Mississippi Day 1: McComb

It been almost a month since our trip to Mississippi.

Hello, my name is Carla, and I am a procrastinator.

I love keeping this little blog as a "memory book" for our family, and usually blogging is relaxing and enjoyable for me. However, when we come back from trips or there's a birthday or any other reason for having 800 photos in a folder, I get way overwhelmed and just shut down. It took me at least a week to weed through the photos in my folder from the trip. Another week to edit a few of them. And apparently a whole month to write about it. But atlas, here it is... our

Mississippi Easter 2012.

Last month, during what I thought was going to be Dylan's spring break we made a trip down to Mississippi.

We started our trip out at Daniel's parents house.

They live out in the middle of no where on a river.

Both mine and Daniel's cellphones are useless when we are there, if that gives you an idea of how much "in the woods" we are. I always welcome the break of emails, texts, phone calls, facebook, and internet. I think its refreshing to be "off the grid" for a couple of days.

The majority of our time there is always spent out doors. There is really nothing better.

Thursday morning, our first full day in MS, Umpa (Daniel's dad) took the kids outside to shoot airsoft guns. Let me tell you. I hate guns. I didn't even let Dylan play with nerf guns until well into kindergarten. I once had a fit because Dylan shot a bb gun with is Umpa. I don't let them pretend to shoot at anyone or anything around the house. I hate them. I do not know what possessed me. Maybe I couldn't think clearly in all that fresh air, maybe my senses were clogged by all the happiness that was floating around, I'm just not sure. But I let the kids shoot the air soft gun. We went over safety rules, I took a deep breath and watched in amazement of how much fun they were having.

I mean ear to ear smiles. I thought to myself that I would never get the thrill of guns... real, fake, or in between. But look at the smile on my three year old little girls face... she loved it! Dylan said it was his favorite thing of the day. I'm glad I let go and let them have fun.

And then. Something crazy happened in my brain and I decided to give the gun a try. Ya'll. I can't even explain it. Its not a real gun. It shoots little plastic pellets. But it was so addicting. I think I could have sat there and shot it all morning. Maybe there is something to getting pleasure out of guns. I don't think you'll catch me haging out at shooting ranges (is that what they are called?) or out shooting skeet any time soon, but I do see why others do. P.S. This was my 3rd time ever to hold a gun of any type. Just a little random tidbit for you. Oh, and don't you love my hilbilly fashions!? I swear it was not my original outfit for the day.

After shooting at targets for a while, we all headed down to the river. Usually we kayak down it, but the river was very high and not safe for the kids to be in. The kids love throwing rocks into the river and playing in the sand, so even without the kayaks it is an exciting adventure to them.

And its my favorite place to photograph them. Seriously, it is breathtakingly beautiful down there. I wish I had taken them back the next day in pretty clothes, but we didn't make time to. Oh well. I still love the ones of them in play clothes!

Daniel and the kids had grand ole time playing on this huge tree that had fallen and was laying across the sand and a little bit over river. I'm not sure exactly what they were pretending, but it looked like something good with lots of adventure and danger! He's such a great daddy..

And then London and Dylan ran 1000 times back and forth on the sand racing each other. Its amazing to me how entertaining racing is to kids. My little ones are so easy to please and delight. I love that about them. And please note London's tongue hanging out of the side of her mouth. This must give her balance or super speed because this is how she will be seen most anytime she is running, riding her bike, or hula hooping.

After some time at the river, we walked back up to Memom and Umpa's house and played a little put put.

And helped Memom in the garden.

For lunch we roasted some wienies. There is no better lunch if you ask me (or London).

I think there was more out door fun to be had, but I can not account for it seeing as though I slept for at least three hours that afternoon. Hello, vacation!

That evening, Umpa set up eggs for the kids to dye. This was the first time London has ever gotten really into dying Easter eggs. She loved it and could have dunked 5 dozen of them into all the pretty colors and glitter. Dylan, on the other hand, thought his 1 dozen was just enough.

The kids went to bed in about 10 seconds flat that night.

Day 2 coming next month. Just kidding. Hopefully.

April Fools!!!

Better Late than never, right?

I think April fools is such a fun day.

Its a day to put your maturity to the side.

24 hours to put the seriousness of life on hold.

A whole day to be silly and to give your inner child time

to stretch its legs and come out to play.

My inner child tends to peak out and say hello to the world (way, way, way) more often than once a year, but I just love a day that is dedicated to embracing it.

And for those who know my daddy, you know I get my jiving ways from him. My mom is funny, but my Daddy LOVES to pull practical jokes.

First prank of the morning went to the kiddos.

I asked them if they wanted juice for breakfast.

We don't drink juice in our house. It next to never happens.

So, there eyes light up and they both sing-song "YES!!".

I go to the fridge and with my back turned to them, act like I'm pouring it.

I set it down on the table and said to start drinking it while I get their breakfast ready.

When they went to sip it out of the straw, they realized it was JELLO!

Dylan was just beside himself.

London's little face was priceless.

I don't know what tripped them out the most,

the joke itself or that I let them eat JELLO for BREAKFAST!

I explained what April fools is to the kids.

They spent the rest of the time between breakfast and church trying to prank each other and Daniel and I. Dylan got me pretty good by sitting London GIANT stuffed cow on the toilet and turning the light off. When I went into the restroom, I jumped a mile high!!!

Both kids wore band aids to church. They practiced all the way there on what they would say and then saying "April FOOLS!" The first person to ask each of them and they both flopped like a pancake. Lol! I told Dylan it takes lots of practice. haha!

My favorite prank was on one of our sweet friends that we had lunch with.

While he was getting his food, I asked the cashier to tell him his card was declined. I had to sort of convince her, but she agreed. I ran to his wife and told her to watch. We were both in TEARS as the whole thing unfolded. The hubby was a champ about it, but I think I should be on the look out next year!

And for the finale, we got the kids one more time at dinner.

We told them we were starting with baked potatoes and ending with cupcakes.

The "baked potato" did not turn out so well. It was ice cream rolled in coco powder, which is supposed to look like the potato. I think it would have worked, except the ice cream melted so quickly. We put some frozen whip cream to look like sour cream and topped it with a dollop of yellow tinted chocolate. The kids new something was up right away because the ice cream was melting on the plate. It still got a good giggle!

The "cupcakes" really fooled 'em though!!

They really believed we were having a cupcake right after eating an ice cream "potato".

Yeh Right, Kiddos!

When they bit into their treat, they found meatloaf topped with mashed potatoes.

They thought it was funny but then were a little irritated when they figured out there were really no cupcakes.

Here's to letting our hair down and being plain silly more often!

"When it comes to staying young, a mind-lift beats a face-lift any day."

~Marty Bucella

Hoppy Easter!

Our Easter weekend was packed full of fun plans.

I had the entire day on Saturday planned with fun little Easter projects, a movie, and then church and a get together with our friends. I'm pretty sure it would have been a spectacular day.

Saturday morning, London woke up whimpering and holding her ear and said it hurt. I knew it must be an ear infection, so I called the pediatrician. The sweet lady on the phone told me they would get her in but that it was a full waiting room, so we should be prepared to wait. Lovely! So we laid low the rest of the day. Also, Daniel's allergies were out of control and he looked like a zombie (I say this with love). He should have been in bed all day, but made do with an afternoon nap.

We managed to pull ourselves together in time for our church's Children's Service. Dylan and Daniel were ushers, something Dylan has been very excited about for the last week or so. Right before it was time to leave, Dylan said his head was hurting. I assumed it was just allergies, gave him Tylenol, and we continued to church. Dyl had the best time being an usher. He looked so grown up (and I think he felt so too!).

While the boys were ushering people in, London and I went outside and helped set up the Easter egg hunt. I think there were almost 3000 eggs. It looked beautiful and it was gone in about 10 seconds.

After the service, we all came outside an enjoyed the 10 second hunt. Haha! The kids really have so much fun with it though!

Our church does a great job making this a special day for our kids. They even invited a special guest...

After the service we headed to our friends house for a little get together. I made the cutest dessert that I've ever made and didn't take a picture of it with my camera (there's a picture on Daniel's phone, but I don't know how to get it to my computer). The kids were running around and having the best time, and then Dylan came and told me his head was hurting again. I asked him if he felt bad enough to want to go home. He said no. I gave him some water and our friends set him up in their room with tv. He laid there a bit and said he felt better. He moved into their movie room and watched a movie with some of the other kids. When it was time to go we found Dylan out like a light on the couch, and with a little fever. We got home, gave him some Motrin and put him in bed with me. I set my alarm clock to wake up and give him more medicine, but his fever had broken by then.

Sunday morning I woke up around 7:30. My kids, especially Dylan, never sleep past 7:30. So, I assumed the family would get up at any moment. 8:30 rolled around and I had checked at least 3 times to make sure both kids were breathing. The finally woke up shortly after 8:30 and found their Easter Baskets.

I wanted so badly to go to church, but I could tell that neither of the kids were 100% better. They were both sort of off all day. We enjoyed a restful day at the house. We dyed eggs and watched a movie. London and I took a nap while in was raining outside (which is my idea of a perfect afternoon activity), and when we woke up my mom was here and playing with Dylan.

Grammy and the kids were in charge of dessert.

We had a yummy dinner and just enjoyed family time.

We never got to get dressed in our Easter Best.

The day was not anything like what I had planned.

But we snuggled lots, giggled bunches, and enjoyed the day

just hanging out and being a family.

And here is our Easter 2012 family photo.

If that doesn't make you laugh, I don't know what would!