WEST COASTERS IN THE DEEP SOUTH

Some of my west coast family came to visit for a week, so there was much sightseeing, shopping, eating, and drinking to be done! We had a great time!

At the Coca-Cola Museum in Vicksburg, where the soda was first bottled.

A strong thunderstorm came through the next morning and knocked half a tree down across our driveway. Never fear, Neighbor Jay rescued us with his ATV!

Once free, we went down to Natchez to do some touristy things. After the visitor center, we stopped at the Grand Village of the Natchez.

Then we toured Longwood Plantation (worth the money).

And we came back to Vicksburg northbound on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

After a day of shopping on Sunday, we spent the night drinking wine and gossiping. Grandma's finger-pointing proved to be contagious...

I met the gang for lunch at Walnut Hills, an amazing round-table buffet with good ol' fashioned southern cooking. The guys tried to rock off a few calories out on the porch afterwards...

After Jay's now famous fried catfish meal, we walked around the yard and Grandma helped me pick some blueberries.

We loved having my parents, Grandma, Uncle Daryl and Aunt Margie in town. We hope they come again soon, and bring the kids along!

TOOL CONCERT

We made our first trip home to Jacksonville together, driving. It was a long 10.5 hours, but well worth it for the amazing concert, the good times had with some of our best buds, and getting to see Jean!

To start the weekend off right, we went to see the new baby.

Here is Jamie with his proud mama.

My turn to hold him! Check out all that hair!! He's so cute!

Looks like Cole loves being a big brother...

On to Ryan's house, where the boys caught up over poker and beer.

Stacey stopped by to say HI, home for the summer from FSU.

That night we went to the TOOL concert (not Jackson of course, though he probably would have liked the lasers... just not the loud music). Here's the whole gang!

Before leaving town we had to get some El Potro, and Jay got another chance to hold the baby. He looks like a natural!

On the way home to Mississippi, we stayed a night with cousin Jason, Amy, and baby Finn (we just couldn't get enough of babies on this trip!) Oh my goodness was Finn adorable, his big happy smile just melts your heart!