Time off the rock in Bama (batch 1)

 A while back I was working with Joss on his potty training and at the end of the tracks on our 'Potty Train' chart was his reward...a ride on the big plane to THAT green slide (which meant a trip to Bama!). The timing worked really well, because of course, we were going... but it was right toward the end of his chart so I got to go along with it like it was a special treat :) By the way-- this picture above is a Really Excited Joss face, if you can't tell.  

 The boys did really great on the flight over there. It was a direct flight from here to Atlanta, and right after nap time.... Great combination! This was how the boys were (above) as soon as we landed, and they didn't move until we got off the plane.

We spent our first few days of our 2 week trip at Bev & Kevin's loft in Birmingham. I was having a hard time getting the exposure on the camera inside or in the shade, but I got a few that worked for me :)

 It took us no time at all to take control over the loft and make the entire space our play area. Joss refers to it as "Bev's Place", so now I am hearing, "I 'anna go pway at Bev's pwace". They live right near a train park and some active tracks... so in Joss world that's like getting a glimpse of Heaven :)

 Somehow the boys didn't need much food at all on this trip to survive. This is a rare shot of Emit eating (see what I mean about shoving everything in to his mouth at once).

 Whenever we are stateside I'm always having to do some shopping. It's usually always things we need to stock up on and a few fun things. Bev & Kevin took us to Sams and I had a very small basket of items that somehow came to a total over $400...YIKES! I do not like having to do these Bahamian style shopping sprees. Because that wasn't on fun things. That was on batteries, computer ink, socks, cleansers, etc.... I still don't know how it got so high so quick...but it did. I think Kevin had the most fun on this shopping spree... Little Man Emit was quite content to snuggle with Uncle Kevin. I think he was having a major "overstimulated" moment in here.

Afterward Bev & Kevin took us all the Chuck-E-Cheese :) Joss has seen commercials for it on "PBS kids" (as he calls it) and thought it was really cool.

 Safe to say Emit was having fun too :)

 They played on these games for the longest. Joss called it "bowing" (bowling).

 

He even got to ride a horse :)

We got to spend some time with a few folks, but it is always so hard to see everyone we want to. Bethany & Robert.... I really hate that we never got to meet Miss Annalise--next time for sure. The boys are just thrilled to be somewhere new, and extra time running around in the car for them is not that enjoyable. Sometimes it's exciting because we get to look for "Macs" (semi trucks). Anyone that has ridden with Joss recently knows how excited he gets to see those. And Emit has learned to pump his little arm like we're trying to get them to honk every time we see/saw or mention the word TRUCK :)  Even if it is our truck parked in the driveway...LOL!

We did get to spend some time with sweet Baby Mason. Heather, hope you don't mind that I stole this shot from your Blog. I don't know why it feels impossible to get pictures with these kiddos together. I always have my camera out snapping shots and never seem to get it out when we're all together. Next summer we'll get lots of them playing on the beach when they come here to visit.

 Next, we took the boys over to the McWane Science Center to play for a bit. When Bev and I went their the night before to watch the new HARRY POTTER (wooo hoooo...didn't have to wait for it to come out on DVD) we saw a sign for a train expo they were having. Hmmmm, do I know a little guy that loves trains????

 We could probably get away with simply going to the lobby and hanging out by this ball exhibit that Joss LOVES every time we go. Emit was getting pretty excited about it this time around :)

 He is totally mesmerized!

 Can I get one of these in Exuma???

 Then, of course, it was on to the train expo.

 I'm not sure who was enjoying this more, Kevin or Joss, but it was a close call either way.

 He really thought these little trains were cool. He asked to go see the "yillo"(little) trains, and doing his fingers together for little, the remainder of the trip.

 These tables were really cool. I have been planning to build them a table for their train set, but I wanted to wait until we got some expansion packs to make it bigger (like these). But these were so cool because they have the pieces glued & screwed down to the table so the kids can PLAY with it and not bump the pieces the whole time. Which would make my life easier because I wouldn't be hearing "momma fix it" all the time or "no, stop it, Emit" when Emit gets in his destructive moods. Bev & Kevin got Joss some expansion train pieces for his B-day... so I guess I better get started on the table (I'm hoping to get it ready for Christmas!).

 Joss did not want to leave this area when we were getting ready to go.

 They had a blast playing with this thing too. You push it and mold it with your hands or whatever... my boys liked using their faces to make the impressions :)

 Can you guess which one is which???

 Emit is in the top one and Joss is in this one right above.

Well, this covers about the first 3 days of our trip back to Bama. I'll add some more as I get some time. I tried posting as the trip went along, but for one reason or another... it just didn't happen. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

To-be-continued...