Dangerous Blackberries

Normally picking blackberries are dangerous only by being pricked by a thorn. We upped it and added the danger of alligators. A friend took us to her 'secret' blackberry picking spot along one of the lakes at the refuge where the alligators live.

It wasn't much of a success, only because to have good results our husbands should be present to help either pick berries or watch the children so they don't get eaten by a gator. Or better yet, go without kids. Anyway, I came home with about 2 cups of wild blackberries that I hope to turn into jam with our strawberries that grew this year.

Toasted Strawberries

Soon to catch on everywhere...

No more toasting those unhealthy marshmallows.

Move over and allow the strawberry its proper spotlight as the new companion to sticks over a fire.

Don't forget to blow on it before popping it in your mouth

*There was no actual fire involved in this snack, so we cannot actually guarantee the tasty-ness or outcome of such a dessert*

Gym Time

One of the gymnastic places in town has been hosting open gym time for us stay-at-homers.

The boys have been having a blast running around like crazy hooligans unleashed or uncaged.

Ollie's favorite part is jumping on the trampoline!

Landon's favorite is to swing on the rope over the foam block pit!

Easter 2012

To catch up before things get really crazy around here with the move...

The Easter Bunny made his way to our house and left baskets of goodies

 Searching for any signs of the bunny

 The hunt is on

 A good egg hunter never leaves his screwdriver behind

 We had a picnic lunch at our favorite Refuge, along with some rock throwing

Single Mommin' It up

Craig is out of town taking his students on a field trip to see the geology of the southwest. I am living it up as a single Mom for 10 days. Really only 6 days if you don't count the days the kids and I will be in Ohio recovering from our special time alone. I'm not posting to rant and complain but to say a few good things to remind myself in a couple days of the good times we've had so far, 2 days into it. We're keeping busy.

Friday we went to a Spiderman Birthday party. Spiderman even made an appearance and did some magic tricks with his spideysense. Birthday party outside in the afternoon on a 90 degree MS day, humid and gross! The party was fun! The boys consumed ~3 popsicles each and ~2 cupcakes each.
Saturday we went to a Circus Birthday party. Carnival games, popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, animal crackers, hot dogs and cupcakes. Outside party in the morning of a 90 degree humid MS day. More tolerable than the previous day. The party was super fun and both boys napped the afternoon away. Clara not so much but you can't have it all.
Today, we took a walk at 9 am, sweated are bums off and came home and filled up the pool and cooled off. To change things up a bit we went to a Vegan Potluck for dinner. I made roasted veggies and couscous. My natural instinct with anything new is to say no, and I was a little hesitant to even consider making a dish to share but it was easy and something I've made before and enjoy. I even added a little curry to the veggies. Look out world, I am stepping outside of my comfort zone. The potluck was delicious and fun to try new things. The boys didn't eat and really I came home hungry but not because we didn't like the food, but because we were running around the entire time.

A funny story about how my brain has been working, or not been working rather. At the potluck I went to check on Ollie who was playing in the playroom inside with the other kids and saw a scale by the bathroom and figured what the heck, I haven't weighed myself since I was pregnant with Clara and was forced to be weighed by the M.D.'s. I stepped on the scale and was a little shocked to see I still hadn't shed that baby weight and Clara is 6 months old. It didn't take this long with the boys. Then I realized I was holding Clara while I weighed myself!
Ha!
Of course I hadn't shed that baby weight, I still have her attached to me constantly!

So far so good in the land of single momhood. We are sticking it out for a few days so Landon can attend school for the week and then it's off to Ohio for some house searching! Keep your fingers crossed (my dream house sold last week, boohooo) we've gotta get searching before the other good ones are taken.

Oliver

 "My turn" He says, ripping the shirt out of my hands

Yep, you missed your arm kiddo!

He can almost do it

Ohio or Bust

We're moving to Ohio!
Craig got a job in Ohio!

This is something that we have wanted to do since Craig finished his Ph.D. Something I feel like we've been working to and the ultimate landing pad for us.

The series of events in our lives seemed to have eerily led us to this position.

The choices we have made.

The career choices Craig has made rather.

The people he has chosen to do research with. They all have a weird commonality with where we are ending up.

It's a small world of weaving webs. Everyone knows everyone.

So with that said. A for sale sign was put in the front yard.

Two

2

Zwei

Dos

Deux

Yes two days later we had an offer.

3 really is my lucky number but, eh, what can you do

A Physics professor who wanted to buy the house when we did, still, desperately, wanted the house. He made an offer without even coming to check it out again. Desperate! Determined is maybe a better word. Anyway. He made an offer. We had an open house. We accepted his offer. Craig went to the lawyer yesterday to start writing the purchase agreement. We will hopefully close mid-July and move.

Where will we move to? Unknown at this time. We will be visiting in May to look for a new house. Maybe, possibly our forever house.

Scary thought.

Us settled...

in one spot...

for more than 5 years...

I won't hold my breath.

BUT most likely we will be settled for "good" (don't want to jinx anything)

Landon is coming around to the idea.

First, it was tears and "No I don't want to move"

Then it was "I only want to visit Ohio at Christmas"

Then it was "Miss Amanda (our next door neighbor) knows how to take care of 3 kids. I can live with them"

Now its "I'll grow up in in Ohio and then I'll move back to Mississippi"

He told his preschool teacher that when he grows up he's going to come back and find her. Her response was that he'd better. She is very VERY sad Landon will not be back next school year. He is one of her favorites. Her words. Not mine.

Although he is one of my favorites, most days.

He holds a very dear spot in her heart and it will be sad on his last day of school.

She is also sad to not get to teach Ollie. Ollie gives her a hug every day that we see her.

A hello and goodbye hug.

We are thrilled at the idea of being 3 hours away from our families. Grandparents. Cousins. Aunts. Uncles. Friends. The whole she-bang. The boys will have the choice of wrestling like their Daddy did. (MS doesn't have wrestling.) They will get to go to a better school. One where the graduation rate is 96%, not 69%. Starkville's graduation rate just went up last year from 60% to 69%.

Fact.

Scary.

Sad.

The whole picture looks brighter from here though.

Ohio, here we come.  Ready or not. We're moving back!