Southern Road Trip Part 2: Mississippi

As is said in Part 1 of our Southern Road Trip, Tim and I left Ty with Grandma and Grandpa for a few days while we headed to Mississippi and Alabama. Tim received a grant to do some economic research by collecting information from different counties in these states. I went along for a few days as his research assistant. 

Our first stop was in Vicksburg, MS where, conveniently, my friends Amelia and Jon recently moved. We spent the night with them (after a delicious southern dinner of fried catfish and other fried foods). The next day, Tim went to do work and I did some sight seeing with Amelia. First stop was the Vicksburg Battlefield.

 We watched the video about the battle at the visitor center then took off around the battlefield.

The battlefield road was several miles long, so we drove until I got carsick. We also stopped off to see the Cairo, a ship sunk during the battle, which was found just about 30 years ago (bottom left picture below). There were also some nice views of the Mississippi:

 

 After lunch and some shopping, we visited the Mississippi River museum and learned all about the river (and Jon's job!)  They had some fun hands-on activities like the one below where we got to carve out our own river path.

Amelia took me down to the river murals which depict some of the local events throughout Vicksburg's history.   She accurately described them as reminding her of the Pawnee Murals from Parks and Recreation (though quite less violent). It was kind of funny because it was true!

 

 Ty is really into red cabooses, so I took the opportunity to climb on this one as I missed him.

We finished in Vicksburg with this beautiful view of the river and bridge.

That night, Tim and I headed to Jackson where we celebrated our trip with a good old Mississippi Mud Pie! After a good (humid) morning run, we spent the next day researching at the state archives (top right picture below). It was high security in there, so we couldn't take pictures, but it was fun for me to start my journey into history! We barely made a dent in the microfilm before they closed and we then walked around the city.

After Jackson (Tim would go back later), we headed south for a few county records. Our first stop the next morning was at the Jones County Courthouse in a cute southern town called Ellisville. We asked for the 1890's Justice Court Dockets and the ladies working gave us a funny look and said "You're going to have to look in the dungeon." She then directed us to the dark and dusty/creepy third floor attic of the courthouse where we were left to sort through books (see the two bottom right pictures below). We found it! The ladies downstairs were surprised to hear this. They told us to check in with them every once in a while so they knew we were okay! It was like a fun treasure hunt!

  Work went quickly, so we drove through the town. I loved this church.

We headed to Meridian, MS for the afternoon, but I didn't get any pictures. We found the archives and book we were looking for, but it wasn't as helpful as we had hoped, so we took off to our next adventure...Alabama!

Southern Road Trip Part 1: Texas

Our family took a trip to visit Ty's Grandma Diney and Grandpa Rod in Texas! It was a LONG drive, so we stopped periodically to let Ty play. Our last stop was in a mall where we found these Texas-sized cookies. We finally made it to San Antonio where Ty settled right in to "Ty's Room." While there, we took Ty to his first movie in the theater, Planes Fire and Rescue. He also got a lot of park time in. This park below was a hit because of the fire truck playground.

Time with Grandpa Rod usually means plenty of trains. Ty was in heaven!

And before Tim and I left for a few days, we went to Krispy Kreme. Ty loved watching the donuts go "through the tunnel" (the glaze curtain).

Colorado 101

Tim and I have been busy with our church callings this Summer. Tim is (still...for the third year) in the Young Men's Presidency and also the Scoutmaster. I (also for the third year, though not in a row) was the Young Women's Camp Director and also teach the six year olds in primary. This means we both went on separate camping trips recently. 

Ty and I also tagged along with the scouts when climbing Mount Bierdstadt, one of the "Fourteeners" in Colorado. You see, it's cool here to climb these 14,000+ feet mountains. One more thing while we're on the subject: camping when you drive and to your camping spot is called "car camping." If you just say you're going "camping," people who like to feel more outdoor-sy and superior to you ask you to specify if you are "car camping" or...I don't even know if they call it "camping" or something else I would just call "backpacking." Now you know enough to live in Colorado. It was a beautiful sight. Tim was a total trooper and carried Ty almost the whole way. Unfortunately, because we were with the 12 and 13 year old scouts, he had to be responsible and stay with a boy who complained the entire time and stopped about every ten feet. Surprisingly, they almost made it to the top.

You can find snow in July! (Yes, I sent this picture to my sister who lives in Phoenix!) I had never climbed a "fourteener" before (Tim had), so they let me go ahead. I made it!

  

And Girls Camp. To be honest, I wasn't really looking forward to girls camp this year. I don't love camping. I mostly don't love not showering, bugs, and sleeping on the ground. I DO like the young women in our ward, so I went and had a pretty good time. 

Our theme this year was pirates and "A Treasure Beyond Measure."

 I hate to brag, but I was kind of the tomahawk throwing champion! I didn't do to shabby with the bow and arrow either.

Summer Part 2

We went to the open house for our new fire station. They had cake, balloons, and lots of trucks out! It was so great because it wasn't crowded like most of the city events. Ty was in heaven!

  

 

I love this picture-so happy!

  Ty is obsessed with "shoot the water." Anything and everything long and skinny becomes a fire hose at our house. Here he is with a real fire hose!  Then he actually got to shoot the water! We're aiming at a wood panel with a house painted on it and you shoot the windows out that are on "fire" (or another wood panel with fire painted on it).

 Tim taught a class the entire month of June, so we took a morning off and took him to the Zoo for the first time (besides Zoo Lights in December).  Ty liked all of the bears. The polar bear was very active for us.

The real reason we go to the zoo.

 

 

A few lunch outings. Can't beat free chick fil a and Ty is really into his new shades.

Who knew I was eating lunch with a celebrity?