Welcome home Shannon!

We are so thankful that he made it home safely last night after a few days delay. I even got to talk to him. He sounded great and was definitely happy to be home and we are happy to have him home!

The children and I had a wonderful time visiting Coco and Poppa Jack in Centralia. the day we arrived the weather was beautiful and Parker and Bennett headed straight out to the make-shift sand pit. I was certain after seeing how much fun they were having that the pictures from out trip would consist of Day 1 in the sand, Day 2 in the sand and so forth but that proved wrong as you will see.

After the sand, we headed over to Coco's garden to dig for worms and help spread mulch. Coco had already captured Parker and Bennett a tub of worms before we arrived but soon we had to dig for more....don't ask what happened to the first tub.

On Wednesday, the weather was beautiful and we headed out early to the on of the top 10 zoos in the nation (source: www.americasbestonline.net). We had a wonderful time and Parker and Bennett still wanted to see more at the end of the day...amazing! Below is a before picture as we were having a snack before heading into the zoo.

Parker and Bennett taking a photo op before heading into the Children's interactive play area where they both got to pet the guinea pigs.

Below they are patiently waiting for the Zooline train to take us across the park
Coco and Bennett waiting for the train

Bennett enjoying the train ride

This might be the ugliest animal I've ever seen! He stood at the front while all the other camels where lying in the back. He would look to the right and then scan the spectators and then do it over again. Everyone kept their distance because they were worried that he might spit! Parker is still talking about the ugly camel because Mrs. Lynne asked me about it.

Coco, Bennett and Parker looking at the zebras

When Parker and Bennett first walked up to the window they didn't even notice the huge chimpanzee sitting in the corner. Every once in a while he would turn and look at us behind him and yawn. I had no idea that a chimpanzee had all those sharp teeth!

Parker and Bennett waiting to see the sea lion's feeding

Bennett was so tired from the zoo visit they we didn't even make it out of the parking lot before he fell asleep! But they both got their rest on the way home and headed directly for the sand when we go back to Coco and Poppa's house.
On Thursday, our 70 + degree weather was gone but the sun was still shining and we found other activities to keep us busy. Randy Winkler, a family friend, helped us put together an enormous play structure that dad salvaged from the neighbor. This was the distraction from the sand that kept us on out toes (literally) the rest of the week. Parker mastered the rope ladder and Bennett the real ladder. Don't worry, as soon as I snapped the picture I was on the ladder with Bennett!

You would be amazed at how fast he climbed this thing!

It took several runs but we finally convinced Bennett (with Parker's help) that the best way to go down the slide was not face first! She made sure that his feet were first before he slid down.
We also added one more swing to the Woods Lane Playground so that Parker could enjoy swinging alongside Bennett.
After all that fun, they were exhausted as you can see. This was taken the night before we left as they were winding down and watching a little Sprout before bedtime in their new playroom (some of you might know it as the study).We got home and daddy was excited to have a little noise back in the house! We all missed each other as you can see!
We miss you Coco and Poppa and can't wait to come back in the summer!

We are off to Centralia today so we will have lots of pictures to come in the next few days! Also, I think I felt the baby kick last night as I laid down for bed!

No caption necessary!

It snowed on Saturday night and we woke up to about an inch on the ground Sunday morning. Bennett woke up first and couldn't wait to get outside to play.

He waited patiently at the window for Parker to wake up. Go figure she sleeps on Sunday and he slept in the on Saturday. I'm sure they never will sleep in on the same day!

After Parker woke up they rushed out to play. They had no idea that the snow would melt by lunch time! Parker is making a snow angel below.

Here she is showing us her snow angel.Bennett is wearing Parker's old rain boots so in the video he is walking funny.
Parker trying to make a snow ball.

After they got their hands cold and wet it was time to come in and warm up by the fire which was not very big as you can see but it did the trick.

I took this video of the children playing in the snow so that you can see Bennett walking around in Parker's old rain boots.

We had a wonderful and busy time in Gulfport visiting Uncle Crosby, Aunt Lauren and Crosby II. The children traveled well and we got in late Thursday night so that we could go to a children's Mardi Gras parade at Lauren's mom's school. The student's had little boxes all decorated with Mardi Gras flair and the Zydeco music was playing and they were all throwing out beads to the bystanders. Lauren had gotten Parker and Bennett these adorable Fleur-de-lis bags to put their bead in. Parker, Bennett and Crosby had a wonderful time and got lots of beads.

Parker wouldn't put any beads on and put them all in her bag.

My little Mr. T

Of course before the parade started, Bennett kept running off to the playground which was to our right so I had to keep him off the ground.

Later that day all Parker could talk about was feeding the geese and ducks. Their neighbor feeds them every morning and evening so we made sure that we made the Friday evening feeding. Below you can see Bennett (left of the tree) and Parker throwing corn at the geese.

More feeding pictures

Cooking with Aunt Lauren. I'm not sure she was used to so much help in the kitchen. Then we had bedtime singing time with Uncle Crosby.On Friday morning we went to the Children's Discovery Museum in Gulfport. The weather had warmed up a little and the children had a wonderful time. Here is a picture of Parker and Bennett heading to the museum.

Below, Crosby and Bennett are shoveling coal into the steam locomotive. Then they moved on to have lunch in the dining car with Aunt Lauren and Parker.Then we went upstairs and fly to Mexico with pilots Bennett and Crosby!

Parker as a Mexican seniorita.Then Parker and Bennett got us home safely.
Bennett never tried to shoot the ball but he just held it up in the air. It was too cute!

A few cute pictures of the children outside before heading home for lunch

Crosby was so tired he couldn't make it home awake.Later that afternoon, while Lauren and I stole a few moments to go shopping, Bennett and Crosby played on the neighborhood dirt pile but I'm still awaiting pictures from Crosby and Lauren so that I can post them.

Here are a few pictures of the children playing while we weren't busy running around.

Thanks Uncle Crosby and Aunt Lauren! We had a wonderful time and can't wait to come back!

On Valentine's Day Parker wanted to have a pizza party so her best friends came over and played and ate pizza. Below in the picture you can see from L-R: Hartley Kittle, Ruby Barnes, Parker, Garrard Mohammad and a little bit of Bennett. Carter Kittle was also there but not in the picture.

Parker and Ann Garrard try and smile for the picture

Just a couple of pictures of the aftermath of having 5 kids playing for an hour!
Needless to say.....everyone had a wonderful time!