Tylers 1st Birthday

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Where the Road Leads: Biloxi Beach

When it's raining and nothing to do...

drive until you find sunshine.

That's exactly what we did on a dreary Sunday after church, cousins in tow.

Fleeing the stormy weather led us to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and another first for my adventuresome toddler. 

Expecting to find desolate beaches and oil bubbles from the recent oil spill we were surprised to see the sand speckled with people and the water filled with swimmers. We were overflowing with joy to soon be one of them.

Watching my son as he took it all in was truly amazing.

Giddy from the view and being the water baby that he is, he couldn't wait to jump in. 

The feel of the waves, the tingle of the salt, and an endless view of water had him completely overwhelmed and totally happy!

  

Three hours of sand play, shell hunting, and swimming readied us for a little sight seeing.

A walk on the pier provided an optimal view of the ocean and the water birds that inhabited it. 

 

This is what happens when your on the beach packing Cheetos!

After a walk we took a look at the Biloxi Light House and the Hurricane Katrina Trees located on Highway 90.

Erected in 1847 the Biloxi Lighthouse became the first cast-iron tower in the South. Withstanding many devastating storms including Hurricane Katrina it has shown it's stability and resilience against the elements.

The wrath of Katrina left many oak trees on highway 90 dead and mangled. To rekindle the life of the trees and Biloxi, wood sculptors transformed the lifeless wood into breathtaking works of art.

A coast trip is not complete without pillaging through a souvenir shop and Sharkheads is one of the best. 

After a photo in the mouth of a shark and purchasing a little Biloxi gear for the baby we were ready for some serious nourishment.

With a music loving toddler the food decision was easy, Hard Rock Cafe!

He sung along with the music,

read a little history,

and totally demolished his meal (without eating a crumb) but fun was plentiful.

Behind Hard Rock was a giant anchor and a marina full of boats that we had to stop and admire.

A full belly, sunburn, and a butt full of sand was a definite sign that our day at the beach was over and that it was time to head home.

Driving away from this...

and into this...

was a great ending to yet another wonderful journey.

Once home we colored sand and sealed it into a bottle to preserve our memories of my little guy's first trip to the beach.

How to color sand:

Fill disposable cups with sand.

Add enough water to completely cover sand.

Add food coloring to get the desired color.

Stir with a plastic spoon.

Let set for 20 minutes.

Pour off water.

Spoon sand onto paper towels.

Spread out and allow to dry.

Drying times vary.

First Flick

Toddler years are filled with many firsts. At this age just about everything is uncharted territory and with the unknown always comes anxiety.  Anxiety of not knowing what to expect and whether or not there will be casualties .

Going to the movies for the first time has been one of those events that I looked forward to but was unsure about. I assumed since my active toddler would not tentatively watch TV at home that the movie theater would be a disaster.

Summer heat, rain, and an encouraging friend led me to the cool and dry atmosphere of a local cinema.

The smell, sounds, and flashing lights of the lobby had my toddler wide-eyed and mesmerized.

At the snack counter we refreshed with popcorn and a drink. As soon as the popcorn was laid before him he grabbed a piece and with total satisfaction said, "yummmmeeee."

Nervously, I led my toddler into the dark theater. Completely handicap with snacks, baby things, and a purse I was worried that the entrance would be a struggle. Miraculously, we made it with ease.

Sitting down he fixed himself in my lap and munched on popcorn for more than half of the movie. The remaining portion he chose a seat to himself.

Back and forth he rocked clamping himself in the crease. After a few close calls he was finally successful in becoming completely stuck in the seat opening. Fortunately, he survived with only a lost shoe that we quickly found and replaced.

As we exited the theater I felt confident that the "terrible twos" wouldn't kill me after all.

What's Wrong with this Picture?

I guess if he walked on his hands it would all work out!

Car Seat, What?

When I was little, one of my favorite things to do was to sit in my daddy's lap and drive.

My job was to steer and he would work the peddles.

With increased traffic and strict laws regarding child restraint it is virtually impossible to allow this on today's public highways.

Luckily,

we live on a farm where there are no rules and plenty of nontraffic areas to ride.

Car seats, seat belts, and even the ability to see over the dash are optional in the sticks.

The Little Painter

Busy working on a birthday project, I gave my son a brush and some finger paint thinking that it would keep him occupied.

Being the perfectionist that he is. The colors that he had were not satisfactory. So every few minutes (to him all colors are blue) he would point to a bottle and say, "blue, blue."

Keeping him stocked with new colors and trying to work on my own project had me totally overwhelmed. 

In the end the frustration was totally worth it. 

Where's the baby...

In the dryer!

Disturbing, isn't it?

Where the Road Leads: Meandering Around Meridian

A lost button, an encounter with a rude roadster, and a tiny toddler tantrum didn't stand in our way of a great day on the road. 

Equipped with dual DVD players, On Star navigation, plenty of snacks, and a bag of toys we (two toddlers, one adolescent, myself, and a very brave co-pilot) headed out to the quaint little town of Meridian.


Our first stop was roadside in Marion at Simmons Wrecker Service where we spotted "Cars" stars Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater.

After the excitement of meeting celebrities we headed to Meridian's Highland Park for a relaxing (but scorching) picnic. A few minutes of play left us all dripping with sweat and ready for a blast of air conditioning.

A short walk away we visited the only remaining original carousel house built from a Dentzel blueprint.

Inside the house we were able to cool and enjoy the nostalgia of an original Dentzel Carousel. A mere fifty cents bought us a ride on this masterpiece and a blast into the past.

The carousel was built in 1896 by Gustav Dentzel for the 1904 St. Louis Exposition in his Philadelphia, Pennsylvania factory.

It was purchased by the town of Meridian in 1909 and found it's home in Highland Park.

It is now the only two-row stationary Dentzel menagerie carousel in the WORLD.

The park, the carousel, and carousel house are listed on the National Historic registry.

A seventeen mile trip on the outskirts of the town led us to another piece of history (also on the registry of historic places), the Causeyville General Store.

The general store and gristmill have been in operation since 1895. The gristmill is currently being renovated due to damage from Hurricane Katrina but the General Store is open for business.

Filled with antiques, original movie posters, and an actual quarter operated bar piano it was a very interesting visit. 

Dunn's Falls located on the Chunky River in Enterprise was our final stop.

John Dunn homesteaded the area in 1854 and constructed a three story mill. His machinery and building was confiscated in 1860 by the confederate government and was used to manufacture items for the rebel army.

After the war John Dunn and his mill continued to produce flour, meal, hats, and money. It also became a prominent spot for community parties and dances. 

John Dunn's fate remains a mystery but his handiwork can still be seen and enjoyed atop one of Mississippi's most beautiful natural waterfalls.