M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I

Our first full day in Mississippi, and the boys were eager to hit the beach. Temperatures at home were still not getting much past 50 degrees, so we felt fortunate to be enjoying the very warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This water is so very nice. Our first week here, it was extremely windy. We started to think that was just how it is here, but things have since calmed down.

On this day the wind proved too much for us. The boys were getting blown down the beach nearly as fast as I could walk after them. Not that I am moving at top speeds these days, but the thoughts of currents, sea creatures, and the the relentless wind led me to encourage the boys to return to the hotel for some pool time. Our condo is right across from the beach, it has two outdoor pools, two hot tubs, and one indoor pool.

The Air Force base has a Frisbee golf course and a regular golf course. We had already hit the Frisbee golf course when the boys spotted all the golf carts racing around. They were curious about real golf, and K announced, "I would like to get more into golf." We don't golf at all, so just looking at the course would translate to "more" golf. I inquired about the driving range, and golf lessons.

Johan and I took the boys to the driving range one evening as a primer for the lessons that they would soon be taking. What fun! Johan was really hitting the ball far, and I couldn't resist the competition. So I asked him for his club, and he looked at me curiously but obliged. For one glorious moment I wasn't pregnant, as I focused on the ball, sure that I could hit farther than Johan. Then reality came crashing back as the pain of my violent (not so graceful) swing reminded me of my unusual girth.

Here are some shots of Johan offering his wealth of golfing knowledge to the boys.

It should be noted that after the boys first lesson the first thing they both announced when they saw us was, "You taught us wrong Papa!" In Johan's defense, he doesn't golf much and hasn't played a single round of golf in years, and perhaps even more importantly he is left-handed.

On our first weekend here, we took a walk up the beach. There are jet ski rentals available up and down the beach. Needless to say the boys were more than a little interested. As we headed toward the jet ski rentals the boys found all sorts of treasures. This one was the greatest.

K instantly recognized it as the body of a horseshoe crab. He later saw a live one in the water. C missed it, and therefore doubts K's story.

Here they are getting ready to take off on the jet ski.

All three boys rode together on one jet ski. Johan let the boys take turns driving.

As part of our jet ski rental agreement I was permitted to use one of the cushioned lounge chairs owned by the rental company. The operator who patrolled for likely customers on his 4-wheeler came by after the boys had taken off. He lacked some teeth, wore a t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off, and as a result of his occupation, his neck was literally red. He pulled up next to me on his 4-wheeler and shouted over the engine, "You 'bout to pop, ain't cha?" Southern charm :-). I could think of no good reply and merely affirmed his observation.

After a long, hard day at the beach, here is a shot of K relaxing on our patio enjoying some dessert. We are on the 13th floor, with a huge view of the beach. Roughing it...