Do Your Dance

We heard Joanie enjoys Dexter's dancing - this one's for you, Joanie!

Back in Mississippi Again

My Bologna spent the days that the rest of us were traveling to/in Florida with his grandparents in Mississippi and their dog, Drake. The first night's report on My Bologna wasn't too good - he kept going back to the spot where our car had been parked and refused to leave. He didn't want to eat and he paced back and forth all night. But by the time we came back a few days later, My Bologna had settled in nicely to a life of plenty of people food and lots of pets. He was still really happy to see us and we were happy to see him too. Before heading back north, we had breakfast at the Blue and White on Route 61 where Gunker fed Dexter 3 packets of jelly.

Green Meadows Petting Farm

We took the kids to see some farm animals up close (I'm not sure a "zorse" - half horse, half zebra - counts as a "farm" animal but we got to see one of those too). Dexter was very interested in all of the animals - he pet and/or kissed a sheep, a bunch of chickens, a duckling, a cow, a turkey, a pony, a rabbit, a pig, and a baby chick. We took a hay ride, a train ride, played on tractors and milked a cow! It was a balmy 47 degrees in Florida.

Gandparents Fowler and Cousins Dougherty

Dexy had a great time with his cousins, Riley and Teagan. Grampy read Dexter his new favorite book about trucks. Riley and Grandma made fun hats for everyone to wear. Teagan and Dexter shared snacks. And the kids all got clean together.

WTF?

By the time we stopped for BBQ for lunch in Alabama, the snow was coming down steady and strong. We couldn't believe it! After lunch we decided to push on, still thinking that we would make it to Kissimmi that night. However, the snow only got worse and the driving conditions were terrible. Visibility was next to nothing. Every mile or so we would see another car skidded off the road. We were one of the few cars that remained on the 2 lane highway and were going about 30 mph in a single line trying to stay in the tire tracks of the car in front of us. I was terrified and began to panic. There was no place for us to stop and rest so Ben just drove slow and steady while I tried to rid my mind of the recurring thought that we were all going to die and when they did an autopsy they would find nothing but BBQ in all of our tummies. Meanwhile, Dexter was perfect. I can't imagine what that part of the ride would have been like with an unhappy baby in the car! We finally made it to the intersection of 520 and 75 where we decided to stay for the night. I was never so happy to see a Microtel in my life. When I told Ben about the thoughts I was having while panicking through the worst of it, he replied logically, "Why would they do an autopsy?"

Paying Homage to the King

After leaving Mississipi before dawn on Friday, we headed southeast toward Florida. We made a quick stop at Elvis' birthplace as we passed through Tupelo and we enjoyed BBQ for breakfast at a tiny Mississippi BBQ joint.

Florida Road Trip 2010

Dexter enjoyed a nearly 3,000 mile road to Florida and back this past week. All four of us (Dexter, My Bologna, Daddy and me) piled into the Corolla and headed south expecting an easy drive and a few days in the warm sun visiting with family. Turns out mother nature had other plans and hit the deep south with a snowstorm and cold weather. Despite the weather challenges, Dexter had a great time with each set of his grandparents - we stayed with Grandma and Gunker in Mississippi on our way to and back from Florida where we stayed with Grandma and Grampy for two days. While in Florida, Dexter got to meet his cousins, Riley and Teagan, and visit with his Aunt Katie and Uncle Sean. Both Dexter and My Bologna were excellent riders - made for life on the road.

Now He's Rocking

Rocking out to Van Halen.

He's Off His Rocker

Not only off it, but under it!

My Bologna Goes Hollywood

Can someone please tell me what My Bologna is doing in the Star magazine? Going rug shopping with Star Trek's Spock, Zachary Quinto? And why he's in the "normal" section?

Crunchy Beans

Yesterday afternoon I was on the phone with my sister as Dexter was playing after his nap. I had set out a bowl of dehydrated green beans as his snack. I explained to my sister how I try to put out a healthy snack every other day but he really prefers goldfish or a teething biscuit. I told her that I believed if he was hungry, he would eat the healthy snack and this would set him up for good eating habits (unlike my own). After a few rounds of taking a "crunchy bean" out of his bowl, putting it in his mouth, making a face, and putting it back in the bowl, he started feeding them to me one by one. I ate each one with enthusiasm, trying emphasize how yummy it was. Eventually, he tired of feeding me and went off to play with his alphabet train. Soon after, I noticed him going back to the bowl again and again. I proudly told my sister that he's now eating the crunchy beans! "See, if I don't give him the choice, he'll eat the healthy stuff," I bragged. My sister was amazed and reinforced my sense that I was getting it right as a mother. No sooner had I hung up the phone than I noticed Dexter come back to the bowl, take a crunchy bean in his hand, walk over to the floor vent, and drop it through the slats! I ran over only to find the majority of beans from the bowl scattered under the vent. He had not been eating the crunchy beans after all! My sister is going to love this when I tell her!! Nonetheless, I'm sticking with my plan of rotating healthy snacks with more junky stuff. I'm just going to keep a closer eye on what he's doing with those snacks!