The countdown is on!!

So obviously I'm behind...again! There were several weeks of us not knowing when we would be coming home, if Jason would be coming home with us or after us, and we are still trying to figure out how all of our stuff is coming home. BUT, we are headed home next week!  We are excited to get back to our house (I'm especially excited to get back to MY appliances!), but at the same time we are sad that our adventure is ending.  It's been like a vacation for me and the kids so getting back into the reality of life may be a little hard.

Knowing that the end is nearing for our time here, we have been spending every weekend doing something fun.  We spent 2 weekends in a row in Pensacola. We were able to spend time with Pop-Pop and Debbie, and even Aunt Lean and Brenden one weekend so we all enjoyed that.

Aunt Lean and Brenden actually
got Jake it the pool without screaming!

Sibling love in front of the new house (before it was painted)

Last week we had a visit from Uncle Neil and Izaiah.  We spent time at the pool, beach and on the 2nd celebrated adoption day (the day Jakob's adoption was finalized 5 years ago) with a beach fire.  We were also able to go to New Orleans one more time before we head back home and I finally got to go on my ghost tour.  We actually all went on the ghost tour and the kids did much better than I expected.  Luckily it was the early tour so that really helped and it was still daylight so Jake didn't get scared. I didn't realize how much attention he was paying to the tourguide until a few days later we was talking to his Granny and was giving her details about yellow fever and the vampires "in the top of the building." We also got some authentic New Orleans masks so now I've told Jason someone needs to host a Masquerade Ball so that we can have a reason to wear them :) Somehow I didn't get a picture of the hurricanes we got from Pat O'Brien's, but we do have the glasses to prove we went there!

Sheila saw my camera during the ghost
 tour and started saying "cheese!" so,
I had to take a picture of her.

Jake and Z showing off their
New Orleans masks

The 4th of July holiday was crazy!  We went to the beach to an event that Keesler AFB was hosting and there were fireworks being set off everywhere! I've never seen so many fireworks being set off at once and they were everywhere you turned.  The kids were more interested in playing in the sand for most of it, but Sheila is definitely a Campbell as she "ooo'd and awe'd" with me when the firework show started.

I'm truly convinced that I will
never get a good picture of
all 3 of us at the same time!  

Just some of the fireworks being set off
on the beach

This weekend is our last weekend here is Mississippi and our 11th anniversary.  Some of our friends here are going to watch the kids and we are actually going to try to have a dinner where there is no asking to play games on phones and I don't have to cut anyone's food!  I may have withdrawal and start trying to feed Jason like a child...I'll let you know how that turns out if I do.  We are also going to take the kids fishing and possibly take a tour of the lighthouse here before we leave.  I'll try to update again before we leave, BUT...it'll probably be when we get back and settled before I get a chance to get on the computer again.

Stennis Space Center

This past weekend was rainy here, so we were on the hunt for an indoor activity.  We've been talking about driving out to the Stennis Space Center, so we decided this was a good time for it.  Once again, I managed to leave the good camera in the car-in my defense it was pouring and we were trying to get both kids with umbrellas into the building AND we forgot the stroller too!  We still got a few pictures of some of the fun the kids had. Unfortunately,the kids were too tired to do the bus tour so we didn't get to see the entire grounds, but had fun all the same.

Our little astronauts!! 

Neither of the kids wanted to have their picture taken in the large spacesuit cut out and it was a close call to get Sheila's picture at all.  Right after I took this picture, she pushed (or kicked I don't know) the cut out down, looked at it, and walked away.  Yeah, we have just a little attitude and I have NO idea where she gets it from ;)




Jake really liked looking at the large models and they had a few models that we could walk through.  Daddy really enjoyed the flight simulator and let Jake sit on his lap while he did it- I think that was just so that the kids in line didn't complain about the old man playing :-)

The kids got some Astronaut ice cream as a treat, and ate it after bath time (which explains the pj's and wet hair).  They both really liked their treat!!

            YUMMY!!!

A little behind...

So I knew it had been awhile since I had a minute to sit down and update the blog, but didn't realize it had been almost a month!!  There has been a lot going on in the last few weeks, but in my scattered brain mommy moments I have often forgotten the camera :(

Here is Sheila modeling a dress that
Tillie and Heidi had pictures taken in a few years
ago. It almost doesn't fit anymore, so we snapped some
shots while we could. And yes, she posed like that on
her own...each time I took a picture!

Mawmaw and Paw made it down for a visit.  It wasn't easy getting them here, but after an hour delay leaving Indy and having Delta change their flight from Atlanta to get them into New Orleans (surprise to them when they thought they had missed their flight to Gulfport) they did make it here!!  It was great to see them and the kids loved having them here...Sheila was all about giving Paw-Paw a big kiss!!!  We took them to New Orleans for a coupe of days and although I don't have a lot of pictures to show for it, I did take a few.

Maw & Paw walking to the
Civil War Museum

Mom and I went on a cemetery tour
in French Quarter of St. Louis #1 cemetery.
This is a picture of the future home of
Nicholas Cage

Jakob throwing a fit in front of the WWII
museum while we were deciding what to do next

Sheila hamming it up while Bub
threw his fit

Right before we left for the airport. I only had my phone, so not the best
quality, but it works in a pinch!

Pensacola weekend

So our adventures this weekend took us to Pensacola with Steve and Debbie.  We were there to have fun, they were there to look for a winter home.  On Saturday the four of us went to the National Aviation Museum and spent several hours walking around and looking (and in some cases climbing in) at hundreds of old military aircraft. Here are just a few of the 150+ pictures I took while we were there.

Showing us just how big the propeller is.

She doesn't just look like her mommy...throwing a fit just like
I used to and I'm taking a picture just like my parents did!

Aunt Tammy...they were close enough to
reach out and touch ;)

My little fighter pilots

Daddy had a good time teaching Jakob
about all of the different weapons

I feel the need, the need for speed!

Seriously...can they get any cuter?!

They really liked sitting in the engine

There is a working lighthouse on the Naval Station too. We were able to walk close to it, but the kids aren't tall enough to climb to the top, so the best we got was a picture.

The day finished with a trip to the beach.  I didn't have my camera with me (didn't want sand all over it) so the only picture I got was of Jason & Jakob getting his big kite ready.  He had more fun flying his kite with daddy (it went much higher!) and Sheila liked playing in the sand.

Before we came back to Mississippi we went for a Mother's Day round of putt-putt.  Again, I only had my phone camera, but I think you can see how much fun the kids had while we were there!

                

 

We love the water!

Last week the kids and I finally made it to the new Splash Pad on Keesler and they loved it!  For a long time they were the only ones there, which made them love it even more :)

They both liked trying to "catch" the water!






We also had a day where we were able to go for a walk along the beach and then Jake was finally able to play with a kite.  The only problem, was that he had me to help him! I'm not known as the best kite flier and with having to watch to make sure Sheila didn't run out into the parking lot, means we didn't do a great job.  He still had fun, so that's all that really matters though!

Trying to get it off of the sand!

One of Sheila, just because she's so stinkin' cute

The Big Easy...

Last week we made a day trip to New Orleans. We spent the whole day in the French Quarter district but had tons of fun.  The day started with some wonderful beignets that the kids really enjoyed!

Yummy!!

Sheila didn't want to hold it, but sure liked to eat it!

Daddy and Jake showing off his powdered sugar fingers.

After breakfast went on a carriage ride that the kids were super excited about.  Unfortunately for them, it was a historic tour that lasted 30 minutes and Jakob thought it was "too long!!"

We did a little shopping and walking and then had some lunch (because come on, you eat a lot on vacation, right?).  We were able to eat outside on the balcony which we all enjoyed.  During lunch, the large ferry boat docked and had a 20 minute steam music show.  Jakob thought that this part was awesome :)

With my mini-me

Off to the right of the building is the ferry
we were able to listen to during lunch

Sheila fell asleep during our walk by the river, so Jakob thought that this was a perfect time for a picture shoot.  Here are just a few of the pictures that he had me take, and yes he would stop and pick out where he wanted his picture taken a and then he posed for each one!

Stopping for a picture

"I'm a statue"

"Get my picture here too!"

One of our last stops was St. Louis Cathedral. It was lovely.  A wedding rehearsal was happening while we were there so I didn't take any pictures in the church, but will go back to get some another day.

This was in front of the Cathedral and Lincoln statue.
As you can see, Sheila wasn't really ready to be awake yet. 

We didn't get a picture of the strangest part of the day, but it involved Jakob throwing a fit about us making him go to the bathroom and screaming to the point that a homeless man gave him a dollar.  Needless to say that it got Jake to stop screaming (did I mention how tired he was?) and then he was really excited. Don't worry Aunt Tammy, we made him put the dollar away and then we sanitized his hands-again!  6 days later and he still mentions the guy that gave him money! We didn't last much longer after this and went back home before dinner time.  Even with the meltdowns we are excited to go back and see more of the city.

If you want to see more pictures from our New Orleans trip you can catch them here:  http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=11967642007/a=40772093_40772093/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Easter Festivities

Easter weekend was a busy time for us.  Saturday started with a pancake breakfast, which the kids thoroughly enjoyed! Once we were done eating, we went to the park on base for an Easter parade, complete with goodies for the kids and the Easter bunny made an appearance at the end. From that distance Sheila actually liked him!

Showing off their baskets before the parade starts

He's over there!!

After the parade the kids got to participate in an Easter egg hunt. Unfortunately for us, Jakob & Sheila were in two different age categories and we only had the one camera :(   We decided that I would go with Sheila take a few pictures of her and then she & I would run over to catch a picture or two of Jake finding an egg.  Well...that would have worked if a) we knew where in the world Jakob and Jason had been standing and b) if Jakob had actually gotten any eggs!  You see, we told him that he wanted to watch for the special 'golden eggs' not knowing that to his 5 year old ears that meant "only get the golden eggs, don't pick up the ones right in front of you!"  Oops!!!!  Luckily, Sheila didn't know any better, so I just took a couple of hers and hid them nearby for Jake to find.  He was still sad for a moment, but was over it when he realized there was candy in the eggs.

Once she figured out what to do, she really liked
getting the eggs in her basket!

Still able to smile after the hunt!

Jason had one of the Sr Airmen helping out take a picture of us.  I was impressed that he got everyone to look and smile in only two attempts!

The kids didn't want to wait in line to see the Easter bunny so we played around instead!

There were kayak's out so the kids jumped in so we could show Aunt Tammy, Uncle Chris, & Uncle Neil that they are ready to go!!

 The kids always love to play at the playground. This was one of the first times that I actually had my camera with me, so I was excited too!



Easter Sunday brought baskets with a few goodies, church (which we almost lasted the whole time without crying) and a dinner with some of Jason's classmates.  Overall it was a wonderful day, with lovely people and gorgeous weather.

Excited for his new movies

She is no longer my daughter...
she liked the Peeps!!

Doesn't everyone have Easter dinner by the pool?

Sheila was yelling at her Daddy to bring her "more!!"