Friday, October 31, 2008

happy halloween!

Unfortunately, our home is in an area of a very large neighborhood that gets ZERO trick-or-treators. Luckily, a friend invited us to a party at her home and let us crash her hood for candy! Grace had a wonderful night and came home exhausted!

a princess jumpy for halloween?! it's a purple fairy's dream!


getting ready to trick-or-treat


heading to her first house of the night


very impressed with her prize!


about 15 houses later... worn out!


the purple fairy takes flight in the princess jumpy!

zoo boo!

Last night we went to "ZOO BOO" at the Hattiesburg Zoo. This picture sums up our experience...
"standing in line"


Last year we went the weekend before Halloween and it was a much better time, shorter lines and less crowds! We did brave most of the experience though, completing 16 of the 20 games there!

Lindsey, this one's for you! War Eagle!


Grace has come so far this Halloween. A month ago she would not have gone near this haunted house! Yes, we seem to be pulling out of the "everything's so scary" phase!


Grace with her favorite blow up, the black kitty.


Grace and Daddy by the bubble machine. No line and probably the most fun she had all night!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

down on the farm!

Last night we visited a small, family owned dairy farm in Columbia, Mississippi ... so amazing!

Grace with a 2 week old baby calf... he still had his umbilical cord! The babies were very friendly!


Grace, Chandler and Zachary

The cows were lined up for their 5 o'clock milking!

Grace was so excited to touch a big cow! From the time I told her we were visiting a dairy farm, she asked if she would be able to touch the cows. I told her that she would have to ask the farmer... luckily, these farmer were very nice!

Ready to be milked!

Grace drinking fresh milk! I was a little nervous about it not being pasteurized, but she survived!

Grace in the chicken coup collecting eggs!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

special delivery!

Grace received a special delivery from the mailman yesterday! It was a Halloween package from Grand-dad and Grand-mom, Aunt Lindsey and Aunt Caitlin. Thanks y'all, you made her day! She loves all her new treats!

Monday, October 27, 2008

mmmm cookies!

We had been talking about doing it for a week and finally got around to it... baking chocolate chip cookies! Not just any choco-chip cookies, but ones made with Splenda, so Daddy could have a couple too! Grace was so excited and wanted to help with everything... when I told her to pour in the sugar she said, "no, mommy, it's not sugar, it's Splenda!" She doesn't miss a thing! The cookies came out good, much more cake-like than those made with real sugar, but I had read that baking with Splenda would be that way. Grace has really been enjoying the yummy results of her baking! I keep catching her sneaking "one more!"





lowe's kid's workshop

Grace and Daddy went to the kid's workshop at Lowe's, it was "build a pumpkin" day. It was very cool and totally free! Grace got an apron with a pumpkin patch and every time she goes again, she'll get a new patch for her apron! She also got the kit to make the pumpkin game and some kiddie goggles! With a little help from Daddy, Grace made a pumpkin face with interchangeable eyes, mouths and noses. She was so proud of what she built!!!



Sunday, October 26, 2008

debut of the purple fairy

Last night, the purple fairy made her big debut. She had on every bit of her costume and was covered head to toe in sparkles... she looked beautiful! We went to a Trunk or Treat party with a local playgroup. Everyone decorated their trunk and the kids went car to car to trick or treat. Grace's favorite part was the candy... she mentioned this morning that she needs to put lots of candy on her Christmas list for Santa!






Saturday, October 25, 2008

lynn meadows

Yesterday, Jeremy had a 15 minute appointment at the TSA office in Gulfport. It's almost a 2 hour drive, so we decided to make the best of it and have some fun while we were there. We started with his appointment and then drove down Beach Blvd looking for a place to eat lunch. Even now, four years after Hurricane Katrina, there was nothing there. The beach looked awful and the street was lined with empty lots where businesses once stood. When we hit the mall, there were a couple choices and we chose a Tex Mex bar and grill in a strip mall across from Edgewater. Jeremy ordered a Philly Cheesesteak burrito and swears it was the best burrito of his life! After lunch we headed to the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, one of the top 50 children's museums in the country. It was awesome! So much to do... we had to drag Grace out of each exhibit promising that the next one would be even cooler! The museum had lots of exhibits about Southern culture and acivities... very cool! Once we wore her out, we headed to the outlet mall! :)


Grace and Mommy, ready to go in!

Grace by the school bell

This was in the area designated for children under 4... getting her to leave this room was a major struggle!!

Grace and Daddy cruising down the river

Checking out their crabs and shrimp!

Operating the crane

Grace piloting our plane to Mexico!

We arrived safely!

Grace cooks up her favorite Mexican meal... a quesadilla!

Grace and Daddy having a Fiesta!

A Southern Belle dressing up for tea!

Pregnant mama and daughter having tea!

The cake was delicious!

Grace is joined by Ms.Lamb

After tea Grace had her shoes shined!

Going to the market

Weather Girl in training

Her television debut

Canoeing on the river

Look at that splash!

Cooking dinner in the outdoor Cajun kitchen

Our attempt at a family picture with nobody manning the camera!

This treehouse was very cool!