tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34650453252186644302024-03-05T15:04:55.821-08:00Hosford FamilyMark, Leslie & JakeLeslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-40661702371409414252009-05-29T20:08:00.000-07:002009-05-29T20:10:47.995-07:00What Happens When You Let Him Dress Himself....<img src="http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/37835/2684006480058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="061"><br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/45390/2617847040058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="063">Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-66579934741287545672009-05-29T19:53:00.000-07:002009-05-29T20:06:49.693-07:00We Love Mud!!You should know something about us...we love mud. I never, ever played in the mud as a child, never considered it until I met my husband. He introduced me to playing in the mud and I have been addicted ever since. It appears that he has passed on his love for all things muddy to Jake. For several days in a row, all it did was rain, rain, rain. Jake has a spot in the back of our neighborhood where he likes to go and play. He calls this spot "the dirt place". We had to keep from going back there for several days because it was just raining too much. The first day that the rain held off for a little while, Jake asked if we could go play at the dirt place. We obliged and the dirt place turned out to be more like the mud place. Before we knew it, Jake stripped off his socks and shoes and was ankle deep in the mud. He had a great time playing and we had lots of laughs watching and listening to him play. Here are a few pics to show just how muddy he got his little piggies!!<br /><br /><br /><img alt="076" src="http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/6062/2806982470058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/43567/2641596280058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="079"><br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/7529/2185517510058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="084"><br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/44666/2686942670058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="087"><br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/42101/2388557810058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="090"><br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/45660/2632014540058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="077"><br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/45416/2590255390058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="097">Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-52473566782367876632009-05-12T08:01:00.000-07:002009-05-12T08:09:02.815-07:00My Little SalesmanIt's quite possible that Jake watches too much tv. I will admit that. My question is, are other children as obsessed with infomercials as he is? For about 2 years now, he has been bugging me to get him some of those water globes to water the plants with, I say we, no, scratch that, Mark does just fine watering the plants with a cup of water. He has told me before that if we had a Snuggie, I could hold him and be covered up with a blanket all at the same time. He wants me to have a Shoes Under and wants me to know that I can get 2 of them for the price of 1...<em>AND</em> that means I can store 80 shoes under the bed. I told him that Daddy doesn't want us to put stuff under our beds. To that he replied "you can also use it to store shoes in the closet." When I was sweeping the floor Friday, he said, in the most serious tone of voice, "Mama, that broom won't get into the corners! Do you know what will? A Swiffer Sweeper...and you don't have one of those!" Do you think he might have a career in sales?Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-66147665666908189312009-04-06T17:18:00.000-07:002009-04-06T17:46:31.782-07:00And There Was Mud as Far as the Eye Could See<div align="center">Mark and I had a little fun this weekend with some of our good friends. We both took the day off from work Friday and headed to Jacksonville, TX for Mud Nationals. This is an almost week long annual event full of mud, four wheelers, good times and good friends. We've had our four wheeler or side by side for a little over a year now and this was our first time to put it through the paces in the mud. Mark and I would have liked to have spent a little more time riding and less time sitting in traffic on the trails but it was fun nonetheless and we got to enjoy some time to ourselves.<br /><br /><img alt="027" src="http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/42704/2961008030058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /><br /><br />Our Camp<br /><br /><img alt="014" src="http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/44958/2634347940058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /><br /><br />We'd like one of these, please.<br /><br /><img alt="013" src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/43267/2893036420058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /><br /><br />Libbe, what happened?<br /><br /><img alt="018" src="http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/43079/2117307210058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /><br /><br />Look at all those people!<br /><br /><img alt="025" src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/35709/2169418390058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /><br /><br />My favorite mudbug.<br /><br /><br /></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-1948365275879724082009-04-06T08:12:00.000-07:002009-04-06T17:18:40.780-07:00It's Not You, It's the TVJake was sitting on the couch last night, watching Scooby Doo, when he turned to me and said, "Mama, I don't want to live here anymore." I asked him if it was because he doesn't like us anymore. His response was "Mama, of course I like ya'll, it's this TV that I don't like. It keeps playing all the shows I've already seen before!"Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-31940498329387842062009-03-21T18:07:00.000-07:002009-03-21T18:20:26.083-07:00Teach a Man to FishThis year, we decided to skip out on the Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade. We went fishing instead. The weather was wonderful so I loaded up on my Allegra and other asthma medicine and we headed over to the in law's house to see if we could catch anything. We had a lot of luck catching some white perch. Mark was the winner of the most fish caught award. Fish love him!...and I do too of course! Enjoy a few pictures of our day.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/42495/2433701400058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="006"><br />This is the "don't take my picture" pose.<br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/44293/2792138450058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="010"><br />Should I use this worm or this worm?<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/44982/2971693620058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="012"><br />One of my first fish.<br /><br /><img src="http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/5984/2116885420058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="015"><br />Jake's big catch.Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-1448091674506161542009-03-14T07:28:00.000-07:002009-03-14T07:50:01.206-07:00Just call me Picasso.If you haven't tried it already, I would encourage each and every one of you to make a trip to Easely Amused! A group of coworkers and my bestest bud Jen went last night and had an absolute BLAST! This is an art studio of sorts where non-artistic and artistic folks alike go to complete a masterpiece. The instructor is of course an artist and she chooses a painting for each class. Last night's painting was "Sweet Georgia Brown". For the low cost of $26.75 you are provided a canvas, paint and excellent step by step instruction on how to complete the painting. We had a wonderful time together and it was amazing to see how everyone's paintings turned out. No two were alike! Thanks gals for a great night out!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><img alt="002" src="http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/19385/2020591490058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /></p><div align="center"><br />The first stages.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img alt="004" src="http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/31413/2986841390058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /></p><div align="center"><br />The finished product.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img alt="022" src="http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/13543/2947837450058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /></p><div align="center"><br />My Jen.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img alt="023" src="http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/35905/2012615570058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" /></p><div align="center"><br />Jennifer and Lindsey.</div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-68423394404951176712009-02-13T16:48:00.000-08:002009-02-13T17:47:05.641-08:00It's a Zoo!A couple of weekends ago we had some very nice weather around here. We decided to take a family trip to the zoo. This was just the Jackson Zoo so don't expect too much in the way of fabulous pictures. All of the animals seemed to be very tired that day. We went just after lunch so I imagine some of them were just taking their after lunch snooze. We had a fun time and did manage to get a few good pictures.<br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2417813710058581491gUAnZx"><img src="http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/9908/2417813710058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="002"></a><br />Sleeping Rhinos<br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2592359160058581491hKUrgr"><img src="http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/44983/2592359160058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="003"></a><br />Sleeping Hogs<br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2662710150058581491vUhmiy"><img src="http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/43967/2662710150058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="004"></a><br />Sleeping Chimp...notice a theme here?<br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2455766890058581491iEcmhH"><img src="http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/44305/2455766890058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="009"></a><br />An elephant holding up a rock<br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2003657780058581491MJMtlH"><img src="http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/25802/2003657780058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="012"></a><br />Jake, what do you think about the elephants?<br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2075393280058581491cMgfKb"><img src="http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/36525/2075393280058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="014"></a><br />I love it when he's happy!<br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2318302580058581491dJCrtj"><img src="http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/44938/2318302580058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="017"></a><br />Me and my boy<br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2973216170058581491oZsHTu"><img src="http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/43448/2973216170058581491S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="031"></a><br />Look, more lazy animals...eating dead leaves<br /><br />It was a really good day and we had fun...even if all the animals were sleeping.Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-4312375628415385962009-01-20T12:01:00.000-08:002009-01-20T12:09:40.895-08:00It's been FOREVER!!....since I posted anything on here! I'm going to start off with this little quiz since I don't really have a whole lot to blog about at the moment. Christmas pictures will be coming soon!! I know, it's been a month since Christmas!<br /><br />You can only answer these questions with one word...feel free to copy and do this yourself!<br /><br />1. Where is your cell phone? desk<br />2. Where is your significant other? work<br />3. Your hair color? brownish<br />4. Your mother? patient<br />5. Your father? funny<br />6. Your favorite thing? cake<br />7. Your dream last night? none<br />8. Your dream/goal? peace<br />9. The room you're in? office<br />10. Your hobby? running<br />11. Your fear? death<br />12. Where do you want to be in six years? madison<br />13. Where were you last night? home<br />14. What you're not? patient<br />15. One of your wish list items? tahoe<br />16. Where you grew up? ridgeland<br />17. The last thing you did? typed<br />18. What are you wearing? sweater<br />19. Your TV? heavy<br />20. Your pet? grey<br />21. Your computer? dell<br />22. Your mood? calm<br />23. Missing someone? Mark<br />24. Your car? fast<br />25. Something you're not wearing? socks<br />26. Favorite store? clothing<br />27. Your Summer? hot<br />28. Love someone? yes<br />29. Your favorite color? brown<br />30. When is the last time you laughed? earlier<br />31. Last time you cried? SaturdayLeslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-16625465566723713762008-11-12T06:12:00.000-08:002008-11-12T06:15:45.199-08:00The Shirtless WonderI wonder if anyone can explain why my 4 year old has suddenly decided that he doesn't want to wear a shirt...ever?? The first thing he does when we get home is peel off his shirt. He walks around all night long without it. Then, after bath time, he absolutely refuses to put his pajama shirt on, he only wants the pants on. Isn't he a little too young to be acting like Al Bundy? I haven't been able to get a picture of this yet, but I hope to get one soon!Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-2999322120164900042008-10-05T14:25:00.001-07:002008-10-06T08:52:33.003-07:00We Got 2 Good Ones!!<p>This year's alligator hunt was a BLAST!! We left for Pascagoula on Friday afternoon. We arrived at about 4 p.m. and met up with my parents at Tucei's Fish Camp. After going to check in at Ward Bayou, we had dinner at Big R's in Pascagoula...if you're ever down that way, don't waste your time at that place...not at all what we expected! Anyway, I know you're all just dying to hear the details of our catch....</p><p>We got on the water at about 7 p.m. and headed North of the fish camp towards I-10. It only took us about 6 minutes to spot a gator that looked to be a pretty good size. The gator was swimming in open water, which is a good sign that it's a large one. We motored as close to it as we could and then killed the engine. The gator went down as we turned the motor off but don't worry, my dad employed the "blind cast" techinque...this means that you cast at the area where you last saw the gator and drag your hook back through the water and hope to catch something. In just a few seconds my dad looks at the rest of us and says "I think I got something"...he wasn't sure if he was actually hooked on a live animal or some sort of trash under the water. He slowly reeled in his line until we reached the spot where it was obviously hooked on something. Mark had the bright idea to drop another hook in the water to see if whatever we were hooked on would react...it did. The gator took off again and the line whizzed out of the reel. Again, we reeled in the line and got close to the monster again. At this point we noticed that the boat was moving in circles. When the gator begins to move like this, it means that he is disoriented...that's good for us. We eventually got him to come up to the surface and secured him with a snare only to realize that we were missing our gun. It was still in the truck. There are other ways to dispatch a gator, but a gun is our preferred method. We toyed with the idea of taping the mouth up and just riding back to camp with a live gator...I voted to call some buddies that were still at the fish camp when we were leaving and ask if they had a gun we could borrow. They came to the rescue and the gator was in our boat and we were back at camp at 8:30. </p><p>We got the gun from the truck and set out to find our second gator. As a part of the hunt, you are allowed one gator over 7' and one that must be longer than 4' but less than 7'. Again, it only took us a few minutes to see one we wanted. Mark hooked up with the second gator and after fighting it for about 15-20 minutes, we had him in the boat too. We filled both of our tags in 3 hours!!! We then went to "check them in" and get some final measurements.</p><p>Both gators turned out to be female. The larger one was 9' 1 5/8" long and weighed 196.5 lbs. The smaller one was 6'2" and weighed 50.5 lbs. The larger one was just 2 3/8 inches short of the state record for a female gator and just 3.5 lbs. lighter. </p><p>We had a wonderful time with my parents and Mark's dad. I really hope that we get to do it again next year!!</p><p></p><p align="center"><br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2621493740058581491ZlDdNv"><img alt="015" src="http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/34221/2621493740058581491S425x425Q85.jpg" /></a><br />The larger gator.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2953647440058581491PbQeqN"><img alt="008" src="http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/41359/2953647440058581491S425x425Q85.jpg" /></a><br />The smaller one.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2149065400058581491KzqrCP"><img alt="018" src="http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/13879/2149065400058581491S425x425Q85.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2568742700058581491nLvHXJ"><img alt="019" src="http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/41124/2568742700058581491S425x425Q85.jpg" /></a><br />Team Hosford, yes, we have an official team!!<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2918636780058581491ILmovI"><img alt="025" src="http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/42183/2918636780058581491S425x425Q85.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2088198160058581491YrlqzO"><img alt="033" src="http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/43554/2088198160058581491S425x425Q85.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2131073420058581491JiHpdr"><img alt="038" src="http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/44034/2131073420058581491S425x425Q85.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2507116690058581491silLeC"><img alt="031" src="http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/41366/2507116690058581491S425x425Q85.jpg" /></a> </p>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-43774349300121284522008-10-05T09:38:00.001-07:002008-10-05T09:40:17.516-07:00Sneak Peek...Below is a picture of the scale when the wildlife folks weighed my biggest gator...yes, it weighed 196.5 lbs!! We did much better this year than last year. We're headed to the fair this afternoon but I promise to post more about the hunt later!! Stay tuned!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEbMoc_mU-4ivFRpBK9akYAzlh1AgPHcF7rUwDIszlrPJSvsj4dIHjPdKDFJQcNTBnikSCENBp-ShpoG4a5Ny4dNLg9BC07aksb4Pz0_iYMejFD-69ATCUpqZ_5gRRmIXWxOtbAiK1I0/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253710228338791730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEbMoc_mU-4ivFRpBK9akYAzlh1AgPHcF7rUwDIszlrPJSvsj4dIHjPdKDFJQcNTBnikSCENBp-ShpoG4a5Ny4dNLg9BC07aksb4Pz0_iYMejFD-69ATCUpqZ_5gRRmIXWxOtbAiK1I0/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-35261879731435502042008-09-28T16:46:00.001-07:002008-09-29T07:10:59.921-07:00They're Baaack!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGGIvWBdrxZykmu7uYVt7c0qxYtwHXHCqDB8drNiaL5HENXxAdE8dk9DNsF5ynL3KFgjlrAl0eWaQVuivS5MmT1IWpzFanLKSbLC_27a4wt4smDZd5JPz-L7Vg00nqOHnNkJxNqnZGDA/s1600-h/079.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251224612751304306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGGIvWBdrxZykmu7uYVt7c0qxYtwHXHCqDB8drNiaL5HENXxAdE8dk9DNsF5ynL3KFgjlrAl0eWaQVuivS5MmT1IWpzFanLKSbLC_27a4wt4smDZd5JPz-L7Vg00nqOHnNkJxNqnZGDA/s320/079.JPG" border="0" /></a> The beast. 8'.</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj271HAW1nevh7wEzK4gr_KnXnNIci1b_3sQlrgldYTZvXCtyeImD-BGa4AY1xGc9M16Jwf3QI7vmVh-uEjvRFPtoLeawoErAEHKPgvEDFIldPvyAOD-qx78uxnBm4Pch3zqz9Cm6Ru-t4/s1600-h/077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251224291499527794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj271HAW1nevh7wEzK4gr_KnXnNIci1b_3sQlrgldYTZvXCtyeImD-BGa4AY1xGc9M16Jwf3QI7vmVh-uEjvRFPtoLeawoErAEHKPgvEDFIldPvyAOD-qx78uxnBm4Pch3zqz9Cm6Ru-t4/s320/077.JPG" border="0" /></a> The hunting crew, random guy, Mark, another random guy, Robbie (BIL) and Chris (FIL).<br /><br />So, I have been a hunting widow/single mom for the past 3 days....let me tell you, I have the utmost respect for single moms. I can hardly make it for 3 days without pulling my hair out. I love my little man but I just get to a point where I need someone else to talk to! Anyway, Mark was alligator hunting this weekend in Pascagoula. He got the opportunity to be a "guide" for another hunter. They loaded up Friday and headed for the coast. Friday night was a bust for them but Saturday proved to be a better night and they harvested an 8 footer.<br /><br /><br />Jake and I got a glimpse of the beast this afternoon at my in-laws house.<br /><br /><br />Next weekend is my turn...but on this hunt I will be the permit holder. I'm hoping to do better than my catch last year which was 6'10". Mark claims that they "left" a 10 footer out there for me. Let's hope I can get it!!<br /></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-17582744101397105562008-09-28T16:38:00.000-07:002008-09-29T07:10:24.722-07:00S'mores?!?This afternoon, Jake says "Mama, I need some crackers, chocolate and a marshmallow." I asked "what are you going to make with that?" He replied, just as cool as a cucumber, "spores." Ha!Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-50215924353838034562008-09-27T18:41:00.000-07:002008-09-27T18:54:52.952-07:00Pump It Up!!Sooooo...it's been a long time ya'll! We have been super busy over the last couple of weeks and I have really had no desire to blog at the end of the day...basically, I have been a blog slacker! <br /><br />We went to Hayden's birthday at Pump It Up a couple of weeks ago. Jake, Mark and I had a wonderful time. It's always a plus for me when the adults can have fun at the kiddo birthday parties! Jake and I raced through the obstacle courses and down the slides, we bounced in the bouncy houses, it was excellent! Jake has been asking to have his next birthday party there...he doesn't turn 5 until May...<br /><br />Here are some pictures from the day.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ5tYMBhEegy0G_2mE30t313ItTHoIv-fZZlMshK3QcIqwJQT4fFCUVsKMqAuAITDtqeNttNCGoC7MECPzWhmJcy-Uffy0aA8BVWSBhkAn8AkQgIU2miOTLFMMd6D2uX0a-K5LyaKXys/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250883202546233138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ5tYMBhEegy0G_2mE30t313ItTHoIv-fZZlMshK3QcIqwJQT4fFCUVsKMqAuAITDtqeNttNCGoC7MECPzWhmJcy-Uffy0aA8BVWSBhkAn8AkQgIU2miOTLFMMd6D2uX0a-K5LyaKXys/s320/029.JPG" border="0" /></a> Racing through the obstacle course with Jake.</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH51y51df9CoE1RX3QCwdgeXGJlmtb5MCTxtuDjbkUfyB2G5ywpQWR4rmdXGa0zL_zDdduGR4uq3ycPauFsYaiwK5DlekqdTPC6V519bwiDjofPFxmIG8Ph0ROf0Wp_FhRzqu4PZQ9Ck/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250882725598506578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH51y51df9CoE1RX3QCwdgeXGJlmtb5MCTxtuDjbkUfyB2G5ywpQWR4rmdXGa0zL_zDdduGR4uq3ycPauFsYaiwK5DlekqdTPC6V519bwiDjofPFxmIG8Ph0ROf0Wp_FhRzqu4PZQ9Ck/s320/034.JPG" border="0" /></a> I look like I'm striking a pose...really I'm just trying to cool off my armpits!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfDMfpYff2syhvCKTyyF7ic7LNm_zxdhCwCPPp4wDKERSK29nfZT3Gv1hkyhDGEOKRLdom1ujCljmnqpadybc9EGvT-_XKtYJJ-3XrEGkO9YwkMHvQgxBHJvfKVmTSdlupoVLWNyAfzo/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250882556174612674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfDMfpYff2syhvCKTyyF7ic7LNm_zxdhCwCPPp4wDKERSK29nfZT3Gv1hkyhDGEOKRLdom1ujCljmnqpadybc9EGvT-_XKtYJJ-3XrEGkO9YwkMHvQgxBHJvfKVmTSdlupoVLWNyAfzo/s320/035.JPG" border="0" /></a>Did someone say CAKE??<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iBtCsDyAf_iKpaRz1NJw4QTaMcoYdv6FQKlVH9Q8oytr5zs2xz5sJnvcW8aHKqkKxop8CdKmR-LjdoGF0cdDXv28zUnP051i2_N1oFBqPNhGJqh1yuR2oYoepAhktthIl6O4k210Xbw/s1600-h/040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250882378685658226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iBtCsDyAf_iKpaRz1NJw4QTaMcoYdv6FQKlVH9Q8oytr5zs2xz5sJnvcW8aHKqkKxop8CdKmR-LjdoGF0cdDXv28zUnP051i2_N1oFBqPNhGJqh1yuR2oYoepAhktthIl6O4k210Xbw/s320/040.JPG" border="0" /></a> The whole gang.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><br /></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-38817604990699170852008-09-11T09:53:00.001-07:002008-09-11T10:10:58.001-07:00Have You Forgotten?I certainly haven't. I vividly remember standing in the breakroom at M&F Bank in Ridgeland watching in disbelief as the first plane hit the North tower. I thought, that would be terrible to be on a flight that runs into a skyscraper in NYC...then the second plane hits the South tower and reality sets in...this was no accident. I've been watching specials all week on the events of 9/11/2001. I can hardly believe that it has been 7 years since it all took place. I want to encourage everyone to take a minute today and just say a prayer for all of those affected by this tragedy...the loved ones left to pick up the pieces and move on. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like.Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-33347624421721646572008-09-03T15:39:00.000-07:002008-09-04T10:41:17.889-07:00Random ThoughtsI don't have any pictures of Jake this time, but I do have a snapshot of our two dogs, Duke and Dixie. They were so sweet to wait for me to come back from the mailbox. Surprsingly they were both standing still, on all fours and Dixie was not barking. Duke doesn't bark unless absolutely necessary so it wasn't unusual for him to be silent.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2Eq_E1SsWkDj3jd2l-EcgJhIYmU_BLx75FvZTJRSQWdP3BTQ7Rszhvc3cRlo39Gw2LDXGR6QH4WNLvw0jQysKsdcfvVDa1eNpnHzBw5_FgKe3lOr40pZ27AAg7abzo4IwlbOFkQAS-k/s1600-h/duke+and+dixie+at+the+door.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242221406833038482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2Eq_E1SsWkDj3jd2l-EcgJhIYmU_BLx75FvZTJRSQWdP3BTQ7Rszhvc3cRlo39Gw2LDXGR6QH4WNLvw0jQysKsdcfvVDa1eNpnHzBw5_FgKe3lOr40pZ27AAg7abzo4IwlbOFkQAS-k/s320/duke+and+dixie+at+the+door.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Does anyone else feel a tremendous sense of pride upon seeing a convoy of power trucks rolling down the interstate? This has been a common sight around the Jackson area over the past 2 or 3 days. I'm not sure if it is my love of blue collar workers...yes ladies, that's right...I don't find a man who wears a suit to work every day very appealing...or if it's just the sight of all these workers coming together for a common cause. It's very heartwarming! I'm proud to live in a country where we all pull together and help one another out. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Jake threw another interesting question at me this morning. We were just riding along when Jake says "Mama, God made all people from dust." I say "that's right." He then says with the most serious tone in his voice "I wonder what he made cars from, probably concrete." That's right baby, concrete!! I love that kid.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Jake's been doing well so far in 4K. We've made major strides in getting him out of the car in the morning. He is still extremely tired at the end of the day. This is both a blessing and a curse. It sometimes makes for a long trip home full of crying and whining about various things. Last night, he was asleep when Mark brought him in the door at 5:30. He slept through dinner, snack and bath time. We finally put him in his bed at 8 and he slept until 6:30. 13 hours of sleep does WONDERS for a 4 year old's attitude. He woke up this morning with a huge smile on his face and was very cooperative when it was time to get dressed.</div><div> </div><div>Just a random update on what's been going on for the past couple of weeks...I hope to have more to write about soon!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-47359765786785770452008-08-19T06:22:00.001-07:002008-08-19T13:42:23.168-07:00I Don't Want to Grow Up!!Lately, Jake has been telling me that he does not want to grow up. He wants to stay little forever. I imagine he is probably coming to the realization that things get tougher for you the bigger, or older you get. I was putting him to bed last night and our conversation went something like this:<br /><br />Jake: "I don't want to go to school tomorrow, they give me too much work to do."<br /><br />Me: "Well, that's just the way life goes, you've got lots of years of work ahead of you."<br /><br />Jake: "But Mama, I don't want to get bigger, and they just keep feeding me snacks! It's not fair!"<br /><br />This of course made me laugh out loud and he then told me that this was not funny!Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-79264423042095171732008-08-12T18:10:00.001-07:002008-08-12T18:15:11.266-07:00First Day of SchoolHe just keeps getting older...Today was our first day of 4K. I had to fight back the tears as I watched my BABY walking down the sidewalk by himself. He was so excited and was so proud to be going to the door on his own, with no help from his mama. I'm full of mixed emotions...I'm so proud of him and I am so excited about this new school year but I'm also so sad to be losing my baby. <br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkdZWrSj8x4z6mMoHtTVSiwPLjV8xUBtxi8S0HwdUObWrKvUB6715zg99L0GrG-BQZVxP_PUvPh8O5ru3dhLQMc6Dy8x5TU7w_v7LwQU61wv2wYO-OoNy772UTGI60-ZSZcg6nknm42I/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233803602969795650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkdZWrSj8x4z6mMoHtTVSiwPLjV8xUBtxi8S0HwdUObWrKvUB6715zg99L0GrG-BQZVxP_PUvPh8O5ru3dhLQMc6Dy8x5TU7w_v7LwQU61wv2wYO-OoNy772UTGI60-ZSZcg6nknm42I/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></a> He's so adorable in that shirt and khaki shorts! I could just eat him up!<br /><br /></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-23958552252328562682008-08-10T07:57:00.000-07:002008-08-10T05:57:23.667-07:00Happy Birthday!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K7NrFfltlI-S-oNn2cWkOxGEFb_DGNr-JC08oojfzDy-MWlyWyhsvevYH0nKFumUSfTI3SAoWW2xDk0G69VozKj7z51ufiDJRxEZysKIzCPJSAs9sBLFH-7DQj0bYkusNIH2e1_p3mg/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232871316160803090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K7NrFfltlI-S-oNn2cWkOxGEFb_DGNr-JC08oojfzDy-MWlyWyhsvevYH0nKFumUSfTI3SAoWW2xDk0G69VozKj7z51ufiDJRxEZysKIzCPJSAs9sBLFH-7DQj0bYkusNIH2e1_p3mg/s320/042.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7e_38lyDboTS680M1BgF-VQdDDi6bW1XK7sSfeiVFiql8yRDeWYKrBNpEKUDcEV6oN_hdXLYdee8wesLfoe3ajp7y2GioIXBL74MWF8sdWuDT1CXj-en5V1L4Kg5n5kSKd5FuMUiq24I/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232871107054430802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7e_38lyDboTS680M1BgF-VQdDDi6bW1XK7sSfeiVFiql8yRDeWYKrBNpEKUDcEV6oN_hdXLYdee8wesLfoe3ajp7y2GioIXBL74MWF8sdWuDT1CXj-en5V1L4Kg5n5kSKd5FuMUiq24I/s320/035.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAl7WWqGDoIDAXmC0VQTEluimgosMmgpYm0eG-Myp6ZSRJraREPUAkQwsosa-GC-wja3pdilRbsFGfEhNZAu0dSC5a7wHDe4-gReJUYF3-UVca1HrHoUcni1BxCQIkwT5W9PVcZaWUssM/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232870872246891794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAl7WWqGDoIDAXmC0VQTEluimgosMmgpYm0eG-Myp6ZSRJraREPUAkQwsosa-GC-wja3pdilRbsFGfEhNZAu0dSC5a7wHDe4-gReJUYF3-UVca1HrHoUcni1BxCQIkwT5W9PVcZaWUssM/s320/022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin39U9EMbUC4guD_pdkF2lcj3eMrt5Bs4OP9k5ElyJCn5XICBQVS2k7Cesxd3JQtiKnAzcU-ImeWxJJUDQ4qfDRf6zsGy3PsLatxOSMOJspIaSHVxZw73nZh6BK03p_mM0CLLwEQtNer8/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232870615714414786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin39U9EMbUC4guD_pdkF2lcj3eMrt5Bs4OP9k5ElyJCn5XICBQVS2k7Cesxd3JQtiKnAzcU-ImeWxJJUDQ4qfDRf6zsGy3PsLatxOSMOJspIaSHVxZw73nZh6BK03p_mM0CLLwEQtNer8/s320/028.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We recently celebrated our neice's first birthday. Isn't she a doll? She wasn't all that interested in her soooo cute cake but she did manage to make a little bit of a mess! Enjoy the pics! Happy Birthday Shelby!!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-2656028016035328572008-08-10T06:24:00.000-07:002008-08-10T04:24:24.887-07:00Ruby Falls...Day 3On our final day, we traveled back up Lookout Mountain for a trip to Ruby Falls. I had been nervous about this part of our trip since before we left. When you get here, you are loaded into what appears to be a freight elevator in packs of about 15 people. You then decend about 260' into an opening in the rock. I started to get nervous on the elevator when I realized that the elevator door was glass. You get a nice view of all of the solid limestone that you are about to be UNDER. I had a little trouble breathing when we first got off the elevator but I quickly remembered the breathing techniques I was taught in childbirth classes! They help in other situations too folks!! Anyway, you go with a tourguide on a trip that is 1 mile total. .5 miles to the falls and .5 miles back (along the same path) to the elevator. Jake was truly in awe of all of the stalagmites and stalagtites in the cavern. I really believe this was his favorite part of the whole trip. We completed the mile journey and got back to the elevator where we were again loaded on with about 12 other people. This time, the elevator operator thought he would have some fun with an elevator that was mostly female. He slowed the elevator down to a turtle like pace...this caused 4 or 5 of the women (me excluded) to squeal very loudly. He then looks at them and says "don't worry, it won't take them long to get us out of here," That didn't help the situation any!! He sped the elevator back up and we made it to the top safe and sound!!<br /><br />We left Chattanooga a short while later for what seemed like the longest drive ever. We made it home safe and sound and overall we had an excellent time!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6JXR_g9XB0HlN3LuB_jCHkgBy1s4dhCjq1GVvSSmk_zpfsN8O8ebYc5Ns0hLwTopra0b5lYi866FDp8u9bOG5BeE4v7UWW-krxEA7DeALLSssYEd3lHBr9vG-2l-0DCTfUPJu9aOFqI/s1600-h/078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232128990657798162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6JXR_g9XB0HlN3LuB_jCHkgBy1s4dhCjq1GVvSSmk_zpfsN8O8ebYc5Ns0hLwTopra0b5lYi866FDp8u9bOG5BeE4v7UWW-krxEA7DeALLSssYEd3lHBr9vG-2l-0DCTfUPJu9aOFqI/s320/078.JPG" border="0" /></a> This was called "Mirror Lake."<br />The picture does not do it justice!</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebd7vGG5ekJ4VyWhJ88x9zhsvz1Qni2xLtew388XXS9DycXJEgqEaDhht4snI3ZA7lpCR30MkPIoiZyW9RvaLGG312GPPHx5tws3_oHOjRUvbty3zA1e1ivt621suGRT0ORaXI2nUeVU/s1600-h/074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232128802510401554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebd7vGG5ekJ4VyWhJ88x9zhsvz1Qni2xLtew388XXS9DycXJEgqEaDhht4snI3ZA7lpCR30MkPIoiZyW9RvaLGG312GPPHx5tws3_oHOjRUvbty3zA1e1ivt621suGRT0ORaXI2nUeVU/s320/074.JPG" border="0" /></a> The falls.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ge9v5PKDnASFvKNlHgm9NaM8TrdK9zx3iJ-Ac7bVWpyegPLI8ggAuA1Xk-4yK8D5wv23K9h664ntO32VAO1SEcccsg5UOBR8czKJae7Kr0c5VzSe4gC5otj70AyKjkeb1eyHss2o-ZE/s1600-h/069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232128602246639314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ge9v5PKDnASFvKNlHgm9NaM8TrdK9zx3iJ-Ac7bVWpyegPLI8ggAuA1Xk-4yK8D5wv23K9h664ntO32VAO1SEcccsg5UOBR8czKJae7Kr0c5VzSe4gC5otj70AyKjkeb1eyHss2o-ZE/s320/069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Stone teeth as Jake calls them.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-61228199579302407452008-08-07T05:50:00.000-07:002008-08-08T05:47:25.585-07:00See Rock City...and Throw Up in a Garbage Can!! Day 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYgnL8ZRdBSDDktBE8qtbIcslcSXol-PgnwgxtqwLaJJS7bJgYyV9A3XOCDTOkNdihyZT73e0QWhCefMO8zK1LG7udi3lhcxVXc6DAXbGirkvCDuHk-23ahtc3q8UsosFUqGXctOqKUM/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232125805957069378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYgnL8ZRdBSDDktBE8qtbIcslcSXol-PgnwgxtqwLaJJS7bJgYyV9A3XOCDTOkNdihyZT73e0QWhCefMO8zK1LG7udi3lhcxVXc6DAXbGirkvCDuHk-23ahtc3q8UsosFUqGXctOqKUM/s320/032.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So, day 2 begins with us waking at about 8:30 and getting ready to head out to "See Rock City!" Mark complains of the usual stomach ache...(he always has a stomach ache when we go on vacation) I tell him to get over it and hurry up because we want to beat the crowd as well as the mid-day heat. We all load up in the car and head up Lookout Mountain. Rock City is one of those tourist attractions that everyone wants to see, yet everyone makes fun of. It's so ultra cheesy and well, tacky. It was alot of fun for Jake as he loved climbing on the rocks and running throughout the park. It was fun for the rest of us until we got to the entrance to Fairlyland Caverns...we all went in and experienced the same darkness, the same dank odor...Jake and I looked at the displays with the little gnomes in them. We were at the Hansel and Gretel display when I hear coughing off to my right. I knew it was Mark coughing since we were the only ones in the cavern. Then I think to myself "I recognize that particular cough"...at that very moment, I look over to see him ralphing in the garbage can...how nice!! He looks up at me and says "I've got to get out of here!" I was in a panic...we stood at the garbage can for a few seconds because I think he was afraid to leave it...we finally found the exit and we were thrilled to see sunlight and get some fresh air! I was very torn between feeling sorry for him and being totally angry with him...as if he could control it! Needless to say, we got out of Rock City pretty quickly and headed back to the hotel for some rest.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCfWRRSx65s5EQwX3v1KoXaWW8oQVX3MwhhEMhgJzNYGFlBoDmNhv4QdfYdHY3Tw85Wo041aWu1Df6V9DUherhy1K3vmrJ-UTwRqtfN0h-aK1nTEkQBst4gF4Shp-Pz51EJys5Hou-iI/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232122991440694034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCfWRRSx65s5EQwX3v1KoXaWW8oQVX3MwhhEMhgJzNYGFlBoDmNhv4QdfYdHY3Tw85Wo041aWu1Df6V9DUherhy1K3vmrJ-UTwRqtfN0h-aK1nTEkQBst4gF4Shp-Pz51EJys5Hou-iI/s320/038.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jake getting ready to cross the swinging bridge<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzlIUVzb8A2VaMRc4mekWS6VQHYwCiW5UzM5jhJ5TivgBxH66Dn6wjSwSJkm3Vse7jfTwSxNF9LmP6IOy_38ZomMpw0iW7IuJDqMWw8ECpZPWScni6ZNlNUHcBsS9yAj_wTb_hiHDId4/s1600-h/048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232122728287853218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzlIUVzb8A2VaMRc4mekWS6VQHYwCiW5UzM5jhJ5TivgBxH66Dn6wjSwSJkm3Vse7jfTwSxNF9LmP6IOy_38ZomMpw0iW7IuJDqMWw8ECpZPWScni6ZNlNUHcBsS9yAj_wTb_hiHDId4/s320/048.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Mark and Jake trying to make it through "Fat Man Squeeze"<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35URLYTPVjPIvIZHnyoaFuA55dNvKP1g-HCSeHVuIJGFxvxTHG8zZ7wqvYONZ2FFTBrOhUWRQbQOeM-Eeb0KwrpiUry4IIa4_LjUjt8VAErA8s7MwCa4cs9kXSkgjfHgXe3T5AEV4V0U/s1600-h/fairyland+caverns.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232122488981720130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35URLYTPVjPIvIZHnyoaFuA55dNvKP1g-HCSeHVuIJGFxvxTHG8zZ7wqvYONZ2FFTBrOhUWRQbQOeM-Eeb0KwrpiUry4IIa4_LjUjt8VAErA8s7MwCa4cs9kXSkgjfHgXe3T5AEV4V0U/s320/fairyland+caverns.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Where it all went downhill<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">After and hour or so at the hotel, Mark decided that he was okay with going to the Children's Discovery Museum. This was a really neat hands on museum for kids. Jake thoroughly enjoyed digging for dinosaur bones and checking out all of the displays in the museum. His favorite part, of course was the gift shop...oh how I just love a museum gift shop. We ended up with a relatively cheap purchase of dinosaur goo...yes, he loves the goo. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigdyfu0oEWDzuBxMfNz4OAK6-pSH1ZvdoyqyGlBXPhqET0FbZ15lcS2opMGdN6lSn07qY9A3hWzYGh2USymbw6DKOBRbEoC2ujdktEE4gtTchehURUgiSYJ9tTt2Feuw1gdgyjfERaVg/s1600-h/057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232122167577469138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigdyfu0oEWDzuBxMfNz4OAK6-pSH1ZvdoyqyGlBXPhqET0FbZ15lcS2opMGdN6lSn07qY9A3hWzYGh2USymbw6DKOBRbEoC2ujdktEE4gtTchehURUgiSYJ9tTt2Feuw1gdgyjfERaVg/s320/057.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This was a really neat display on the power of water.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq8H0-ZyIjxtbNAq8oK18OYCcObUTb3Rh4Vd2-4fc-6tzG8NtyRSbPX5fMOxSGk6NZNAnjkPxd8w_N6t5YwzN4LncMFv-cB8-sAEXvl1aIktneI5q62Vabzy-qcEf7xuQRwcxLUblX0g/s1600-h/062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232121865111871778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq8H0-ZyIjxtbNAq8oK18OYCcObUTb3Rh4Vd2-4fc-6tzG8NtyRSbPX5fMOxSGk6NZNAnjkPxd8w_N6t5YwzN4LncMFv-cB8-sAEXvl1aIktneI5q62Vabzy-qcEf7xuQRwcxLUblX0g/s320/062.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Jake putting together a dinosaur puzzle.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div align="left">Our last stop was at the IMAX theater where we watched a 3-D movie on dolphins and whales. I'm a sucker for anything 3-D. I love to feel like the animals are right there in front of me. It took all that I had to keep from reaching out to "touch" them! That was it for day 2. <br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-18147215323094383432008-08-07T05:30:00.000-07:002008-08-07T05:48:56.996-07:00Chattanooga or Bust!! Vacation Day 1We left town Monday morning headed to Chattanooga, TN for a little family vacation or "vay-cay-shent" as Jake calls it. The trip up wasn't too bad, until the last 10-15 minutes when Jake decided that it was time to be there...NOW! It took us exactly 6 hours, thankfully, my passengers have good sized bladders! We checked into our hotel which was right in the middle of downtown Chattanooga. Jake of course had to go check out the pool...he was ultra impressed that they had a pool and a jacuzzi!<br /><br />We then headed out to the Tennessee Aquarium. The hotel boasts that it is within walking distance of the downtown attractions...well, it is, but not for a 4 year old who suddenly thinks that walking is not as fun as it sounded 2 blocks ago and its not fun for the 2 parents who have to carry a 42 pound 4 year old down the street! Regardless, we made it there, covered in sweat...did I mention that the heat index was over 100 degrees, it was.<br /><br />The aquarium was nice and Jake thoroughly enjoyed it. If you ever get a chance to go to the TN Aquarium, go. It was lots of fun. Jake's favorite creatures were the pot-bellied sea horses. They looked like little old men seahorses! We had a blast listening to the things Jake would say about the animals and watching his expressions when rounding a corner and seeing another display of amazing animals. He even petted the stingrays and sharks.<br /><br />We left the aquarium at closing time and headed to Sticky Fingers to have some delicious ribs. After dinner it was back to the hotel for some much needed rest!!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oKubehITMmoZDUu3yTTMPSJuytaLx_dg23aXHWGOequa1SjHYkVqpubQWBVw5iY80ENxYgBs0Xu7kxCG5WRJB3NvOI7bIeB4VBjSZdrmOFcNDPbRUev9xN1m2ZOC5tAWbrtijKmHR3g/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231753493422313282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oKubehITMmoZDUu3yTTMPSJuytaLx_dg23aXHWGOequa1SjHYkVqpubQWBVw5iY80ENxYgBs0Xu7kxCG5WRJB3NvOI7bIeB4VBjSZdrmOFcNDPbRUev9xN1m2ZOC5tAWbrtijKmHR3g/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jake holds our map of Chattanooga</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HH1YK5ALMgzsSfCjEujSmU3BTTBw05kIiVkOnuObiXX3EU1w9FMmqDRwT7r4mKjeqOr0hsmUS9wHdxnPVTOMo5Opx3cTH27schOybXGibtJMrd9rb7FGfzaNFKaswcxJBrcPzI9IPqE/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231753333779967330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HH1YK5ALMgzsSfCjEujSmU3BTTBw05kIiVkOnuObiXX3EU1w9FMmqDRwT7r4mKjeqOr0hsmUS9wHdxnPVTOMo5Opx3cTH27schOybXGibtJMrd9rb7FGfzaNFKaswcxJBrcPzI9IPqE/s320/004.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jake and a life-sized Pot-Bellied Seahorse<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCN-llELwr3HQzOFbMtT5PjBUNVP9r0zSSygwi4ZEgX26oC6otqm1za8kYQ4ZegzPFwxMtXug1CKZ5VvVm8h8CZPc1ZlVN8f2Aq1kGPfJki0j7tkKd52ryaWWVylYrFN-YAGYnkNvrZM/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231753159706812498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCN-llELwr3HQzOFbMtT5PjBUNVP9r0zSSygwi4ZEgX26oC6otqm1za8kYQ4ZegzPFwxMtXug1CKZ5VvVm8h8CZPc1ZlVN8f2Aq1kGPfJki0j7tkKd52ryaWWVylYrFN-YAGYnkNvrZM/s320/010.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jake "inside" one of the aquarium tanks. Notice he's knocking on the glass. Would he be a true 4 year old boy if he didn't??<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91BZgUf86T2gALPWRnLrsvxxKSIMuRAY8sJEvhM5fBnI7LHDct4bQ1axR0ZJZwk3k-uLKEUVPYaeJEPJURGnFQ9cAISR3viwTyRCyWTUBYTCLNKvd3XcCAjpcQeMeE7fmISNoUO777fo/s1600-h/021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231752914602798658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91BZgUf86T2gALPWRnLrsvxxKSIMuRAY8sJEvhM5fBnI7LHDct4bQ1axR0ZJZwk3k-uLKEUVPYaeJEPJURGnFQ9cAISR3viwTyRCyWTUBYTCLNKvd3XcCAjpcQeMeE7fmISNoUO777fo/s320/021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One of my favorite displays, the alligators!!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-72780297074160080382008-08-01T14:17:00.000-07:002008-08-03T17:03:07.798-07:00The Smile Award<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichJBZPE-hYVksC3Jl8FgxYostltE86kGspodePRUq35I8Z_Wk94O_lYltAisrU8ylkhDJestoFAYx373a6nEuz5LxbCzPUe8OTfBmQFBTnmNaqNTL5OEluAUf4fAziVfnDznuvGWSXfE/s1600-h/thesmileaward.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229662189611480370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichJBZPE-hYVksC3Jl8FgxYostltE86kGspodePRUq35I8Z_Wk94O_lYltAisrU8ylkhDJestoFAYx373a6nEuz5LxbCzPUe8OTfBmQFBTnmNaqNTL5OEluAUf4fAziVfnDznuvGWSXfE/s320/thesmileaward.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div>These are the rules:</div><br /><br /><div>1. The recipient must link back the the award's creator (<a href="http://www.thebabblingsofmere.blogspot.com/">http://www.thebabblingsofmere.blogspot.com/</a>)</div><br /><br /><div>2. You must post these rules if you recieve the award.</div><br /><br /><div>3. You must chose 5 people to recieve the award after recieving it yourself</div><br /><br /><div>4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.</div><br /><br /><div>5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.</div><br /><br /><div>6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.</div><br /><br /><div>7. You must thank your giver.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Characteristics for the Smile Award:</div><br /><br /><div>1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human)</div><br /><br /><div>2. Must love one another</div><br /><br /><div>3. Must make mistakes</div><br /><br /><div>4. Must learn from others</div><br /><br /><div>5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world</div><br /><br /><div>6. Must love life</div><br /><br /><div>7. Must love kids</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Thanks Christy for the award!! I really appreciate that you think enough of me to give it to me!! I have decided to give the Smile award to these 5 blogging friends! If I left you out, don't be mad! I only had room for 5...I love all of ya'll!!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>1. Kellye - Kellye is my inspiration in the world of blogging...you can tell from reading her blog that she is a very devoted wife and mother and is one of the most cheerful people that I know! It's hard to catch Kellye without a smile on her face! Most of the time she's probably smiling because of something silly that Chad or Hayden just did! My goofiness may be tied to some of those smiles! Love you Kellye!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>2. Christy - Christy is the mother of two absolutely ADORABLE little girls! Christy and I went to school together from 1st - 12th grade and I am proud to claim her as one of my "oldest" friends...not old old...but she's been around for a LONG time. We live very close to each other and like her, I often wonder why we never see each other. I know that our kids would hit it off! Christy always has a smile on her face as well! Let's make a date sometime Christy!! Love you!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>3. Holly - Holly is a friend from school as well. I've always thought Holly was a very cheery person! She has two darling little boys who would make any mother beam. Holly's life is always an adventure and she shares great stories about her daily adventures on her blog! I always love to read those good stories Holly! Keep 'em coming! Much love!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div>4. Ann - Ann is also a friend from my High School days! Ann has been blessed with a very loving family and two cute kiddos!! Ann has always been good at sharing her joy with others! I know that she has to have her hands full with her adorable little girl MWC...and that handsome little guy, JDC. Thanks for sharing your stories Ann!! Much love!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div>5. Lynn - Lynn is a sorority sister from my days at Mississippi State...Lynn was always smiling back then and seems to be just as happy now! Lynn is the mother of a beautiful little girl, Hannah Kate. Lynn and I have kept in touch with Facebook and MySpace and I am excited to know that she also has a blog. You've always been one of my favorites Lynn!! Keep those cute pictures coming!! Love You!</div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3465045325218664430.post-16350739832277132032008-07-20T15:35:00.000-07:002008-07-20T16:17:33.358-07:00Big Boy BedWe are now parents of an official big boy. We finally got Jake some big kid furniture after he told us that he was too long for his toddler bed. We took him to "the destination furniture store" and let him have his pick. He is so proud of his new bed as well as his new dinosaur bedding. We haven't had any major issues yet although he has asked us a couple of times if we would sleep in his bed with him! Well, that and he has asked if his little sister can sleep in his bed with him...little sister?? Maybe someday buddy!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87Cm8RlTDdJ8KHAHAOdA1H7VaCAAGBEZpbp40e7ZEuTUugAI7iITuKzyGgq5fcFvs78BcM5BsN1BJ_wpxDV71TD22xEf4XakHxYlTeYg0DREtkliqL-QJ_srIMXSzhoW5uzyhrbxi5tY/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225230015965535090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87Cm8RlTDdJ8KHAHAOdA1H7VaCAAGBEZpbp40e7ZEuTUugAI7iITuKzyGgq5fcFvs78BcM5BsN1BJ_wpxDV71TD22xEf4XakHxYlTeYg0DREtkliqL-QJ_srIMXSzhoW5uzyhrbxi5tY/s320/007.JPG" border="0" /></a> Check out those dinosaurs!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyrP8HnWLwwLOQ5CW8VP1R8iZMqMo4gXot8KM4R1DsjsgreVamfB4ZXTX37ZBDQBKU8hV-kUgzQqLNWUESPSqHdXqaDnuvKWiL3JPiYbq78SWkEfdMovmWURdnfGLYpUpw5zj0z4P0gg/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225229833275953138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyrP8HnWLwwLOQ5CW8VP1R8iZMqMo4gXot8KM4R1DsjsgreVamfB4ZXTX37ZBDQBKU8hV-kUgzQqLNWUESPSqHdXqaDnuvKWiL3JPiYbq78SWkEfdMovmWURdnfGLYpUpw5zj0z4P0gg/s320/005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /></div>Leslie and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06344130983479033713noreply@blogger.com3