The Halloween Part 2 Post That Wasn't

Naturally since there is a Halloween Part 1 post you would assume that there is a Part 2... and there would have been except for a failing camera battery. While we don't have many pictures to prove it, the rest of our week in Biloxi was spent with family and friends and it was wonderful! We did manage to get a few more pictures before leaving-

Kenzie got to meet her sweet little cousin Edie and at first she was a little apprehensive....

 but they bonded over books!

Kenzie finally got to meet her great-grandparents... MawMaw and PawPaw Vuyovich!

 Before leaving we got to spend some time at the Peter Anderson festival in Ocean Springs. Peter Anderson was the older brother of Walter Anderson (his art is among my favorites). The festival is huge and there are a lot of fantastic artists and vendors with several hundred booths. While we hunted for some art for our living room, Kenzie spent some time with Aunt Kathy.

 They even had ponies!

 Having some fun back at home.....

 Our first pigtails!

 Nana and PawPaw came up after Thanksgiving and brought lots of fresh seafood including crabs for gumbo. Of course I married Jennifer for all of her amazing qualities but the seafood access was certainly an added bonus!

 I have to brag on Jen for just a moment- look at these beautiful hair bows she's made....

 Another picture of Kenzie having some fun

 Where did all of this hair come from?! We are growing up just a little too fast!

 Kenzie is just a little bit obsessed with Son's sleeping basket-

 Fortunately Son is a very tolerant cat!

Very, very tolerant!

Here's Kenzie laid back in a sweet potato box- and yes for those of you wondering we purchase our sweet potatoes by the box (actually they were given to us by Honey and Pops).

 One we realized we were stuck it wasn't so much fun!

 I sure enjoyed putting up our Christmas display this year. Fortunately I have a wife that is very patient with me and my obsession. I can't believe how quickly December is passing and Christmas will be here in no time. I'm just a little excited because recently Santa let me know that he will be visiting our lawn on December 21, 22, and 23 at nightfall! I think he's planning on bringing some elves along with him (many thanks to my family both willing and unwilling)!

 Though I do love all the Christmas lights, trees, and gifts I will always remember the true reason we celebrate this time of year-

and I am so thankful for my beautiful wife and wonderful daughter!

Merry Christmas to all,

Ashley

Halloween Vacation on the Coast Part 1

We have been having some major fun down in Biloxi these last few days. We've been fortunate enough to spend the past week down on the coast with Jennifer's family and we still have several days to go. It's been an all you can eat seafood smorgasbord for me and I am in heaven. The weather has been really nice the last few days with highs in the 70s and a nice chill in the air every evening. Kenzie and Nana haven't wasted any time catching up. Here they are picking some satsumas off PawPaw's tree.

Picking out the right one...

 found it...

Kenzie really putting some leverage into it!

 Got it!

 Despite the cooler weather, Nana's yard is still beautiful. Here is  one of her flower beds.

  

This amazing oak tree is just across the street from Nana and PawPaw's. I've always been amazed at its size (age) and the way it leans. It survived Hurricanes Camille and Katrina!

Kenzie finally got to meet her great-grandmother Mable. She also loves sitting on her new pink stool-She'll run across the room and sit on it every time I ask her to.

 Kenzie got to help me with the pumpkin carving this year. At first she was a little leery of the gooey stuff inside the pumpkin...

She warmed up to it after a little while though....

 

I think our first collaborative work was quite a success!

 

Kenzie was just a little uncertain about the whole Trick-or-Treating thing..fortunately we were able to spend the evening at Aunt Amber and Uncle Stephen's. They literally have thousands of kids that come to their neighborhood for the festivities every year.

 

After a short time we were more confident and definitely got the hang of things!

 

We even decided to hug some of the inflatable Halloween decor...

 Kenzie kept stopping to inspect the candy in her basket.

 

All the walking and candy had Kenzie 'in the zone'. Fortunately Aunt Kathy was there to carry her back home!

 

Jennifer's Uncle Richard has a beautiful waterfront home and he invited us down to his pier for some fishing one evening. It was fantastic and Jen took some great shots-

 

We caught some beautiful speckled and white trout.

 Kenzie couldn't wait to spend her first afternoon on the beach. We loaded up with Aunt Amber and Uncle Stephen and headed down to Ocean Springs. They had a great playground just off the beach and Kenzie loves to slide.

 

 The view from the playground-

 

Kenzie's first few steps on the beach....

 and her first time to touch the water....

 

I just couldn't help myself!

 

My favorite of all...

  

Kenzie's having a great time...can't wait for the rest of the week!

As an aside I got in my first shipment of Christmas lights. I've got lots of work to do!

 Ashley