Coast Trip

After a fun weekend with the Hays family in Jackson, we headed down to the coast to stay with Mandy and Nate a few days and then to Biloxi to a convention. It worked out last year that we got to stop on our way to Biloxi and see Fischer when he was born and this year we got to spend his birthday with him again. Hopefully it will always work out that way! We spent his birthday at the water park and honestly I am not sure who had more fun..Fischer, Bishop, or ME. The water slides were so much fun! Once Bishop got the nerve to go down with me, he was hooked. He would say "one more time" every time. It worked out that my mom got to come too, so that was nice. Last year, Bishop and I literally did nothing during the convention  but it is quite hard in a casino hotel room with a 2 year old. Especially without Disney channel. Just saying. I have to say you learn to be, um, innovative in hotels....warm milk in coffee pot, make oatmeal with coffee pot, etc. That may have been the worst part! But, we survived. And, we really had a great time. I still got to relax in the hotel while he napped. It was nice having no other choice but to lay in that nice cool, dark hotel room...otherwise during nap time  I am cleaning, on the computer, laundry, sewing, etc.

Getting a 1 year old and a 2 year old in a picture together is near impossible. 

Actually, I took the BEST picture of them. Oh, it was so cute. Mandy and I were just so excited that  they both laid on a pillow and smiled real smiles and looked at the camera and everything. And then I realized I had my camera on manual and the shutter speed was so fast that the picture was black. Completely black. I almost cried. And then I made do with the jumping monkeys on the bed. They are so entertaining. 

We had some really good food while we were there. Ocean Springs has some really good restaurants. My favorites were Bayview Gormet for breakfast and Leo's for dinner. We also ate at a pretty good Greek place..Bishop loved the hummus and pitas. 

Yes, it was as good as it looked. 

Trying to teach Fischer how to put a puzzle together. However, Fischer was only interested in eating the puzzle. And, yes, Fischer does have 2 arms...he is just way too busy to sit still for a picture and one of them is completely blurred :)

Next up was Biloxi. We went to Gulf Islands water park for Fischer's birthday and the rest of the time we did what we do best...EAT! We did hang out at the pool too...while daddy "worked". 

Happy Birthday sweet boy!!

The cheese face cracks me up! He was having a blast!

Cell phone pic of me and B going down his favorite slide. He loved it! Obviously I did as well. 

Our only family photo..at least it is a decent one.

With G&G

Loves, loves to swim.

Making do with Little Einsteins on mommy's phone. 

Um, not sure about this face B man

We walked down to take pictures while we waited at the Blow Fly Inn and got distracted by this little guy. Obviously he gets fed a lot. Obviously we didn't take any pictures...but we did eat a lot!

And, that, concludes our trip to the coast. So nice to be away with my family with no responsibility other than figuring out where to eat!

Around the World in 7 Days

To say the least, I am tired. And I wish I got a stay cation for the next 7 days. At least. However, it is back to the real world tomorrow!

Over the past 7 days we stayed 2 nights with Leon's brother in Jackson, then to Ocean Springs with the Smith's for 2 days, then Biloxi for 3 days, and then stopped outside Mobile on the way home to see my Papaw Herman. Whew, it makes me tired just typing all of that. We had a good time though and I am glad that we got to spend time together as a family. I love my little family to pieces.

First we started our trip with a Hays get together at Pojo and Karen's new house. It was a fantastic day. Seriously, I am not sure I could have eaten anything else that day. It is pretty much ALL we did. Or all I did at least. Donuts, gumbo, cookies, cake, watermelon, ice cream, chicken, casseroles galore, "splat" tators...seriously, it was ridiculous. In a good way of course.Aside from the eating, the kiddo's had an absolute blast. They swam in the neighborhood pool (that is practically in their back yard...how awesome would that be?!), played video games, played outside, watched movies, and we ended the day with an awesome fireworks show. Some of the firework show was in 3D. I did not find that part awesome.

As you might have noticed I do have my camera back, but I must be out of practice because most of my pictures are not very good. In fact, I was too busy having fun with the family to take many so I guess that isn't a terrible thing. I even stole a few from Noelle's Facebook album.

Getting the cooler cleaned up and ready for the party

I made star cookies again. This recipe is definitely my favorite. And, I have tried a lot. It is the easiest to work with and it tastes really good. 

Pojo grilling up A LOT of chicken. 

Silly girls

It was Kaleb's (as well as several others) birthday so Noelle made this super cute and delicious cake. I know one little boy who ate more than his share and had the blue poop to prove it. TMI maybe?

Bishop loved the fireworks and the sparklers...and his Papoo!

3 boys in a Barbie jeep (with the windshield torn off already) = recipe for disaster.

Wait...I think THIS is actually more of a recipe for disaster.

Or this....

Everyone waiting patiently on the show to begin

The fireworks show was just as good as the one we saw at the country club on the 4th. In hindsight, it might have been a good idea to watch from a bit further away. Next time. 

And that wraps up day 1 of the trip. To be continued....

Family Vacay 2012

A few weeks ago the Williams family spent a 4 day weekend on the coast. Mandy and Nate have a ridiculously awesome house on the water with a ridiculously awesome pier that I could literally live on. Forever. I spent a lot of time out there. Maybe not nearly as much as the husband that stayed up fishing until 4:30 a.m.. Needless to say, we had a great time. We had a "summer" birthday (Fischer, Jacob, Chris, Gerald, Steve) party on the beach, did a lot of fishing, ate some good food, went to the beach/splash park, and just hung out.

My trip in instagram.... (since I didn't have a camera STILL)

We had to stop for donuts on our way

The birthday boy!

I could live there....

Pizza night

Watermelon

Daddy caught a "big o" shark!

One of the 3 sharks that were caught...Chris and Granddaddy each caught one too. 

The night fishing was completely awesome! So relaxing and so fun! 

Checking out momma and daddy's fish  (mostly daddy's)

Dancing with Granddaddy

Crabs that the boys caught...Bishop LOVED them

Hard at work

Next year we will be an even bigger crew when baby Ganaway joins the mix! We can't wait!

July 4th

Seriously, I'm about  to start a blogging marathon.

Maybe.

Or maybe not.

I have a million "posts" in my head but due to the fact that I don't have time for blogging right now because we have been so busy having fun that they may possibly stay in my head. At least until it is cold again and we can no longer play every day.

Either way, I'm skipping a lot and going to today's festivities. Today was a good great day. Bishop and I started it off by making cookies, then we headed to the parade,  then later the family came over for dinner and water slide fun, and last we watched the fireworks show at the country club. Busy but very laid back day. It was nice!

P.S. I got my camera back..YAY!

Ready for the parade to start

Bishop and his "girlfriend" Claire. Her daddy said "Bishop, Claire tells me you are her boyfriend.." to which he (without hesitation) answered. "Uh huh, that's right"

They are too sweet! 

You wouldn't have imagined that a few days ago I had to literally force Bishop down the slide almost crying he was so scared. Now he climbs up all by himself and slides down face first!

(I found the slide last year at the goodwill and could not pass it up. It has been awesome the past few ridiculously HOT days) 

My mom's patriotic basket and our cookies we made. They were yummy. In fact, there was only 1 left at the end of the day. And, that was only because I promised B he could have another tomorrow. And, yes, it is taking all I have not to go in there and eat it right now. At midnight. But I love him and I'm saving it for him :)

Abby staying cool in "her" pool

Star ice. Yes, I made star ice. It was supposed to go with the cute layered red/blue drink that I pinned on pinterest. It did not turn out like the picture promised. With pinterest I have learned "you win some, you lose some"  Oh well, it still tasted good anyway!

God Bless America!