We've been having a great time this summer! In June we went to the BB King Homecoming Festival in Indianola, went to the movies (these were Jack's first "real" movies), went to Geyser Falls waterpark three times, played with our playgroup several times, and went to Lafayette and Natchez. Unfortunately, I only have a handful of pictures from all of these events. (I hear the groans from Lafayette and Natchez...sorry!) The battery on the camera died at the B. B. King concert, and I just don't want to risk using my good camera at the waterpark. As for Lafayette and Natchez, well, I don't really have a good excuse. Grumps (my dad) took some pictures in Lafayette that I'll try to post when I get copies, and I tried to get a picture in Natchez, but Brent didn't cooporate. (If you don't want to be bored with all of the details, just scroll down to see the fishing pictures...those are the best.) So, this post is just going to be a long boring update on the events in June....
B. B. King
Every year B. B. King does an outdoor concert in Indianola, MS. They call it his homecoming, and he talks about "coming home." But, I don't think he is actually from Indianola...not sure how that works? Anyway, it was a fun day. The concert doesn't start until around 4:00 in the afternoon, and fortunately, it was probably the coolest day we've had this month. So, we watched the first act from a small patch of shade but were able to move to our front and center seats for the rest of the evening. There were several good opening acts and fireworks before B. B. King took the stage. I really thought Jack would make it through this year, but alas, he fell alseep after about two of B. B.'s songs. At least he can say he saw B. B. this year. (Last year he fell asleep before B. B. ever came out.
Movies
The Starkville Downtown Neighborhood Association (or something like that) hosts "Movies on the Green" once a month in the summer. Some of the movies are for preteens and older kids, but in June, the movie was Cars. We went with several other families and sat out in the grass, ate popcorn, and watched the movie. It was a fun Friday night! Then, Jack and I went to see Up in 3-D at the theater. It was Jack's first movie theater experience. I wasn't sure if he would want to sit still for the whole movie, but he seemed to enjoy it. He started in his own seat and ended in my lap. The movie really seemed to keep his attention, and I thought it was good, too!
(Sorry this one is so blurry. The ones I took after it got dark just didn't come out well; I guess I need to figure out how to use my camera.)
Waterpark
Geyser Falls Waterpark is in Philadelphia, MS which is about an hour and fifteen minutes from Starkville. Along with several other families friends, we bought a season pass this year and have been going about once a week since it opened in early June. There is a beach (soft white sand and clear blue water with no waves...perfect for a toddler and pregnant mommy) and a toddler area complete with water fountains and small slides that are just the right size for Jack and his friends. The mommies are able to sit and monitor and let the kids play. It has been a great way to spend the hot summer days! (We went once at the end of last summer; I splurged on a waterproof camera on that trip, so you can look back at the pictures I posted last year if you want to get a feel for the park.)
Playgroup
We have a wonderful playgroup of mommies and friends who are all very close in age. We've played at each other's houses and have really enjoyed spending time with them. They get together twice a week all year long, but since I work during the school year, we try to spend the summer days with them as much as possible. (And, since our new baby boy is due in August, we'll get to continue playing through the fall!)
Car Trouble!
You know how when you travel down the interstate you feel a twinge of agony for the people who you see stranded on the side of the road. Well, last week, "those people" were Jack and me. That's right, my 7-months pregnant self and my 3 year old stood on the side of Hwy 55 south just outside of Hammond for about an hour while we waited for the state trooper and tow truck. It was quite an adventure. We were headed to Lafayette for one last trip before the baby is due. The plan was for us to spend Tues-Fri in Lafayette and meet Brent in Natchez on Friday for the weekend. On our way down on Tuesday, the car died. I was able to coast to the side of the road, but it was completely dead. Fortunately, my dad was at his desk and was able to locate a Chevy dealership and towing company that were in Hammond, just about 10 minutes away. While he located that help, I called 911, and they sent a state trooper to sit with us while we waited. We stood in the shade of the trees on the side of the road because it was just too terribly hot to wait in the car. When the state trooper arrived, he let us sit in his air conditioned car while we waited for the tow truck. Jack was SO well behaved. (I think he sensed my nervousness at first and then was a little awstruck by the policeman.) All in all, the whole ordeal was much smoother and less stressful than it could have been. We made it to the Chevy dealership and my uncle who lives in Covington met us there. The plan was for us to hang out at his house until my dad could pick us up, but Dad got there so quickly we just grabbed some ice cream at McDonalds and jumped in the truck with Grumps to continue the journey to Lafayette. (I probably should have taken a few pictures of the scene to document everything for Jack...the trooper, police car, Tahoe on the tow truck, but I didn't)
Visiting and Fishing in Lafayette
While we were in Lafayette, on Wednesday I got a prenatal massage (It was AWESOME!) while Jack and Grandmommy went to storytime at the library. (Grandmommy was very impressed by the storytime; Jack thought it was alright.) Then, on Thursday we went fishing in the pond in Grandmommy's neighborhood. Jack has been asking to go fishing for months, and I was nervous that it would be a big letdown. Once we figured out what we were doing we caught THREE fish using cheese and crackers as bait. It was very exciting. The fish were brim that were about the size of my hand. Jack thought we should take them home and eat them, but we explained that we needed to throw them back. It was lots of fun!
We ate really well while we were there and got to visit with lots of people. We had dinner at Grandmommy's, Gramps', and Grumps & Mimi's. Our good friend Jananne from Kenner was also staying at Grandmommy's, and Aunt Joanna (Mimi's sister) drove over on Thursday for dinner. Then, on Friday, it was time to get back in the car for a long drive to Natchez. (Long because it involved a detour through Hammond to pick up the Tahoe, which had to have the engine replaced.)
(OK , so I actually caught the first two while Jack ate the crackers that we were using as bait.)
Twenty year reunion and a car purchase in Natchez
Brent's 20 year high school reunion was in Natchez last weekend, and while we were there we bought a new-to-us (i.e., used 2006) minivan. (We decided the Tahoe was worth repairing, but that it was time to get a more road-worthy vehicle to replace the 1994 Acura.)
Brent's reunion kept us busy with events Friday night, Saturday during the day, and Saturday night. It was a good reunion, but we were pretty exhausted by the time we left on Sunday.
I didn't know there would be swimming at the family picnic on Saturday, so I didn't have Jack's swimsuit with us. He managed to get nice and wet playing in the fountain at the edge of the pool anyway.
B. B. King
Every year B. B. King does an outdoor concert in Indianola, MS. They call it his homecoming, and he talks about "coming home." But, I don't think he is actually from Indianola...not sure how that works? Anyway, it was a fun day. The concert doesn't start until around 4:00 in the afternoon, and fortunately, it was probably the coolest day we've had this month. So, we watched the first act from a small patch of shade but were able to move to our front and center seats for the rest of the evening. There were several good opening acts and fireworks before B. B. King took the stage. I really thought Jack would make it through this year, but alas, he fell alseep after about two of B. B.'s songs. At least he can say he saw B. B. this year. (Last year he fell asleep before B. B. ever came out.
Movies
The Starkville Downtown Neighborhood Association (or something like that) hosts "Movies on the Green" once a month in the summer. Some of the movies are for preteens and older kids, but in June, the movie was Cars. We went with several other families and sat out in the grass, ate popcorn, and watched the movie. It was a fun Friday night! Then, Jack and I went to see Up in 3-D at the theater. It was Jack's first movie theater experience. I wasn't sure if he would want to sit still for the whole movie, but he seemed to enjoy it. He started in his own seat and ended in my lap. The movie really seemed to keep his attention, and I thought it was good, too!
(Sorry this one is so blurry. The ones I took after it got dark just didn't come out well; I guess I need to figure out how to use my camera.)
Waterpark
Geyser Falls Waterpark is in Philadelphia, MS which is about an hour and fifteen minutes from Starkville. Along with several other families friends, we bought a season pass this year and have been going about once a week since it opened in early June. There is a beach (soft white sand and clear blue water with no waves...perfect for a toddler and pregnant mommy) and a toddler area complete with water fountains and small slides that are just the right size for Jack and his friends. The mommies are able to sit and monitor and let the kids play. It has been a great way to spend the hot summer days! (We went once at the end of last summer; I splurged on a waterproof camera on that trip, so you can look back at the pictures I posted last year if you want to get a feel for the park.)
Playgroup
We have a wonderful playgroup of mommies and friends who are all very close in age. We've played at each other's houses and have really enjoyed spending time with them. They get together twice a week all year long, but since I work during the school year, we try to spend the summer days with them as much as possible. (And, since our new baby boy is due in August, we'll get to continue playing through the fall!)
Car Trouble!
You know how when you travel down the interstate you feel a twinge of agony for the people who you see stranded on the side of the road. Well, last week, "those people" were Jack and me. That's right, my 7-months pregnant self and my 3 year old stood on the side of Hwy 55 south just outside of Hammond for about an hour while we waited for the state trooper and tow truck. It was quite an adventure. We were headed to Lafayette for one last trip before the baby is due. The plan was for us to spend Tues-Fri in Lafayette and meet Brent in Natchez on Friday for the weekend. On our way down on Tuesday, the car died. I was able to coast to the side of the road, but it was completely dead. Fortunately, my dad was at his desk and was able to locate a Chevy dealership and towing company that were in Hammond, just about 10 minutes away. While he located that help, I called 911, and they sent a state trooper to sit with us while we waited. We stood in the shade of the trees on the side of the road because it was just too terribly hot to wait in the car. When the state trooper arrived, he let us sit in his air conditioned car while we waited for the tow truck. Jack was SO well behaved. (I think he sensed my nervousness at first and then was a little awstruck by the policeman.) All in all, the whole ordeal was much smoother and less stressful than it could have been. We made it to the Chevy dealership and my uncle who lives in Covington met us there. The plan was for us to hang out at his house until my dad could pick us up, but Dad got there so quickly we just grabbed some ice cream at McDonalds and jumped in the truck with Grumps to continue the journey to Lafayette. (I probably should have taken a few pictures of the scene to document everything for Jack...the trooper, police car, Tahoe on the tow truck, but I didn't)
Visiting and Fishing in Lafayette
While we were in Lafayette, on Wednesday I got a prenatal massage (It was AWESOME!) while Jack and Grandmommy went to storytime at the library. (Grandmommy was very impressed by the storytime; Jack thought it was alright.) Then, on Thursday we went fishing in the pond in Grandmommy's neighborhood. Jack has been asking to go fishing for months, and I was nervous that it would be a big letdown. Once we figured out what we were doing we caught THREE fish using cheese and crackers as bait. It was very exciting. The fish were brim that were about the size of my hand. Jack thought we should take them home and eat them, but we explained that we needed to throw them back. It was lots of fun!
We ate really well while we were there and got to visit with lots of people. We had dinner at Grandmommy's, Gramps', and Grumps & Mimi's. Our good friend Jananne from Kenner was also staying at Grandmommy's, and Aunt Joanna (Mimi's sister) drove over on Thursday for dinner. Then, on Friday, it was time to get back in the car for a long drive to Natchez. (Long because it involved a detour through Hammond to pick up the Tahoe, which had to have the engine replaced.)
(OK , so I actually caught the first two while Jack ate the crackers that we were using as bait.)
Twenty year reunion and a car purchase in Natchez
Brent's 20 year high school reunion was in Natchez last weekend, and while we were there we bought a new-to-us (i.e., used 2006) minivan. (We decided the Tahoe was worth repairing, but that it was time to get a more road-worthy vehicle to replace the 1994 Acura.)
Brent's reunion kept us busy with events Friday night, Saturday during the day, and Saturday night. It was a good reunion, but we were pretty exhausted by the time we left on Sunday.
I didn't know there would be swimming at the family picnic on Saturday, so I didn't have Jack's swimsuit with us. He managed to get nice and wet playing in the fountain at the edge of the pool anyway.
1 comment:
we had with you guys. looking forward to being in Starkville soon. CU next weekend~
Love Grumps
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