St. Simon's Island

Ten years ago today I flew to St. Simon's to visit my good friend Rachel who was living there at that time with her husband and newborn son. Five children later, more than fifteen moves between us later, and ten long years later we met up again in the same locale. It is just as beautiful and quaint as I remembered!

Our kids had a great time together. Can't you tell?

Okay, so maybe it wasn't the walking tour in the heat of the day that was the real fun. It was only 95 with a heat index of 104.

But the beach was just right!

Cold Blooded Adventures

We found the city library, their calendar of weekly, if not daily, events, and we decided this might be something more like what we are used to in Virginia. We attended our first program today, Cold Blooded Adventures, an educational program presented by a local reptile sanctuary. I chose a seat away from the main floor, but when the tupperware boxes filled with lizards and pillowcases stuffed with snakes made their entrances, I still began to breathe short shallow breaths. I knew then that there is something that I detest about having boys...their fascination for animals that I feel the need to stab and kill upon sight.

And while I am on topic of boys and annoying behaviors, let me briefly refer to their incessant need to wrestle. At all times. In all places. Even First Baptist at Lyons. Where we were guests. You'll notice the carpet burns on Keagan's face. That is due to a drop that Evan did one day when I went out for a run.

While Mr. Dundee made his rounds with the animals, I did just fine with the turtle and the tortoise. I was even okay with the giant lizards, but when the pythons came out, I almost ran. Then the presenter asked me if I wanted to pet Taylor Swift, his seven foot python; he asked this as the snake began to curl its tail and head around the man's arm and leg. One woman exclaimed, "Oh, how beautiful is that!" And I thought I was going to throw up. Seriously throw up.

I leaned as far away from the animal as my back would allow and shook my head with a fierce no. There was no way I was going to touch anything. A nice contradiction to Evan who was so excited with the presentation that he jumped up and down when the first lizard made its appearance. I was so concerned with finding the nearest exit that I didn't see his expression when the first python made its way out of his pillowcase, but he later told me it was the best thing ever. 

The next presenter is a magician, much more my speed, as long as there are no tupperware boxes or pillowcases.

Soccer Camp

Every summer we participate in some kind of soccer camp. As soon as I learned we were headed to Georgia, I started looking for soccer related clubs and programs, and I found very few options.

Unless we lived in Atlanta.

And we don't. In fact, it is five hours away. Too far for even this crazed soccer mom to drive.

We did find, however, lots of baseball.

As you know, the boys have little interest in baseball, and this has proven enigmatic with the locals. They all look at us in bewilderment when I tell them the boys play soccer, and they try to soften their "them crazy yankee kids" looks with phrases full of apologies like, "Hum, now, boys. It won't take long 'for you git the itch to play baseball."

After countless emails to the local rec department (yes, despite my earlier encounters with the locals' refusal to incorporate email communication in their business plans, a few of the local organizations do have email addresses), I found a skills based soccer camp coached by one of the local high school coaches. I had my doubts. I wasn't quite sure anyone in the local area actually knew the game of soccer, much less was able to coach it.

As it turns out, the camp was an incredible opportunity for the boys to show the coach, who also directs a local soccer league, what they were able to do on the field. By the end of the first day, both boys were invited to join the town's travel soccer team. At the end of the week, I decided the coach was worthy of my soccer stars, and I registered them with his league.

Here's to the newest members of the Gators U-8 and U-10 travel teams!

I have already been told that the other parents are leary of anyone from the "outside" joining the Gators. I am hoping our common love for the game of soccer will unite us, and the family of "yankees from up north" will be accepted.

If not, there's always baseball.

Story Time with Pirates

Another Fort Stewart event...Library Story Time. This week we were to dress as pirates and come ready to hear stories related to pirates and treasure. Although he was picture perfect in his pirate themed costume, Evan refused to participate because he is "too big" for picture books. Keagan spent more time pretending to stab himself with his sword than actually listening to the stories. And I spent half an hour wondering if mothers with babies know that crying babies should be removed from a library - especially during story hour.

I think we were all wishing we were at home watching the end of the Germany/Spain semi-final game.

But alas it was craft time, and we escaped to the back corner so that Keagan could create a treasure map. He pondered long and hard.

Instead of creating a treasure map, Evan popped his Civil War gun at anyone who walked by. He received lots of "ooohs" and "aaahs" from other boys, and he pretended to not know any of us who actually participated in the craft. I caught this shot with the camera on my hip. He has mischief written all over his face, and my backside, no doubt, is his intended target.

Eventually, Keagan created a treasure map of the house where he planned to hide thing of extreme value (ie: Airheads). Never mind that the location of each Airhead is clearly identified in the map, and therefore, the act of hiding the candy is not really necessary.

With the map completed and the gun popped more than I count, we rushed home to see if the soccer game had run late. We were quick to hear that Germany had lost. Maybe going to the library wasn't that bad; none of us wanted to see our favorite team lose.

Happy Fourth of July

We hope your Independence Day was filled with great food and fond memories.

Fort Morris

What better way to spend the July 4th holiday than at Fort Morris, the site of the 1779 battle between the Patriots and British? After the opening ceremonies and the flag raising ceremony, the boys participated in pre-Revolutionary War games, games that we are all fairly familiar with like spoon races and sack races. 

And there were games we were not as familiar. Like games that involve the chunking of hatches.

And I have been worried about the boys playing in the yard with toy guns.

When the four year old girl wanted to give it a try, you can rest assured we hid behind the closest tree. Her chunking was not predictable.

When Keagan threw the ax, the audience ooohed and awwwed. No one believed such a little guy could have such strength.

When Evan threw the hatchet, the people at the next game station, ran for the nearest tree. He threw it that far. All four times. He doesn't know "chunk softly."

For each activity, the boys earned gold doubloons. At the end of the tour, the boys traded their gold pieces for a prize. Keeping the tradition of colonial toys and traditional games, Keagan selected a gooey plastic worm and Evan selected a paddle ball set made in China.

Freedom Carnival

I have never spent so much time on a military installation like I have this week, but without the amenities of the installation, we would have nothing else to do. Unless you count the Sonic Happy Hour, and we have been there done that. A lot. And we have been to Lowe's so many times the credit card company called last week to see if we really needed to make that many purchases. We did and we will be back probably tomorrow.

Today we attended the 4th of July Carnival hosted by MWR on post. There was food, carnival rides, games, crafts, a petting zoo, and bounce houses....all free and great fun.

Keagan's favorite part of the day, he said, was playing "war" with electronic guns. 

Evan joined him.

It still concerns me greatly that the boys have such a fascination with shooting up the neighborhood or other little boys with electronic guns, Civil War pistols and even Star Wars swords. It was cute when we lived in Virginia and until the reality of war became something we couldn't ignore. It is pervasive here in Hinesville.

Side note: You might notice that Evan has on two different shoes. He is not trying to make any fashion statements; this was not on purpose. He actually put on both shoes without realizing he did not have a matching pair. Wes says we should not be concerned because this lack of detail must be a sign that he is a genius. Because just like our psych prof at Austin College, Hank Gorman couldn't match his clothes or shoes, and he is the smartest person that we have ever known.

I am not convinced because after I went back to the closet this morning to change my own shorts, Evan said, "That looks much better, Mom. The yellow shirt really looks better with those shorts." And I took the fashion advice of my seven year old son who left the house with two different shoes. Hum....

You can take the kid out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the kid.

Evan's highlight of the day was the bull ride. He said, "I will never forget that ride."

With this awesome photo of his fall, we want to make sure that no one does.

At the end of the day, we headed home for some much needed rest, matching shoes, and a double take in the mirror just to make sure I didn't look totally ridiculous at the town fair. Keagan had it easy on the long walk back to the car.