Easter 2011

One more post from April!

After a week of rain, it was too wet to have the Easter Egg hunt at the church's lake property, so it was held on the front lawn of the church. Tons of baskets, tons of eggs, and tons of kiddos!

Back at the house, we hunted eggs again!

Try to take an egg from me. I dare you.

Got my eyes on you.

Instead of hunting eggs, Brooks just swang (swung?) in the baby swing.

This is not a freeze frame. Miller was just lying in this position for several minutes. Hanging out.

Instead of candy candy candy, the Easter Bunny brought Delia an apron and a cooking set in her Easter basket.

We tried everything out that night at dinner. What you see here is the paper pizza that came with the set, but we did make a real pizza together and Delia ate the WHOLE thing.

So serious.

Grady in California

I am currently leading a field trip throughout the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park, and eastern California. I have never visited this area, so it is a treat to see the new terrain and landmarks. Here are a few photos taken today as we explored the area around Lone Pine, CA, just to the east of Mt. Whitney (14,497').


Taken from the western slope of the Indyo/White Mountains looking at the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The tallest peaks are around 14,000' and the base in this photo is around 4000'.


We came across this Panamint Rattlesnake on the trail and he quickly slithered underneath a bush before we could photograph him. We marked the location for our trip back down the trail. Upon our arrival, I was looking around for him when he let loose an intense, "I-mean-business" rattle. Turns out he had crossed the trail and was scaling this rock face...perfect for photo ops. No chance to place anything near him for scale, but it was not a huge snake...probably a little over 2 feet.

Zoomed in view of him staring down the group.

We also saw several of these Great Basin Collared Lizards. Most were small and bony, but this one was quite healthy looking. It was not concerned with us too much as it continued to sun itself on a rock, so I snapped several photos.

Not counting the tail, this fella was ~5 inches long. The tail was probably another 8 or 10 inches.

I was having some fun with exposure shots of the snow-melt stream at Whitney Portal.

A few random things

Brooks went through a stage where he sucked on his bottom lip all the time. Here he is, caught in the act.

Sweet boy!

Grandma 'Manda and her monkeys!
And that wraps up April's pictures! Stay tuned for May!

Cotton District Arts Festival

CDAF is always a fun weekend in Starkville, with attendance up around 30,000 people. Artists, street food, and stuff for kids. This was also in April. One day, I will be blogging about things as they happen. For now, Grady is out of town again for 10 days and 2 of my employees are out on their honeymoon, so we're making it the best we can!

Delia really liked the macaroni necklace station. As we sat there together threading beads and noodles, she said "This is FUN!" and I thought, "It's a good day when those words come out of my baby's mouth."

Mom's eye view.

Delia with some Italian ice. What a cultured child. I don't even know what Italian ice is.

We got little man out of his stroller a few times to cool off and he did great. He is 5 months old here.

Brooks' 6 Month Photos by Muddy Feet Photography

Erin at Muddy Feet Photography has done it again! I had fever all weekend, it was 100 degrees that day, and she still shot some beautiful - some downright magical - photos of Brooks and the fam. Brooks is just over 6 months in these.

I have included some of my favorites here, but they are all sooo great. See them all at the gallery link below!
Link – http://muddyfeet.smugmug.com/Children/Brooks-Dixon/17569887_2tcq3z#1337962513_rJbJ99m

Password – bdixon

Gallery will come down June 29. Grandmas! Holler if you see something you have to have!

Thank you Erin for making the trip from Clinton just for us!! These are priceless!

Trip to Vburg in April

What is this? Cracker Barrel? Nope - it's Mama and Daddy's new house - their dream house that they built on the same lot where Gerald and I grew up. Where's the old cement block house that we lived in for 20+ years? Umm.... bulldozed, burned, then shoved in a hole. "No offense, old house, there just wasn't room for the 11' x 40' screened-in back porch with you there!" Do they miss it? I don't think so.

Brooks is 5 months old here. He cut his first tooth just shy of 6 months.

In jammies, thinking about bedtime...

Wesley just happened to be in Vicksburg that weekend, so he and Delia got some good playtime in!

No, they are not in Time Out, they are counting for Hide and Seek.

There was a huge field of red clover in front of the house where the kids ran wild.

Handsome man!

Gerald and Sarah made the trip from Arkansas. Now when we stay, everyone has their own bedroom and bathroom!
That makes everyone happy happy!