Spring Travels Week 1: Mississippi

(Due to lack of internet, I haven't been able to post for quite some time. We visited Mississippi the 3rd week of February.)

     After a 5 hour drive (turned to 8 due to tire problems) we rolled in the church parking lot on a wet night. Hungry and cranky are two words to best describe us (well you can add stinky to Hudson’s name. He has the innate ability to turn out 2 or 3 dirty diapers while traveling in order to give our truck a distinct odor.) 

    We were greeted by happy faces telling us dinner was coming and that they had a play place where my 3 year old could expend all his bottled up energy. Smiling new faces were starting to be matched up with names, but I couldn’t take any of it in. All I was thinking was “Please show me to a baby changing table!” It’s hard to meet new people when you have a stink bomb in the form of a baby in your arms! 

    Dirty work accomplished, I went around for a second round of introductions and had a chance to finally take in the massive play place this church really had. Wow! What a paradise for a 3 year old! There even was a sweet little boy who played with Ethan whenever he was at church. 

    As I suspected the first thing out of Ethan’s mouth the next morning was, “Mommy, when can I go to the gym to play?” He stuck to that chorus all week...so play we did! Hudson found his home in the ball pit…more balls than his little mind could ever imagine or his little hands could ever hold.

     This was my first ever time to spend more than a few hours in Mississippi. To me it was a different country! Perhaps it was just our location in the state, but I’ve never been anywhere quite like it. As is my custom (not my desire, mind you) I hit up the local Walmart. I always tell myself, “I’ll get everything I need for 2 weeks and not have to go to Walmart at all next week.” But that never happens. 

    This particular Walmart trip has been my most memorable by far. I chose to go about an hour before lunch because my boys are typically very happy at that time of day. Reality hit as soon as I put Hudson in the cart. He loves to show his displeasure by throwing his head back forcefully thus propelling himself out of the front seat of the cart. Ethan was sitting in the back like a little angel, so I decided to continue with my trip and make it quick. 

    After picking up my first item, I passed the valentine’s section and saw several stuffed animals that made noise. I got one for each boy to play with hoping that would pacify them until the shopping trip was done. It worked wonderfully at keeping the kids quiet for several minutes but I felt like I was pushing around an ice cream cart that keeps playing the same song over and over again. 

    The animal Hudson was holding was a gorilla that sang “Do you love me” in a loud raspy man’s voice. And yes, he figured out how to keep that gorilla playing…until we walked past the toy aisle and he spotted a ball. One of those huge outdoor balls that I can barely get my arms around. 

    At this point his gorilla quickly lost charm and Hudson began crying and head banging. I should have probably just gone home at this point, but I kept racing through the aisles with “Do you love me” performing in the back of the cart, now in Ethan’s hands, and a rather large playground ball that Hudson is clinging to with all his might. 

    As I stopped to inspect the quality of the eggs I needed to purchase, Hudson discovered that it was much more fun to drop the ball onto the floor and watch mommy chase it around. I took the ball away from Hudson, gave him the obnoxious monkey and raced through the aisles to find the last thing on my list. 

   At this point people walking in front of me knew I was coming because they heard my child screaming and the monkey singing “Do you love me” over and over. Before I even passed some people they kindly stepped off to the side, looking at me with pity in their eyes (or maybe it was just the look of “why are you even here trying to shop?”) 

    Finally I could take the monkey no more. I put it on the nearest shelf and carried Hudson the rest of the way while pushing the cart with one hand. Wonder of wonders, there was no line when we reached the front. The management probably got word of the crazy “Do you love me” lady zooming through the store, so they made sure they could get me through the line as fast as possible and out the door. Hudson was happy as a lark on the way home. Go figure! Next time…going without the kids!

    I don't know why I didn't take any pictures of the kids this week. I think it was culture shock of getting into my groove of life on the road.