Down South

We are back from our quick vacation to Oxford, Mississippi to visit Evin, Kayla, and Maddox.  It was our trip to get away since football is over and basketball is getting ready to start.  It was nice to get to spend some good family quality time together.  Lukas did a great job on the flights.  One the way there he got to sit in his own seat, and he thought that was pretty cool.  He loved to play peek-a-boo with Grandma Beck in the seat behind him.  He was a little trooper.

Friday evening Erin, Kayla, and I went and met Evin up at the school for a tour of campus.  Lukas stayed back at the house with Maddox and Grandma Beck.  Their campus is very different with all of the landscaping and shrubbery that they have everywhere.  We went down to the square to eat and hang out for the evening.  I have to admit I felt quite old when the "loud" music at the bar bothered me cause we couldn't hear each other talk.  We did stay long enough though to outlast the 70 year old lady sitting front row by the band.

Saturday we all went down to the square to look around and do a little shopping.  It was homecoming week, and there were a lot of people out and about.  It was a lot of fun to just look at all the old homes there with the big front porches and their historical character.

Playing in the yard

Erin and his sleeping buddy.  Maddox wanted to sleep wherever Uncle Erin was.

Watching a little Tom and Jerry before bed.

That evening we went up to the game.  Tailgating is a big deal at Ole Miss, but it is done very differently than anything I have ever seen.  I am used to the tents and people playing games in a parking lot.  They have an area called "The Grove" on campus.  It is a large grass area in the middle of campus which gets covered with tents the night before from people setting up camp.  You don't see any grills though.  You hear generators to plugin their big screen TVs and chandeliers.  Not kidding there were multiple tents with chandeliers hanging from the middle.  A lot of people bring in catering for their food.  The students are dressed up for the occasion.  The guys where khaki pants, collared shirts, suit coats or sweaters.  The girls wear dresses and heels or boots.  (Kayla and I agreed the jeans and Washburn shirts were much more comfortable.)  It was very interesting to see and walk through.  Lukas was in awe of all the people.  He thought the stadium was cool too.  He just stared for awhile when we walked out to our seats and saw everything going on.  It was a great experience!

Walking through the grove

Check out the chandelier

Catering

Not a great picture, but we tried

Watching the game

Kayla, Lukas, and I at the game

All in all we really enjoyed just getting to hang out and catch up.  We even got a chance to play some pitch, which Kayla and I did beat Evin and Erin in 2 games to 1.  They don't handle that very well :)  It was a great trip and we can't wait to see them again at Christmas!  Lukas has been asking about "Maa" (Maddox) all night.  Lukas is missing his buddy already.