Mississippi visit

We just got back a few days ago from a wonderful (WAAAAAYYYY over due) visit to Barry's family.

This was Chloe's 2nd time going to visit Mawmaw and Grandaddy in Mississippi, and Fox's first.

We even got to celebrate Christmas in March...how cool it that?!?


Chloe had to open her big present first.





Hmmmm....looks pretty dark cool...what could it be?










A DORA The Explorer mini Van!!!















Chloe played and played with the van. We had to convince her to open her other presents. She just wanted to play with this!












I think Fox liked the paper more then the presents! He loves things that crinkle.











So charming.









Eagerly waiting Daddy to get his toys out of the box!









The hat goes with this adorable outfit that Mawmaw and Grandaddy got him. He looked soooo cute in it. I've got some photos of him in the outfit I'll upload.







Chloe got her first taste of true southern food. Last time we went, I don't think she was eating table food.

This is Chloe sampling Mawmaw's out of this world Chicken and Dumplin's while her cousin Joshua looks on.



That lemonaid sitting on the table? The BEST I have ever tasted. It was perfect and I'm still craving that stuff.

You just can't beat Barry's Mom's cooking. The BEST thing I have ever had was made by her. It was Blackberry Jam. Homemade. There was soooo much sugar that the jam was more like candy. Oh man it tasted so good.




One of my favorite photos I took of Chloe while we were up visiting Barry's folks.


These flowers were called her "bubble flowers"...her word invention. She had a blast blowing the seedlings off the flowers.

We had a blast watching just watching her!











Just taking a moment to observe.










Yep. He's pretty much always this happy.

I don't know what this is about. But Chloe looks mighty miffed!

Somehow, Christmas almost got by me. I meant to have the tree and house decorations up early. Especially as this was Fox's first Christmas. But it turned out it was just a week before Christmas that I got the decorations out of the gargage and into the house.

Here Chloe (re)discovers Homer. She is THE biggest Simpson's fan (after Barry, of course). She wouldn't leave this dancing Homer alone.

It was a couple nights before Christmas. I wanted to go walk around the neighborhood and look at lights as a family. So I got the kids all dressed and ready to go becuase I had decided that the 21 was THE night. Funny thing. I took my camera with me because I intended to do a scathing post about how tacky our neighbors are. Trust me, there were some pretty silly yards. Now mind you our house lots are only and average of 50 feet across. Yeah, it's Florida and lots are mighty small.
Anyway, we're walking and house after house is trying to outdo the next one by cramming as much stuff into the space as possible.
But Chloe kept saying "ooooohhhh pretty lights". And it melted my Grinchy heart.

Speaking of, this was the first year Chloe watched the classic "the Grinch who Stole Christmas". She loved it. I can't remember how many times we watched it. Only she calls it 'Nahoo Doray'--becuase of the songs the Who's sing.