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.

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

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!!"

Yummy... Crawfish!

The base had a crawfish boil last weekend and one of Jason's classmates was participating so we went too.  It was pretty boring at first, but once the crawfish were handed out, we had more fun. Jake loved picking them up and watching them crawl around. He watched with great interest while Jason's friend put the bucket in the boiling water and didn't even cry when it happened.

Jake with one of his new "friends"

Sheila thought she needed to touch them too!

After they cooked, Jason's friends dad was able to get Jake to try one.  He decided he liked it, but was sad because it was his friend!  They even got Jason to try some too.  I tried it, but we couldn't get Sheila on board with the eating of the crawfish.  Oh well, maybe next time!

YUM

This is Sheila's "I don't think so mom!" face.

I think that Jason was really trying to figure out a way to not try it here!

Jakob's favorite part of the day was when he finally got to play corn hole.  The boards were set up right in front of our cooking area, but we kept telling him they were for the adults. Finally, some of "our people" decided to play, so Jake jumped at the chance to join in on the fun!