DADDY'S AWAY SO A TRIP TO HATTIESBURG

Since Kenny was going to be gone to market over the weekend I decided to take the kids down to Hattiesburg for the weekend. It is hard for us to get down there often. I picked Elle up after school was over and we made the drive down. As soon as we got to CeCe's house the kids were into all sorts of things. Mom has a lot of my old toys so Walker went to work playing with the Fisher Price garages and Elle started going through the costume jewelry. They also discovered CeCe's treadmill and loved playing on that all weekend.I picked up a chicken spaghetti from Elle's favorite place here in Starkville and we just hung out at home for the night.

Saturday morning I got up and worked out at the new Orange Theory studio in Hattiesburg. Then we all got showered and dressed and went to the library where the kids looked at some books and then checked out a couple books and then we made our way over to the Hattiesburg Zoo. It is a small zoo but the weather was a perfect day to be outside and they have really done a lot with the zoo. The kids really enjoyed it. Lots of fun things to do including a small carasoul and a train ride around the entire zoo. We brought a picnic lunch and spent several hours there.

After the zoo we went home. Mom and I dozed o the couch and the kids played then we went out for an early dinner at Tabella. We ended the night with some ice cream at Baskin Robbins.

Mom showing Elle pictures of her house before she redid it all.

Reading some books at the library.

Headed into the zoo.

Train ride selfies.

Feeding the goats and brushing them in their pen was both the kids favorite thing they said.

ELLE TURNS 8!

Elle's actual birthday fell on the day that Kenny flew out for market. He planned his flight so he would be home that morning so we celebrated her birthday that morning when she woke up as family. Kenny went and got her and Walker donuts and she also requested a spicy sausage roll. We sang Happy Birthday and blew a candle out and then she opened a few small presents from us and a present from Nanee. Nanee had sent a gift card for American Girl before we went but it got caught up in the mail so we used it so she would have something to open on her birthday. She had also opened a big box of goodies the night before from Gramma and Pop Pop.

Then it was lots of big hugs and kisses from Daddy and off to school. While I was in Memphis I got Annie to bring us some cookies from Whimsy Cookie Company for her school birthday treat so she was excited about that!

Opening presents on her birthday morning.

 A bleary eyed Walker getting his sibling birthday surprise 

She loved this little room service tray when we were at the American Girl 

store so she was super excited about this!

More doll stuff!

Play dolls together. Sweet boy adores everything his sister does.

So since Kenny flew out for Vegas after Elle left for school, Ell and I made big plans for a special school night sleepover girls celebration. She requested brownie sundaes for dessert and we ordered food from her choice of restaurant and then we stayed up late and watched the Taylor Swift concert on Netflix and danced and sang. It was a really fun night and I was so grateful for the time spent together enjoying her birthday!

Sporting her birthday girl shirt shirt from Gramma.

Ordered her favorite- a chicken sandwich from Bulldog Burger.

Cuddling my birthday girl watching the concert.

Ice cream sundaes for dessert.

A LITTLE THIS AND THAT

Just a quick this and that post. Both the kids have really been into watching the Kids Baking Championship shows. Kenny and I have enjoyed it because we get just as into it as they do. So when they aren't watching the show they pretend to be on the show. And while its not my favorite game they play because they make a huge mess most of the time I love watching them play together and their imaginations. 

Dirtying up every pot and pan and kitchen utensil in my kitchen but having fun!

Elle has shown a lot more interest in helping me in the

 kitchen since we started watching the show together. 

Walker has been participating in a basketball program where they learn skill for basketball and other things. He loves it. He goes every Wednesday while he is at preschool. They use these special "Tot" balls and you could order one when you registered them. Well somehow I missed that box and he did not get a ball and when I say he has been devastated about it I mean it. Every single week he would ask so sweetly if today would be the day he would get a TOT ball. It was really pitiful. Well last week I figured out how to order one online and crossed my fingers he would get it at TOTs and he did. He was so happy and has been showing us all his tricks with his ball.

So happy with his ball.

Our neighbor and one of our favorite babysitters is a senior at Starkville Academy. Last week she came over to ask Elle to be her princess in the Mississippi Hospitality pageant this summer. Elle was so flattered and is looking forward to all her duties.

Elle and Lake, Starkville Miss Hospitality and her princess

Kenny had some clubs he needed to pick up at Old Waverly so we took Walker out there for some lunch one day. They have a set of Lincoln Logs for kids to play with and he loves to build cabins with Kenny when we go.

Daddy has become quite the Lincoln Log expert.

This Sunday I was finally able to see a play that I have loved for a few years now. One of the main reasons we bought season tickets to the Orpheum this year! Waitress. Oh my goodness I love the music to this play so much. We knew from the get go that the play was too mature for Elle to see it so I invited Missy to come along with Kenny and me to see it. But then last week Kenny decided he would rather stay home and hang with the kids since he was going to market so I asked my friend Foley to come with us too. We had a great girls day. We had brunch  reservations at Catherine and Mary's where enjoyed a really great meal and some delicious cocktail and then walked across the street to the Orpheum. The play was just as good as I hoped and Foley and Missy loved it too. We all cried through the second act and then I cried because it was over. I can only hope I can see it again one day!

Yummy food and cocktails.

Waiting for the show to start.

Picture in front of the poster after the play was over. Foley and Missy 

kept their sunglasses on because we had all been crying.

I made a last minute decision to swing by the Cheesecake Corner to 

bring some home on the way out of town. It was all so good! I miss that place.

We had a three day weekend for MLK day so Elle had Audrey and Ella over for a play. 

They brought their dolls and had the best time.

Just wanted to include these cute pics of my boy all cuddled up the other day watching Big Hero 6.