Natchez and the Great Mississippi {Part I}

This weekend my mom and I took the kids to Natchez, Mississippi for the hot air balloon races! We just love Natchez...the great food, the beautiful churches, the old antebellum homes, the pralines...we just love the history of it all. So, the Hot Air Balloon Festival was a great excuse for us to head down for the weekend!

On Friday night, they had the "balloon glow". All of the balloons were set up, tethered down, and they would light the fire in them to make them "glow". It was really beautiful.

It wasn't loud at all...I don't know why Brody and Beckett have their ears covered in this picture. I think with the flames and all, they were just afraid it would get loud...who knows.

Watching the fireworks over the Mississippi River before heading back to our hotel...

Sweet Levi playing on the quilt...

This baby boy sure was snuggly the next morning!!

Beckett thought this "big boat" was super neat ;)

And they both loved this big beautiful bridge that crosses the Mississippi River.

After letting them play down by the river for a bit, we headed to Rosalie Plantation to buy a box of pralines from Miss Sophronia :) The kids wanted their picture made with her...not sure why no one was looking...lol...the story of my life these days...

Then we drove to Dunleith Plantation - our very favorite! This is where Mom and Cliff got married 9 years ago. The house is just immaculate, and the grounds are sooo beautiful. They loved climbing on the huge Magnolia trees!

Even Levi enjoyed being outside in the sunshine!!

After they grew tired of playing in the trees, they spent at least an hour rolling around on these big hills. They just had a blast.

Mom spent a little time loving on Levi.

And the boys decorated me with flowers they picked.

Beckett loved pretending to take pictures of everyone with Mom's phone...

And we had fun taking pictures in front of this beautiful home!

Oh, what a face!

I sure do love this boy of mine

We had the best time playing at Dunleith!!!

More to come...

Boys at Play

I am LOVING staying home with the boys full time. This is what I have wanted to do since Brody was a baby, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to do it now. I used to constantly have that feeling that I was always missing something. I missed so many firsts. And I missed just watching their every day play. It was always so busy when we would get home from work - cooking dinner, church, baths, housework, etc. I felt like I never got to just watch them.

I have loved watching them play so much these last few months. I know that sounds like something so minor, but it has been really special to me. It was so nice and cool outside Saturday morning, the boys went out bright and early to play. No, it wasn't really cold enough to need coats and hats, but this is what they wanted to wear, so I let them.

Making mud pies...
Beckett drinking his chocolate milk, still trying to wake up...

Mr. Blue Eyes hung out in his swing while the big boys played. He loooves to watch them play. He kicks and legs and coos, and I can just tell he can't wait til he can get down there with them.

After playing in the dirt, the boys moved to the backyard to the playset. Beckett is finally old enough to climb and play on it pretty well. They have so much fun together.

Brody's trick! Don't you love the house shoes???

I could kiss this face all day long. He is total cuteness overload.

I can so see Brody becoming a chef one day. He is really into cooking right now. It doesn't matter if he is helping me in the kitchen or pretend-cooking with play dough. He loves to play restaurant. And dude goes all out. I get to order off of menus, and he even serves 4 course meals. It's fabulous.

I really want to buy the boys a little kitchen, but Brent says no. Maybe I can get my dad to make them one.... Hmmmm....

Fish and Monsters and Shots and Soccer

Noni got Beckett this fish aquarium and all of the accessories for his birthday, so Brent and Brody bought fish for it this week, and we got it all set up! Beckett drags this little stool over and will stand there and watch them swim forever. He looooves it.

Speaking of this little stool...he uses it everywhere now. This sweet older gentleman, who was a patient of mine, made it for Brody when he was a baby. We have gotten so much use out of it! I love seeing sweet little feet perched on top...

Even when it's helping them do things they shouldn't!! Ha! (Like play in the water and ice dispenser)

Shelby and Kasen bought Beckett this little clay modeling set for his birthday, so we got it out one morning this week and made clay monsters!

This little sweetie is finally starting to tolerate being on his tummy a little better. I found that if I put him on his boppy he does much better.

The bigger boys got their shots this week :( They really did great and had no side effects, but wanted ice to put on their arms when we first got home. I told them to give me a sad face in this picture...lol.

See....they really were fine. Silly boys. Levi is getting his shots this next week, and I am really dreading it. Shots are one of my least favorite things.

Brody had his first soccer game this week!!!! They were quite hilarious to watch and have tons to learn, but he had sooo much fun. I look forward to many more evening spend laughing at these silly kids on the soccer field this fall!