Mang-oue Reunion

We had a great time on our spur of the moment road trip to N.O. but the highlight of the trip was definitely meeting up with some of our very dear friends, the Mangum's. They gave us the green light to crash at their place on the way back home so after four hours in the car, we took a brief detour off the main strip and visited our buds in Northern Louisiana!

These two were finally reunited after a year apart. Calyn and Peyton have some good memories together when they were babies and toddlers and are no strangers to playing in the water together; like this old post. 

While Jeni was inside making a salad and the guys were throwing some ribs on the grill, these two were having a wet and wild time in the backyard.

This picture makes me giggle.

It didn't take long before they had established a game of sorts without speaking. They'd run to the fence, turn around and race to the pool. Going full force, they'd jump into the pool and laugh hysterically at each other. Notice that both of our kids have succumbed to movie merchandise fever-- Peyton is wearing 'Cars' swimming trunks, Calyn a Disney Princess swimsuit.

Let's do it AGAIN! :-)

A few times, Peyton ate it and inhaled a mouthful of water.

By the time they were done they'd given the lawn a good watering!

While there were swimming dives going on in the background, this was going on simultaneously. Check out those ribs! They were go-o-o-o-d. Jeni has a 'secret recipe' that she used and they were awesome. Aaron did a great job firing them up.

Leave it to Troy to jump in and lend a hand. I don't think I've ever begun and finished cooking a meal without Troy altering or fiddling with what I'm doing. I think he might have missed his calling in life as a chef. ;-) He's a pretty good lawyer though so I think it worked out.

Jeni was smart and knew that the kids probably wouldn't enjoy ribs like the rest of us would so she hooked them up with mac and cheese. I love that Peyton is wearing Calyn's sunglasses; upside down. Right in the middle of me taking this picture, Calyn was asking if I was going to take her picture too. Got ya, Wags!

It was hard to say goodbye the next morning. We decided to take some pictures before we headed out and I'm glad we did. It made me smile that Jeni who usually has dark hair went lighter and I went darker with my hair {even though I usually keep my hair lighter}. So we played opposites this go around! 

Jeni had to tell them, 'Hug each other like you like each other." because Aaron and Troy were really far apart in the picture before. Guys are so funny about hugging.

It was great seeing these guys again. Four hours isn't too far, but it sure seems that way. I wish the Mangum's were closer. :( We'll have to plan more visits with each other and soon! Luckily, we get to see these guys in July when they'll come down to catch a soccer game. I guess that's the only way we'll 'lure' them down! ;-)