wonderful time.  It was a trip about relaxation, and that, we did!

Southern Baptist Convention...Orlando 2010

This was our second year going as a family to the Southern Baptist Convention.  We were excited last year to learn it would be in Orlando for 2010.  My wheels started turning about all the fun we could have-there are beaches, Disney and best of all...my brother and his family!  

We left on Friday, June 11 and headed to Pensacola.  We had heard the oil spill had already hit the beaches but we were pleased to find beautiful white sand beaches. 

We just went down to the beach to check it out and put our feet in before dinner but within minutes the kids were soaked so we just let them play.

 

Parker kept saying...I can taste the salt!

 

They loved running and jumping in the waves...

 

 We went back the next morning before our long ride to Orlando so we could take in more of the beach.  The kids spent a lot of time digging in the sand and letting the waves crash on them.  It was truly beautiful...

We drove to my brothers house in Winter Garden, near Orlando and got there that night.  I was so excited to see my brother and his family.  I hadn't seen my niece, Haley, in over a year and had never seen Ryker except for in pictures.  They are such sweet babies!

We headed to Scott & Bridget's church, First Baptist Orlando, on Sunday morning and it was a wonderful worship service.

Parker and Haley holding hands walking into church...so sweet!

After church we had a small birthday party for Ryker's first birthday.  It was just family and close family friends...

He REALLY got into his cake...

Unfortunately, not long after eating this he threw up green icing ALL OVER one of Scott & Bridget's friends.  Poor baby!

Sunday afternoon Chad and I left to go to a hotel closer to the Orange County Convention Center, where the Southern Baptist Convention would be held.  Sunday night and Monday is the Pastors' Conference where there is tons of great preaching and music.  Tuesday starts the convention where all of the business takes place.  I didn't take many pictures at the convention but I did take food pictures...HA!

One day for lunch we walked across the street to this restaurant...

The food was DELICIOUS!  I got a Warm Spinach Salad with Bacon & Mushrooms...

I also got a Lobster and Crab Burger with Truffle Fries...YUMMY!

On Tuesday, they had a Pastor's Wives Luncheon.  They go all out for our this and treat us like queens.  The girl sitting beside me is Lori.  Her and I became friends after we met at the hotel swimming pool at last years convention in Kentucky.  We have stayed in touch through FB and blogging and I'm so happy to have her as a friend.

 

I had to take a picture of the cute desserts they served us.  Teeny tiny little cups of key lime pie with teeny tiny little spoons.  So cute and fun...

Tuesday night Chad and I went back to my brother's house to stay the next two nights.  On Wednesday we went to Disney's Hollywood Studios and it was HOT!

We started out at the Muppet 3D Show...it was really cute!

Chad, Scott & the boys road the Star Wars ride and they liked it alot...

Mom & Scott waiting for Indiana Jones to start...

My little family...

The Indiana Jones show was so neat.  It was like you were watching a movie being made...

Parker was pretty grouchy that day.  He was tired the whole time we were there and mostly rode in a stroller...thank goodness for a brother with young ones.  Chad carried him on his shoulders a few times and I am a sucker for a kids on there Daddy's shoulders.

After lunch we went to the Lights, Motors, Action! show and it was amazing!  They run those cars around each other so fast but it is all choreographed.

During the show...

Scott's friend is a friend of the "Hero" driver so we got a backstage tour.

Parker sitting in the Hero car...

Uncle Scott...

The boys with the Hero driver.  He was super nice...showed us a bunch of stuff and answered a lot of questions.

The thing Scott was most excited for us to see...the parade.  He was disappointed because they didn't stop the parade like normal but we still enjoyed it very much.

We LOVE the Monsters, Inc. movie so we thought it was really neat to see the characters...

Thursday morning we left for SanDestin, FL.  We went swimming at the hotel pool that evening.

Boys before bed in our hotel...

The next morning we went down to the beach.  It was SO pretty.  The kids loved being there.

I thought Hayden was pretty innovative here...he dug out and area to sit in with a back area and head rest so he could let the waves rush up on him.

Great trip!  Next year:  Pheonix, AZ.  I just thought it was hot in Orlando!