Fourth of July Weekend

July 3-6, 2009--- Friday morning we had a treat at the Crawford house---Rick took the day off work. This doesn't happen very often and we were excited to have some extra time with him. Mimi was coming in town that morning and he wanted to go with us to pick her up at the airport. We woke up bright and early so we could get haircuts before picking up Mimi. Anna Catherine opted for a new "do" because she wants her bangs to grow out. She got a short, choppy cut that she says makes her look like a "movie star".



Chloe mad because we wouldn't let her play on the luggage conveyor belt:

Chloe enjoyed riding on Mimi's suitcase:

Everyone was famished so we took Mimi to one of our favorite restaurants on the reservoir called Cock of the Walk. I'll blog about it another time. For now, I'll just say that the food is wonderful and the kids enjoy feeding the ducks our leftovers.

Afterwards, Rick, Mimi, AC, and Jackson went to the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson to see the "Raoul Dufy: A Celebration of Beauty" exhibit and "Eudora Welty in New York" photographs. Sorry but I do not have any pictures from their outing. We spent the evening hanging out at home because we had a busy 4th of July planned.

Saturday morning we all piled in the car and drove south to spend the holiday with Aunt Kathy, Uncle Don, Heather, Andre, Jack, and Wes in Zachary (hate we missed Presly, Briley, and Cullen). The kids had their movies while the adults listened to a hilarious book on CD (I wish I could remember the name of it. I'll post about it when I get the title and author).

The family was waiting on us with tons of hugs and kisses when we arrived in Tiger Country. We ate a delicious lunch that Uncle Don had grilled, chatted for a few minutes, and then it was time to relax at the pool.

Andre trying to convince/conceive Jack into swimming.

Rick tossing AC in the air. He had to do this to each child multiple times during the three hours spent in the pool. His arms were very sore afterwards.

Chloe LOVED the diving board.

It was so nice to visit with some of our Louisiana family. I know Mimi enjoyed getting to see them as well. It was a quick visit but we get to see them in a few weeks at Carmen's wedding (YEA!).

We decided to take the opportunity Sunday afternoon to catch a movie at the local theater. Mimi took Anna Catherine to see "Bolt" the last time she visited and they wanted to see "UP" during this business. Jackson had been asking to see "Ice Age 3-D: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" so he and I took this theater opportunity to see it. This was his first theater experience and I was insure of how he would handle being in a dark room unable to talk, play, or walk around. We stocked up on popcorn, m-n-m's and diet coke at the concession stand. They had booster seats for the little ones which was handy. He wore his 3-D glasses the entire time and was well-behaved.

As you can see from the photos, he absolutely loved it!! (NOTE: These were taken while the credits were rolling and most people had left the theater.) We didn't leave from our seats until the credits were over, the lights were on, and the cleaning crew were prepping for the next showing. We plan to go back to see "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs" and "Where the Wild Things Are".

That night the neighborhood kids had leftover fireworks and we were invited to play with sparklers, snap-n-pops, and bottle rockets. Our kids have always been afraid of fireworks and loud noises in general so we were unsure of what their participation level would be. Jackson and Chloe were excited but Anna Catherine wasn't as eager. Jackson actually held a sparkler! This is a big thing for him. Chloe has no fears so she was happy to get her hands on anything available. Anna Catherine opted to stay in the house with Mimi for most of the festivities. She did come as far as the front walk and watch for a short time but then went right back inside.

All good things must come to an end. Mimi went home Monday afternoon and we can't wait for her to come for another visit.

Family Vacation Summer 2007

June 29-July 6, 2007---Anna Catherine has been asking to go camping for a couple of months so we decided to honor her request and take an eight day family camping trip. However, we camped the only way I am willing to camp: cabin, electricity, running water, indoor restroom, full kitchen, television, etc. On Friday, June 29 we essentially packed up the entire house and left Pontotoc for the Crown Pointe Resort in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. Horseshoe Bend is located in the north central part of the state. It was a four and a half hour trip which drove both the kids and me nuts. We hate being stuck in a car for more than two hours. By then our DVD movie is over and we need to get out and stretch our legs. It was actually a very peaceful and relaxing vacation. Since Chloe can't be in the sun, she and I rarely left the cabin. I took my scrapbooking supplies and was able to get a lot of pages completed. We had packed Chloe's swing, play mat, bouncie seat, and lots of toys so she had things to occupy her time. She enjoys being outside so we would put her swing on the front porch and let her enjoy the outdoors in the shade for an hour or two every day. Rick took Anna Catherine and Jackson to the beach (yes, there was a beach area in BFE, Arkansas), the indoor pool, outdoor pool, and canoeing in the lake. The kids had SO much fun paddling the canoe. Rick's mom and brother came in late Monday night and stayed in the cabin next to us. The kids enjoyed being spoiled by Mimi and wrestling with Uncle Cliff. We spent the rest of the week just lounging, grilling out, and being bums. We did a pontoon boat tour of the lake one day and that was nice. It really makes you want to own a lake house. We spent the day of the Fourth of July in the Mountain View area of Arkansas (about an hour south of Horseshoe Bend). That morning we went to Blanchard Springs Caverns. Rick and Cliff went on the "Wild Cave Tour" in which they climbed over and through rocks, slid, and crawled through developed and undeveloped areas of the caves. It was a four hour event, and they were very tired, muddy, sweaty, and stinky afterwards. The rest of us went on the one hour "Dripstone Trail Tour" which was supposed to be handicap and stroller friendly. It wasn't easy getting the stroller up and down the extremely steep inclines and slopes, tight curves, and narrow passageways, so you would have to be very talented to maneuver a wheelchair through it. Mimi, the kids, and I went to the Ozark Folk Center to pass the time until the guys finished their adventure. The caves were amazing. We would like to go back when the kids are older so we can do one of the more advanced tours. That evening we went to the fireworks show at the Turkey Creek Golf Course in Horeshoe Bend. The fireworks were very loud but pretty. Jackson had me laughing so hard I was crying because with every explosion his eyes would get very big and he would say, "Oh my gosh, that was a big boom! A really, really, big boom! A blue one. A green one. On my gosh!". We left on Friday, July 6 and headed back home. After unloading the van, unpacking at least a dozen suitcases/bags, and doing a zillion loads of laundry, we have recouperated from our trip. It was a lot of fun and we are looking forward to our next vacation in November for a week long Thanksgiving ski trip to Pagosa Springs, Colorado (and Rick thinks he can keep us cooped up in the car for a 20 hour drive --straight through only stopping for gas, food, and restroom breaks--HAHA!!!).