Fourth of July Weekend

Once again, it's been over a month since my last post. My niece, Page, was just down here visiting with her mom and she was giving me a hard time about not updating the blog lately. I tried to explain how active Jaxon is as a 1 1/2 year old and therefore I no longer get 30 minutes here and there to myself during the day. I'll try to "steal" more time to keep up with the blog.

We spent fourth of July weekend with our friends' Chris and Mae, in Destin, FL. We had beautiful weather and enjoyed some much needed relaxing, beach time.




On the road...we got Jaxon a child's neck pillow to help him get comfortable while in the car. He loved that it was a doggy and just pets it while saying, "dogggg-y".




We stopped in Foley, AL to eat at Lambert's on the way - mmmm throwed rolls.



Not sure what was so funny in the backseat, but Jason snapped this picture because the look on Jaxon's face was priceless. His daddy can get him laughing so hard, tears come out.



At the condo and ready to head down to the beach.




Digging in the sand.



The bigger boys decided to borrow Jaxon's equipment and make themselves a sand castle.



Our condo.


The view from our condo.



Enjoying a popcicle on the fourth.



Surfing the waves with daddy.




Passed out under the umbrella after a long day in the sun.



Chris and Mae



Getting ready to eat pizza at Mellow Mushroom.

Ouma and Oupa Visit II

Jason's parents came down for a visit a few weeks ago. We had a wonderful time with them and Jaxon LOVED showing off for Ouma and Oupa. We spent a day in Tuscaloosa, AL exploring the University of Alabama campus. We accidentally chose the hottest day they were here to walk around campus, but we all enjoyed ourselves despite the heat. We took Jaxon to a sprinkler park just off base one afternoon and he had a ball. We also spent a day in Tupelo, MS shopping. Jason had to work more than we wanted him to, but we did get him all to ourselves Saturday afternoon and all of Sunday. We went to the Memphis Zoo on Saturday and then on to Beale Street for dinner. We stayed busy, but also found a lot of time to relax during their visit!






SPRINKLER PARK AT DEWAYNE HAYES PARK

I guess it was easier to put on Oupa's sandals than his own!











THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA - ROLL TIDE!


Outside the massive stadium that is right on campus.



In the courtyard fountains outside the U of Alabama bookstore.



Oupa wanted to get this picture to make sure we had proof that he stood outside a college football stadium before Jason!





AROUND THE HOUSE

My little helper! He helps me water flowers every night. It appears that he's more interested in drinking the water in this picture, but usually he's a big help.



Now walking around in Oupa's tennis shoes.



Reading the morning news while waiting on breakfast.



Oupa helping Jaxon with his pears.



My little helping unloading the dishwasher for me.






MEMPHIS ZOO

Amazed by tigers.



One of the tigers playing with an empty keg.





Cooling off with a peach slushy.




The polar bear exhibit was by far Jaxon's favorite. He was in awe watching them swim laps in front of the gigantic viewing window.



Explaining the habitat of a monkey to his daddy (or something profound like that).



Standing on his tiptoes peering at the elephants.






BYE OUMA AND OUPA!

Walking in Memphis

One of Jason's best friends from KS, Mitch, emailed to let us know he would be in Conway, Arkansas for a day. Conway is about 5 hours from us, but Memphis is halfway. So we drove to Memphis, TN for dinner one night last week.




The famous "Beale St".



Motorcycles are the only vehicles allowed on Beale St. By the time we left the restaurant, the street was packed with bikes.



We even got to see the famous Beale St Tumblers. Here's one of their guys walking on his hands down Beale St.



We had dinner at the Rum Boogie Cafe. Jason and I were craving some good BBQ. I ended up with a Cheesesteak, but Jason had a pulled pork sandwich.



Jaxon is doing "pound-it" with Mitch.



Jason and Jaxon enjoying catching up with good friend, Mitch.



Jaxon and Mommy "walking in Memphis".

Nashville, TN

We spent Memorial Day Weekend in Nashville. It was nice to get away for a few days and Jason was able to relax some.


Jason found a hotel right by the Nashville Airport. Our room was right in front of the approach runway, so Daddy and Jaxon spent a lot of their time watching for airplanes out the window.


This is Jaxon's surprise face when he sees or hears an airplane.


Watching for airplanes.



He must see one coming.







We went to the Nashville Zoo on Saturday. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed Jaxon's first trip to a (real) zoo. The zoo grounds are beautiful and there is a great history about the current location of the zoo. It's only been in this location about 10 years, so there are many plans to enhance it in the next few years.




After awhile, Jaxon got tired of riding in the stroller, so we let him get out to walk. He walked quite a bit, then finally got tired of that and rode in the stroller the rest of the way. Many of the exhibits are very spread out, so we did a lot of walking that day.



Jaxon and Daddy watching the elephants.



About halfway through the zoo, Jaxon tuckered out!



An anteater. I had never seen one of these in person before. What an interesting looking animal.



Jaxon woke up just in time for the petting zoo inside the zoo. He was fascinated by the goat and she was very patient to let him "pet" her. Everything at the zoo was a doo-gie!



He LOVED the baby goat. She was just his size and he would bend-over and try to "kiss" (lick) her.



Back at the hotel and ready to go out to dinner in the Opryland Mall. I was trying to snap a picture of this cute outfit, but Jax wouldn't turn around!




Having fun with Daddy back at the hotel that night. We brought a few toys with us to entertain him in the hotel room. Daddy would push him, then pull him back real fast. Jaxon would laugh every time.



Mr. Mischief trying to figure out how to get into the chair.



Playing inside the suitcase full of clothes I had just folded!



We couldn't go to Nashville without a stop at Trevecca. The entrance to the campus is beautiful, but as you drive toward the back of campus, the buildings seem a little mismatched. Sorry to any TNU alumni, but we think MNU is the prettiest Nazarene campus we've been on.



On Sunday we went to this cool science center, called The Adventure Science Center, for kids. Jason and I had a blast learning about different aspects of science. They had a toddler area where Jaxon had fun building with blocks, "driving" a train, and playing with balls.



Learning about gravity with Daddy.



Concentrating on building with blocks in the toddler area.



Look at that cutie riding on the Magical School Bus.



An old ambulance in the middle of the human body section was open for kids to run through and push the buttons.



Here's Jaxon driving the ambulance and working the siren at the same time.



We went to dinner on Sunday night at The Old Spaghetti Factory. We used to have one in Kansas City, but it went out of business several years ago. Yummy Italian food and all dinners come with spumoni ice cream for dessert.



The cable car inside the restaurant where our table was!




Inside the cable car! The only problem with this being our dinner table was, Jaxon was right next to the window, and there was a table just outside his window. When he gets done with eating food, he will throw it onto the floor. Do you know where this is going? Well, I think a few pieces of bread may have landed on the lady below his window.




Our suger-deprived child experienced his first donut hole Monday morning from Dunkin Donuts. Here's his little sugar face after eating it.



Yummy!