Disney Trip

So those of you that may not know, we went to Disney World last week. We had a truly amazing trip. We went with my Aunt Traci and Uncle Jon, all of their kids, and my cousin Butch and his family. It was Hayden and Gabriella's first time to visit Disney and they were completely fascinated with everything at the parks. They both loved Mickey and all the other characters. While there, we had breakfast with the whole gang at Donald Ducks breakfast and Hayden would not even eat because he was so excited to meet them all. Another amazing thing to report is that Hayden was tall enough to ride all the rides except one and he wanted to ride them all. Those of you that know our little Hayden well, know that he is usually a big chicken but not this time! He rode all the roller coasters and wanted to ride again and again. The last night there I let Jason take just Hayden back to Magic Kingdom for the special Magic Hours so he could ride as much as he wanted and have special time with just daddy! He loved that! While there, he also got a new Pirate costume. He got the Jack Sparrow costume with the dreadlocks and all..of course I think he is more handsome than Johnny Depp any day! =)

Miss Petunia loved everything too. She was a good girl as always and just rode around in her stroller taking it all in. She had her cousin Kyser and Ethan to baby talk to also. Overall it was an amazing trip.

Well after we returned home, we stayed home for three days and then went to Enterprise, AL to go to my brother's family day for the Army. Those of you that may not know, Rusty is in helicopter school and learning to fly the Apache. Hayden got to sit in a real Army helicopter, which he loved. After family day we headed up to Auburn, AL to go to Hayden's first college football game. We went to the Auburn-West Virginia game. Well, it rained so hard on us that we were all soaked down to our undies! Haha..but Hayden thought that it was so much fun! West Virgina didn't win but we still had a blast overall. We went with my brother Don and his wife Amber, whom are Auburn fans, so it was a lot of fun to argue back and forth about whose team was gonna win. Well it was fun until WV lost anyway...

Well, this week things are back to "normal" somewhat and I am vowing to stay home for at least two weeks! Haha!

Days in the Lives of Kids...

Well we have been taking full advantage of Hayden's last few days before he starts school. He starts next Tuesday and in preparation for that we are sleeping in late, staying up late, and playing, playing, watching T.V. and doing some more playing. Little Petunia has been trying some new foods-she really likes cookies and avocados! Okay truth be told-she likes everything! That's my chubby-wubby girl. Anyway here are a few pictures of my loves.

Uncle Steve and Gabriella
Mommy, Hayden, and Gabby getting ready for a Disney themed birthday party

Halle and Gabby ready for Downtown Disney

Gabby playing with her toys or trying to drown them with slobber..I'm not sure which.

My sweethearts

Alright, so I have been meaning to update the blog for a few weeks and it just hasn't happened. Now that school started back for me I am finding it harder to keep up with things such as this. Well since last time I blogged we went on another road trip. My parents, Kristin, Halle, Hayden, Gabby, and I went to Orlando for a week and boy did we have a blast. We stayed at a resort this year that had three lakes and 13 pools on site. Plus it had putt-putt and many other activities so we were busy everyday with something. We also went to Downtown Disney, Seaworld, and a Pirate Dinner while there. It was amazing interacting with the animals at Seaworld. We fed dolphins, sea lions, and sting rays and got to pet the dolphins and sting rays. We also watched the "Believe" show with the killer whales...it gave me chill bumps! I really want to put one in our pool in the backyard. =)

Jason's brother, Steven, came into town last week to visit. We had a great time with him too. It have been a year and a half since seeing him and it was his first time to meet our little princess! We went to eat at a few local favorites around here and also got to go to New Orleans to see Jason and Steves Aunt Connie. As always, she and her friend,Claire, took us to an amazing place to eat. It was called "The Pepper Mill" and you could get about anything you wanted to eat. The food was all amazing and the kids both got to try something new. Hayden tried Calamari for the first time and thought he was eating Squidworth off of Spongebob and Petunia got to try Alfredo Sauce and of course fat girl loved it!

Oh I forgot we have also attended to parties in the past couple weeks that were so much fun-one was a Disney themed birthday party for my cousin and the other a baby shower for another cousin.

Alright some up and coming events for our family are:

1.) We are going to Orlando on September 10th for Disney's "Not So Scary Halloween Party". We are staying five days I think. We also plan on visiting a couple of the parks while there.

2.) Hayden is starting soccer-This will be his first sport to play on a team so we are all excited! I think I am going to get me a soccer ball for the back of the car that says "soccer mom"...oh yeah, how I've waited for that! =)

One last note before I go for now- I have a new niece!! Caitlyn Brooke arrived last Wednesday! Our family has had three girls in one year! How amazing is that!!

Summer Fun!

Daddy and Hayden

Mommy and Petunia-Sissy-Pie
The Luau

Well, it is hard to believe that summer is half way over already and as the title says, we are having lots of fun this summer. The "Kids Gone Wild" trip was a blast to say the least. We got to visit with both my brothers and then spend a slew of time with Jason's side of the family in West Virginia. We also visited some very beautiful places while in West Virginia to include: Sandstone Falls, Hawks Nest, Grandview, and Daniels Vineyard =)!

Upon coming home I had about a week to finish planning a Luau that we had put together to show Jason and my cousin Spence how proud we were of them for finishing college. The Luau was so much fun and I think everyone enjoyed themselves!

Also this week we have joined the "YMCA" . Jason and I have been exercising together while the kids go to the "Child Watch" facility that they have. Hayden really likes it and Gabby gets to be held the whole time which she likes =)

One last update before I go- My mom, dad, Kristen, Halle, Hayden, Gabby, and I are leaving early Friday morning for Kissimmee, FL. We are staying for a week and are really looking forward to it!! Jason has to stay home and work unfortunately (Hey someone has to bring home the bacon around here =))

Hopefully I will begin to update more frequently once we return from this trip!

The kids and I going Cross Country

Here are a few pictures from this past weekend:

Hayden with his pirate sword

Daddy cooling Molly down from the heat

Uncle Jay, Aunt Sara, and our little Rosemary a.k.a Halle!

Fun in the pool

Okay so the past week we have been up to the same-ole-same ole things. We spent most of the week out by the pool and just hung out. This past Friday Rusty, Kristin, Halle, Poppy, and Nanny came to visit for Father's Day weekend. We cooked out on Saturday and played by the pool. Papaw and Mamaw also joined us for the cookout. On Sunday, Rusty and Kristin left fairly early to go home and the rest of us went out to eat for a Father's Day lunch. Jason got a new camera lens and two new books from me. The kids got him a new pair of shorts! My daddy got two new shirts and a pair of shorts. I also gave Jason his birthday present from me yesterday, which was a few days early, because I will not be home for his birthday this year =( I got him two new four-wheeler tires! He seemed to like them!

Anyway, as I mentioned, I will not be home for Jason's birthday this year. The kids and I are leaving in the morning for our Cross-Country Adventure. Okay, well we are not actually going all the way across the country, but half of it. I guess I could call it our "East Coast Adventure" staring mommy, Hayden and Gabriella or we could call it " Kids Gone wild". Of course, Gabs will keep her top on the whole time!

So here is our itinerary for the next three weeks:

1.) Tuesday- Depart Ocean springs, MS and head over to see Nanny and Poppy for a bit. Depart Nanny and Poppy's job and head to Enterprise, Al for a day of fun with Rusty, Kristin, and my sweet Rosemary(that's another story).

2. Wednesday- Depart Enterprise, AL and head towards Don, Amber & Brayden's in Lincoln, AL. Makw tentative stop in Montgomery, AL to see Paw-Paw and Granny Smith depending on their work schedule. Arrive at The Palmore household on Wednesday.

3.) Thursday- Give Brayden lots of hugs and kisses and hang out with Don, Amber & Brayden and relax and prepare for the next leg of our trip.

4.) Friday- Depart Lincoln, AL and head to Pigeon Forge, TN. We will be meeting up with Grams and Pepaw in Pigeon Forge for some fun. We will be staying one night here.

5.) Saturday- Head towards Beckley, WV. This should be approximately a four hour trip, depending on Gabby's behavior, of course =)!

6.) Sunday-Friday- Spend time with family in WV, relax and have fun. Oh and give my new nephew, Andrew lots of hugs and kisses and take approximately 1,500 photos!=)

7.) Saturday- HAPPY 4TH OF JULY- Go pick up Jason from the airport and celebrate the 4th with family.

The rest of the trip is still up in the air but we plan to see some friends in North Carolina the end of the week and also stop back by Lincoln and Millbrook, AL.

8.) Return home on July 12th with 15 bags of dirty laundry and a car that needs a good washing =)

SO THE ABOVE IS OUR PLAN-IF I DO NOT POST WHILE AWAY I WILL POST ONCE I RETURN!!!!

Fun in the Sun...

Logan showing his muscles in the pool.

Sarah and Dan

Hayden

Petunia

So we had some more visitors from West Virginia this past week. Jason's dad, step mom, and little brother and sister came to visit us. We had not seen them since last Thanksgiving so we were pretty excited. Also, they had never seen Gabriella before so it was neat for them to meet our little love-cakes! =)

So the evening they got here we went to The Hard Rock Cafe to eat dinner and then came back to the house to hang out. The next day we grilled out burgers and hot dogs and swam all day. The kids had a blast and I think the big kids (i.e.-the "adults") did too! After a day of fun in the sun we went to eat at a Japanese restaurant for dinner. Hayden was scared of the place because he didn't like the fire while they were cooking. After dinner we said our good-byes and Jason, the kids, and I came back to watch Toy Story -2.

Yesterday we went to see Nanny and Poppy for the day at their job. They took us to lunch at a cute little cafe in their town and then we went to Mobile for a little "treasure hunting" at my favorite place, Hudsons! =)

Today, we are relaxing so far. Hayden and I made some homemade blueberry muffins which are in the oven cooking right now! Yum-Yum!

Fun at the Zoo!

Couple Zoo Pictures

Hayden's long lost brother
Mommy and Petunia

Hayden riding a dino.

Daddy and the babies

Before I continue, I must say that it has been brought to my attention that while blogging about Orange Beach, I failed to mention that it was my nephew Brayden's birthday and that I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! I will not call any names, "cough*******Don********cough", about where I got this information at but just so you know, I love my Bray-Bray!!! Here are a few pictures of the little man!

Okay, now the post at hand- So we headed South this past weekend. Well now that I think about it we are pretty far south in MS but we went a little further with a trip to New Orleans and Metairie, LA!

For those of you that may not know, Jason has an aunt in Metairie and she has some wonderful friends there. Between those ladies, they always show us an amazing time. It is so cute( and I hope I don't offend anyone here) the way they are! It sorta reminds me of the Golden Girls or something. They all have unique personalities but when you put them all together, it's sure to be a good time.

Anywho, we went to the zoo on Saturday and then went out to dinner at a local restaurant called "Mr. Eds". The food was great and the atmosphere was really nice too. Not sure if anyone knows this fact (except for my mom of course) but I used to live inn Bogalusa, LA and I have to say that people in Louisiana are so nice and friendly. I am sure there are a few bad apples like every other place but I have yet to meet one during my time there. It's hard to explain, but people in Louisiana have a way of making you feel like you have known them forever. I don't know what it is about these kind-hearted people living in towns across that state. FYI-Many of the people there are also known by another name, but I won't disclose that name on my "PG" blog! =) I'm sure many of you have heard it once or twice! It rhymes with "moon-bass"!