A GRAND Saturday

 Boy's Toys...Napping with the Remote Control

Hey, little guy, you spent today with DeeDee and Papa and we had a wonderful time.

Your mama met us at Einstein's early this morning. She was going to work, so she left you and your cot with us. We had quite a morning. We ate bagels outside and you watched a little dog and the birds (who were begging for crumbs from the people eating on the patio). Then we went to SAMS and to REI to look around. We did not do a lot of buying, but we had fun looking.

After that, we went to the library and you had a blast in the Children's department. You tried out all of the kid sized furniture, picked out a book to carry around with you and found a toy to play with. Papa and I know that you (and Papa and DeeDee) walked at least a mile in the short time we were there.

The Papa tunnel...but you've gotten so tall
you are going to have to bend over to get through!!

When we got to our house, you played for a few minutes before you told us that it was time for lunch by heading to your high chair. You had a great lunch...and then it was time for your nap.We changed your diaper, took off your shoes and set up your cot. You fussed just a minute before you fell sound asleep. Although you woke up at the 2 hour mark, you dozed and rested for another 40 minutes before you decided that it was time to get up. You were such a big boy sleeping on the cot, and you took a much better nap than you do in the porta-crib.

After your nap and another diaper change it was time to meet Mama at Slopes for dinner. You LOVE BBQ and you ate almost the entire kid's portion...which is pretty big. Then we had to say good-bye as you and Mama headed to Trader Joe's and then home to take a bath.

We hated to see this GRAND day end!! See you soon!!

Learning Words!

 Papa just got home from work (notice the very sweaty hair)...
But, as soon as you see him, you KNOW its time for dinner!!

Hey, Little Guy. You are starting to figure out the intricacies of language. You have been able to follow directions for quite a while now, and you know, and demonstrate that you know, your body parts whenever I ask. Papa and I always know that you are content when you are riding with us and "chatting" to yourself...you always sound so happy and peaceful at those times. But, until recently, you had not begun to say meaningful words.

Yesterday, you called me DeeDee for the first time...it was a very special moment!!

I know that soon we won't be able to shut you up. You will be like your mama and talk all the time once you really 'get' the idea that the words you say can make your communication with others in your world much more efficient than sign language or whining. It is magical to watch you make this discovery!

Happy Father's Day, Big Dude!!

From your little Doodle!!

I love you, Papa!!

Very Busy Days

Hey, little guy, I can't believe how busy I have been since school got out. I thought I'd have some down time once school was out and I didn't have to sub.

Right after I finished proctoring exams, I had to go to St. Louis with your Aunt Peggy and Great Grandma for your Great Aunt Peggy's funeral. Aunt Peggy was very special to me...she was my godmother and my father's sister. She was 90 years old and had lived a very long, good life, but we were all sad that she is gone.

It had been years since I have been in St. Louis, so we took advantage of the free time we had there to do a little touring. We saw the house we lived in when I was a very little girl and we saw the schools that I attended in kindergarten and 1st grade. We also saw the school that my sister Peggy attended in kindergarten. Even though we did not move, she and I did not go to the same school for kindergarten.

 This is the house we lived in until early 1957

 This is the cool playground at Lee Hamilton Elementary 

School, where I went to Kindergarten

 This is the sign in front of the school where

Aunt Peggy went to Kindergarten

This is the back of the school where I went to 

first grade. It used to be called St. John and James,

but now it is Mother Teresa of Calcutta

When we were in St. Louis, we were able to see all 9 of Great Aunt Peggy's children. It had been so long since we have seen them!! It was very good to reconnect with our extended family.

 The boys and Ginny smoking Stogies

Shelley and Peggy

Kelly, Kathy and Sarah

Your Papa wants to make sure that I tell you that when we were in St. Louis, we ate lunch at Rigazzi's on the Hill and had frozen concrete's at Ted Drewe's twice!! Your Great Grandma LOVED Ted Drewes and wanted to go back for "dinner" the last night we were in St. Louis. Those concrete's were our dinner both times we went, so we weren't as bad as we could have been. We wanted to bring your Papa a frozen custard, but couldn't figure out how to get it all the way back here, so he had to settle for a Ted Drewes t-shirt. Some day we will take you to the Hill and to Ted Drewes...I know that you will love the Italian food and frozen custard!!

The day after we returned from St. Louis, Papa and I left for LA. It was very hot, but we picked almost 50 pounds of blueberries while we were there. Your Papa LOVES blueberries and eats them every day. We do think that we have picked enough to last us until the 2011 blueberry season.

 Fun at DeeDee and Papa's house

We finally got to spend some time with you the day after we got home. DeeDee came and picked you up from your house and you came over to visit and have dinner with DeeDee and Papa. It was so good to see you!! We really enjoyed our visit. When we took you back to the house, you gave Papa his Father's Day card and gift since you are spending this weekend in South GA with your Daddy and Grandaddy. We will miss you, but I'm sure that you will have a wonderful visit. Have a safe trip and we will see you when you get home.