Cousin Will

We traveled to Georgia for Will's first birthday party. Cute birthday boy
They loved playing in this jump.

Rebekah LOVES to hug on Will.

I'm not sure how he feels about it.

Enjoying the weather and her lunch.

Disneyworld...where dreams come true

The second weekend of January, we packed up and headed out to Disneyworld.
I ran in the DisneyWorld Half-Marathon on January 9. It was amazing. God is more amazing.

These are a two different videos from the event.



We arrived at Disney around 4:15a.m. and by 4:30 it was snowing... SNOWING in Orlando, FL. The snow didn't last long but it sleeted and rained the rest of the morning. It was below 30 degrees....very unusual for Disney. Leaving the hotel early early early in the morning

Rebekah and I bundled up before the race

I finished in 3 hours 2 minutes and 3 seconds. I was the 12,752 person out of 17,127 people to finish the half-marathon. The 6,549 woman out of 9,688. There were 1,256 women in my division alone. I was the 907th finisher for my division. I'm very glad I wasn't last!

I'm planning on doing the DisneyWorld Princess Half-Marathon in 2011 with a dear friend (and anyone else who is up for it).

We spent two days at the Disney Parks. We visited the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot. We all enjoyed it.

Magic Kingdom Epcot

Here are even more pictures for your enjoyment.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Inside "Its a small world"... I think this was R's favorite

Lego people and dogs at Disney marketplace....very coolDancing in Mickey's Playhouse LIVEOn a train in the Magic KingdomCarosuelDumbo ride

On our way home we stopped for a walk on the beach.Bekah-sandwich

My favorites!

Delta State Pig Pickin'

Several weeks back, Rebekah and I took a trip to my favorite place on earth for Delta State's Pig Picking.

I was VERY excited about visiting with so many of my favorite people in my favorite place.

We were able to stop and visit with the Townsends in Isola.

We had lunch with the Lewis family in Greenville.

When we made it to DSU,

we got a chance to visit with Brooke before she left to go reveal her big news to her family. We are excited about Pig Picking 2010. Rebekah will be so glad to have another girl-baby to play with.

Then we stopped in at the Young Alumni Tent to visit Sayward and eat a cupcake.

When it was time to eat our meal, we stopped at the Covenant tent. Rebekah intensely enjoyed her very first corn on the cob.We visited with a LOT of people before the game.

We decided to visit with more people instead of attend the football game.

We were able to stop in and spend some time with the Bairds.

When we left the Bairds, we headed for Libbi's.

Libbi was gracious enough to let us stay with her over night.

She had other house guest besides us...for a grand total of 9 people under her roof.
Her other guests were our friends the Collins.

When we arrived at Libbi's, there was already a laid back gathering in progress. We were able to relax with Libbi & Thomas, Amberly & Wil Franklin, Sayward & Harper Ann, and Charslie. It was great. It had been months since Rebekah played with Wil Franklin and even more months since she first met Thomas and HarperAnn.

After the last picture was taken, Wil Franklin took his first step EVER. What a special memory!Rebekah tried out Harper Ann's baby seat. Rebekah making sure Roane's computer was okay.

After the babies went to sleep, Libbi, Amberly and I made a Sonic run and then sat and talked about important life matters late into the nigth.

We got up Sunday morning and went to church...at my favorite church in the world, Covenant.

Libbi made a wonderful lunch and then we were on our way back to J.R. in Hattiesburg.

It was a very lovely weekend.

My Uncle Josh's restaurant

We went to see our friends, the Rogers, in Lake Charles, LA.

We had the pleasure of eating at their restaurant, The Landing.

I really liked the macaroni. I don't like my Momma or Daddy to feed me anymore.
I can do it by myself.

I love food.
And when I'm finished eating, I love to rub my food in my hair.

Because you've waited so patiently...

This summer, we made several short trips to Jackson. We love staying with Granddaddy, Grandmother, and Mamie...where else can a wee girl get sooooo much attention at one time. Most every visit, we also got to visit with Hayley, Jay, Nichole, and our favorite cousin Miles. Rebekah has a favorite toy in Jackson. It is a duck that "quack, quack, quacks"...Granddaddy decided he had a better "quacker"...and the Beks was quite impressed with his duck call. She loves her (Great) Granddaddy.
Our Mamie is quite the lady. She is also quite the shopper especially when it comes to her Beks. She couldn't resist the lure of the GloWorm. The GloWorm was a hit. This is Rebekah giving it kisses.

We (Daddy, Momma, and the sweetness) also spent some time on the Trace on our bikes.

This is the Beks getting ready to head out with Momma. The iBert safety seat has proven to be a great purchase.

I mentioned our visit with the Rogers girls in a gratitude list. They are too sweet. Uncle JR, Aunt KeithAnn, and Baby Rebekah LOVE THEM. They spent one afternoon and night with us. It was altogether lovely. And if you live in the Lake Charles, LA area, you should check out their Daddy's new restaurant...The Landing at Contraband.

All our girls being crafty.

Dropping Rebekah off with her sitter. Rebekah and Lili had matching outfits.

4th of July...long day

We started the day off in Jackson. We ran the Watermelon Classic (results here). Rebekah enjoying her breakfast in Granddaddy's chair, before the race.

After the race, we drove south to Kentwood to visit with Oma's family.We all took turns loving on baby Will. We enjoyed a nice lunch before we headed for the pool.

The Beks strutting her stuff.Showing off her new "swimming" skills. Swimming three days a week at camp has turned her into a fish.She enjoyed playing with her cousin, Katie.Rebekah was trying to tell Will how to "swim" for the first time.He didn't really want to swim as much as he wanted to sleep.

KaaKaa loving on Will and Will still wanting to be asleep!

After Kentwood, we drove back to Hattiesburg to take a nap before visiting with friends at Paul B. Johnson State Park. Our good friends, the Rogers, rented a cabin for the weekend. We enjoyed cooking out, visiting, and watching fireworks with them.

At the end of the night, we were very glad to get home and go to bed.

201st Blog Post...Wow!

After several adventures with our suitcase, Rebekah's diaper bag, my purse and the interior of a car, I finally found my camera with visual documentation of our fabulous weekend.

Rebekah and I left Jackson Saturday morning around 7:30. My little one slept all the way there. She woke up in Sayward's driveway. I enjoyed a sweet reunion with Sayward and Rebecca. I've seen both Sayward and Rebecca since our DSU days, but not together for an extended amount of talking time. I miss them so much. The orgins of their friendship run across, into, and intertwine with the roots of the beginning of my deeper and closer walk with my God.

While at Sayward's, Beks didn't pay much attention to Harper Ann(or even McKayla). She was taken in by the lure of all of Holt's toys, especially this tractor. It made noise! Our morning visit did not last too long because two little girls needed their beauty rest. So we left Sayward and most precious new baby, Harper Ann, for Mrs. Austin's house.

Mrs. Austin has to be the sweetest lady in the world to me. She was so good to us all during our DSU days and continues to be a blessing. I don't know many other people who would open their home to two one year olds at the same time!

Sayward is a biological rarity. She has a two week old child and is up and at 'em AND looking beautiful. She and Harper Ann made an appearance at their family reunion and then stopped in for more visiting at Mrs. Austin's. The lady of the hour....Harper Ann FortnerRebekah gravitated right to Harper Ann this time. She was very very interested in her.

I think she wanted to pick her up and have a bite, much like she desired with her cousin Will a month ago.She uncovered her teeny tiny feet. Not sure how I failed to snap a shot of those toes. Mrs. Austin and Harper Ann

I think Mrs. Austin may be the cutest baby holder EVER.

Rebecca and Harper Ann. Rebecca and I both can't believe all girls are big now. We miss the cuddly bundle of a newborn. Ours are on-the-go. McKayla was very curious about that baby in her Mama's arms.


Harper Ann and I....ooooooohhhhweeeeeeee, I love little babies!

The girls still hovering around Sayward and Harper Ann. They are irresistable.

After our visit with Sayward and Harper Ann, we went to the Blue Levee for supper. It was very very very very good. I've been craving it ever since. When we came home, we decided that the girls needed a bath.

And then we let them explore in their pajamas.

They are super great at playing side-by-side. They went to bed. We stayed up and chatted.

Sunday morning we all went to Covenant. I still consider Covenant my home church. God blessed me so richly through this church body and leadership during my DSU days. I got to see so many faces that I love Sunday morning!!! After church, we met up with another good friend, Anjanette, at the Warehouse for lunch. And then we headed home.

Overall, it was LOVELY!