More Trip Pics

These are out of order. I wanted to show a before and after of Lee from the reunion on Saturday.

Here's the after. This was after hours of trampoline-jumping, monkey bar-climbing, and 4 wheeler riding. He was a sweaty, smelly mess and having the time of his life!
Here is the before picture. He was just getting started riding on the jeep. It didn't go fast enough for Lee, so he traded the jeep for a kiddie 4 wheeler.

The landscaping at our hotel was beautiful. I couldn't get Lee to take his sunglasses off long enough for a few pictures, but I love how they turned out anyway.

This frog hopped into Matt's leg on the way to the car. Lee was fascinated by him. He poked and nudged him until he hopped off on his next adventure.

What a handsome hubby I have! I teased him all weekend about looking like a tourist. He usually had the camera around his neck and a bag on his shoulder. I told him that I would get him a fanny-pack for our next trip.

We have taken Lee's picture in front of this bridge every year since his first trip when he was 3 weeks old. The sun was SO bright, so he is squinting in these pictures.

Here are some more pictures from the pool. Lee had the best time swimming with his Daddy.

Lee insisted on racing. Guess who won nearly every time!? If he didn't win, he would quickly say, "That wasn't a race!"

I'm so proud of how well he is doing with his swimming.

We made great time getting home on Sunday. Lee could not have been better in the car. He watched movies, colored and did a couple of his activity books. We hardly heard a peep out of him the whole day. He didn't eat very well while we were gone, but he has more than made up for it since we got home. Last night, he ate almost all of his taco and a side of rice and beans. Today, he ate 8 pizza rolls for lunch and for supper, he ate roast, potatoes, mac and cheese and tried some squash. This is on top of breakfast and snacks. I love when he is a good eater and will try new foods (like squash).

Here are some funnies from the day. This afternoon, I told him that I would like a kiss from him, and he told me his kisser was empty. I thought that was so funny. I think I finally wrestled a kiss out of him. Tonight, Matt and I sat outside and watched him swim for awhile. On our way in, he told Matt he saw a "piece of lightning" in the sky. After his bath, Matt was helping him pick up his toys in the living room, and he said, "Daddy, I have so many toys that I don't even know what to play with next." Sad, but true. The last funny from today was from this morning. We were getting ready to go outside, and I sent him to his room to get his shoes. He came running back to get me to come look at something. As I entered his room, I saw him with his "telescope" (AKA a wrapping paper tube) and was about to stick it in the fan. I screamed, and he stopped. He looked so surprised that I said not to stick it in the fan. I told Matt later that it was an incident that hadn't occurred to me that could happen. I didn't think I had to tell him not to stick toys in the ceiling fan. After I explained to him what could happen, he said he understood and promised not to do it again. I could tell that he had already done it before he came to get me, and he thought it was hilarious. Oh what trouble little boys get into!

Happy Father's Day

Lee remembered as soon as he woke up this morning that it was Father's Day. Matt was packing our luggage into the car, so I quickly got Lee dressed and got the present ready so Matt could open it when he returned. Lee adores his daddy, and nothing makes me happier than to see them playing together and loving each other.
I love the look on Lee's face here. He was thrilled with his gift. He chose the Titans cap all by himself. I'm surprised and glad he kept the secret. (Nam-you'll be happy to know that Matt agreed to replace his old cap!!)

I love these 2 guys so much and am thankful and blessed that Lee has a wonderful, Christian father who adores him. Happy Father's Day!

McGraw Reunion

Every June, we travel to Mississippi to visit the McGraw Family. Here are some pictures from the first couple of days of our trip.
Aunt June, Here we come!

After arriving at the hotel, Lee learned that there was a pool. He could hardly wait!

Brian and Matt took turns catching the boys as they jumped off the side.

I'm sure glad it wasn't my job! They were full of energy.

Lee is doing so much better this summer with his swimming. He is very confident with his floaties. He learned to float on his back at home, so he showed off to everyone in the big pool.

Happiness.

The hotel has sprinklers outside, so naturally the boys had to check those out next.

Since it was 98 degrees, I think they loved cooling off here. Too bad the adults couldn't join them. The bridge behind them crosses the Mississippi River. Although I hate bridges, I have to admit that I think it is beautiful.

Hope has had a cold this week, so she didn't get to join in the water fun. I think she and Uncle Matt were creating their own fun.

The boys had a blast.

On Friday, we did some shopping in Natchez. Lee and I took a break to check out the scenery and take some pictures while the others shopped. You can see our hotel behind Lee across the river. Our hotel is in Vidalia, Louisiana, and here we are across the river in Natchez, Mississippi. Matt has teased Lee every time we've crossed the bridge by asking which state we are in. Lee almost always says Mississippi, and Matt will say that we were but now we're in Louisiana. It's confusing to a 4 year old!

Lee posed for a minute, and then he was done with me and my camera.

Finally, he got some backup when Paul arrived. He wasn't interested in me or my camera either.

I did bribe them with candy if they would stand still long enough for 1 picture. This is what I got. Pretty cute, I thought.

When it was time to head to the car, they both jumped in the stroller for possibly the cutest picture of the day. I can still hear their giggles when I look at this picture.

Time for "Knock-you-naked-margaritas" at Fat Mama's! Lee and Paul settled for root beers, but I thought it was a hoot that they climbed up to the bar. It's actually a family friendly restaurant, but they are known for their margaritas.

Friday night, we went to a nice dinner and enjoyed some Cajun food. We decided to give Pa his Father's Day gifts since we'll be on the road all day Sunday headed home. Back at the hotel, guess what time it is!? Yep, Lee can't get enough of the pool. He cut his foot at the sprinklers, so he cried when he got in the pool. I think it was a combination of the burn and extreme tiredness. I'm sure we'll try the pool again soon.

This was taken moments after returning from the pool.

Lee's stats

I forgot to tell Lee's stats from the doctor yesterday. After a couple of requests for them today, I decided it would be easier to post here.

Height 43 1/2 inches=off the charts

Weight 36 pounds=50th percentile

We compared his stats from birth, and these have been his EXACT stats since 6 months. Of course he was born the size of a 3 month old, but at 6 months, his weight was at 50% and has been there ever since. According to the theory that you double the kid's height at 2 years to see how tall he will be, Lee will be 6 feet 3 inches tall.

He ran a low fever last night and most of today, but he hasn't complained too much about his legs hurting from the shots.

Manic Monday

Yesterday, while my little Cookie Monster was napping, I made some cookies for him to have for a snack when he woke up. Unfortunately he slept until time to go to Nam's, so I just put the cookies back in the oven until we got home. Later that night, someone remembered they were there and helped himself.

This was our view from the living room.

He brought one back for Matt too. Each time he would sneak in the kitchen for another, he brought one back for Matt. That made it okay for him to keep going back, I guess.

Here he is admiring his goods! For the record, the cookies are (were) Toll house Peanut Butter Lovers cookies, and they were a huge hit!

After playing with some friends this morning, Lee and I went to the library to check out his books for the week. I chose 5 that I thought he would like. Boy was I wrong! He quickly came over to give me his input and chose another 5 books all on his own. I was very impressed with his choices. The Tusas were there getting their books too, so that made our visit even better!


After we left, Lee and I grabbed a quick lunch at Dairy Delight, and then we hopped across the street to Lee's doctor for his 4 year old checkup. Lee got rave reviews from Nurse Angie and Dr. Whitby. He had a hearing and vision test, which he passed with flying colors. He also got all 4 of his shots that he'll need before he goes to school. Mrs. Angie made our day by telling us that we are done with vaccinations until Lee is 12! He did so great getting the shots. I could tell it hurt those precious little legs, but he just held my hands and never cried. Mrs. Angie is terrific at giving shots, so it was over before he had time to get too upset. He has been running a low fever tonight, and I expect him to be sore tomorrow. Getting an ice cream treat and new band-aids afterward seemed to make it all better. We stopped at the grocery on the way home, and Lee skipped his way all through the store. The manager asked him if he just woke up from his nap. I told him where we had been, and he couldn't believe Lee was in such a good mood or had that much energy. After a 3 hour long doctor's visit, I was the one needing a pick-me-up!


This is for Paw-Paw.

Paw-Paw lets Lee play computer games with him when we visit. Lee's favorite is this balloon popping game, and he has gotten VERY good at it lately! You'd better watch out PawPaw! You've got some competition now!

Look at this serious face while he is playing.

While we were at Dairy Delight, "Sissy's Song" http://www.lyrics.com/artists/lyric/alan-jackson-lyrics-sissys-song by Alan Jackson started playing over the radio. I have heard this song several times, but if I have a choice, I usually change the station when it comes on. It makes me think of my Becky, and it makes me miss her so much. Yesterday marked the 8th anniversary of her death. The significance of it has changed over the years, because I miss her no more on that day than any other day. I wish every day that she could know Lee and be a part of his life. Anyway, today while the song was playing, I tried to distract myself by being silly with Lee. After it had finished and another song was on, Lee looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I really love that song about Jesus and his angels. It makes me so happy when I hear it." It was almost more than I could handle at that moment. I came home and listened to it again and now have a new perspective. I will still think of Becky when I hear it, but thanks to Lee's sweet innocence, I will be thankful for the time I had her and will focus on that.

Weekend update

On Saturday, Lee and I went to Paul's and Hayes's ball games. Lee and Paul played a lot together during Hayes's game, and Lee wasn't ready to say goodbye when it was time to leave. He was very whiny when we got home and wanting to play some more with Paul. He said something like this, "I just miss him. I want to see him again now. I never get enough of that kid." It was really dramatic, and there were tears involved.

Lee has been learning about the Ten Commandments in his Sunday School Class, and he brought a worksheet home to use here for reminders. The worksheet calls the Commandments, "God's Rules." So we have been talking about them at home and trying to incorporate them when appropriate. This morning, Lee did not want to get up for church and was in a horrible mood. He kept saying, "I don't want to go to church today. Let's just stay home." So in a moment of desperation, I told him that God's Rules say to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. I explained (through the tantrum) that God wants us to go to church to learn more about Him. He finally pulled it together, and we made it to church. Tonight, as his bath water was running, Lee decided he wanted to play a game on the computer. I told him no and there wasn't enough time to play before his bath. He crossed his arms and said, "Mommy, you aren't remembering God's Rules. His Rules say that you are supposed to be nice to your kids. If they want to play a game, you should let them." Funny that I don't remember that rule.

While Lee was in the bath tub, he asked me if I knew what "grass lilies" were. I said no, and he went on to explain that Subo had asked Paul if he saw any "grass lilies" at Nam's. He said it with such authority too. I asked if he thought it was really "day lilies" that Subo had said. He sat there for a minute and finally smiled really big. He said, "Oh yeah, Mama. That's what she said....day lilies." I couldn't believe he admitted that he was wrong!

Friday Fun

Lee has been about to pop to have his friend Ava Kate come over to play on the water slide with him. We finally made plans this week to get together. She and her sister, Ella, spent some time with us today, and all 3 kids and I had a BLAST. I could have listened to their laughter all day. I had to drag them off the slide in time for them to dry off before their mom got here. I wondered how much longer they would have played had I not made them get off. They made up so many new games and chased each other with the water guns. It was such a fun day. Throughout the day, Ella called her sister "A." Lee loved it and started calling her that too. Finally it occurred to him that he could call Ella, "El" for short too. However when Lee said it, it came out in 3 syllables and sounded like "Ale." I think Ella was getting a kick out of it. I know I was. Every time I heard him say it, I would giggle.
I tried to warn them that the water would be cold the first few times they slid into the pool. Ava Kate's face confirms it. I'm not sure she believed me.

I have so many pictures of Lee laughing. He could barely catch his breath from laughing at these girls all day.

I love these smiles!

Ella and Lee made a train.

Ava Kate got them with the water gun as they came down! I'm sure they paid her back right away.

They came down together. It was hilarious.

This was right before the group slide.

Here is Lee tormenting the girls with the water gun at the top. We finally disconnected it to keep peace.

Lee had a blast with this water gun Paul got him for his birthday. It holds a TON of water. While the girls were reloading, Lee was still firing away.

Precious girl!

After the girls left, we got cleaned up in time for Matt to take us to see the progress being made on the 218 Bypass. It's amazing what has been transformed in such a short amount of time. Then we went on to Murray and had supper at the Big Apple. After a yummy supper, we went bowling. I started off with one of my best games ever, and Matt was struggling. Somewhere in the middle, we traded places, and Matt ended up beating me! Lee had his own lane and loved it. We had a fun day without any rain or storms, as was predicted. I would like a repeat tomorrow!

Here's the cutie with his fresh hair cut. His bangs are not crooked, as they appear here. He combed his hair "like mommy's" after his bath. He parts it on the wrong side when he does that, and it makes his bangs appear jagged. I requested a shorter cut for summer, and I think he looks so cute! I normally prefer his hair a little longer, but I'm just in love with the way he looks right now.

Lee Mc Funnies

Earlier, I was in the back of the house, and Lee came running in there, out of breath and said I needed to come to the kitchen quick to see something. I looked and sounded panicked and asked why. His eyes got really big and he said, "It's not because anything is broken. If something is broken, I didn't do it." On the way there, I was imagining the worst. I just knew he had broken something I treasured. When I got there I didn't see a mess, so I asked what I was supposed to see. He got the biggest smile on his face, held his arms out and said, "I decorated for you." He had taken all of his "pottery" that he made at Mudslingers and placed the pieces all around the kitchen. I should have taken some pictures, because it is hilarious. He took me to each piece and explained what I should do with them. For example, there is a blob, for lack of a better term, that is smooth on top. He had that at my seat at the table. He said it is a "rock to put on my napkin at supper time to keep it from blowing away." Of course I bragged on him, so now I don't know how I'll get rid of my new "decorations."

Matt is working late tonight, so Lee and I have been playing games in the living room with the TV on in the background. There was a basketball game on, and the crowd started chanting. I don't know the teams or the players, so I have no idea what they were saying. But according to Lee, they were saying, "Lee Mc, Lee Mc, Lee Mc." He couldn't take his eyes off of the game until they quit the chant. He really thought they were saying his name. He was smiling SO big.

Library Fun and more

I don't have to tell most of you how much I love my new camera. I have enjoyed learning about it and reading the 2 inch thick owner's manual. I would even like to take a class if one is offered locally. Recently I have begun playing with a very basic editing program. I'm amazed at what you can do to change a picture. Here are some of my latest creations.

I don't usually like black and white pictures of Lee, because I like to see his baby blues. This is an in-between feature. It isn't full color, but it isn't black and white either.

Here's Hope Ellen. I chose black and white, with some shading for this picture, because she had a scratch under her nose. Someone with more experience would have known how to take the scratch off. However, I like the way this one looks in black and white.

Gracie was such a little poser the other day, so I took advantage of the opportunity to play. I didn't add any color to this. Her cheeks were this rosy, and her lips are that pink. I showed the original to Matt for proof. He said he didn't like when I added color.

Last is Brylie. This is called antique. There were people standing in the background, so I liked that it hid them, and the focus was on B. It's just a fun thing I like to do when I have time.

Now on to our day....

Our local library does a summer reading program for kids and also sponsors a story hour on Wednesdays. I signed Katie, Alex and Lee up last week and took the Coffields to check out their first 5 books yesterday. We're still waiting on Lee's library card to come in the mail so he can check out his books too. All 3 kids are taking a trip next week, so it started at a great time so they'll have some new material to read in the car. Today was our first day for story hour. The Coffields got to come with their group from school too. The entertainment was an author and illustrator, who sang his books to us. He played the guitar and was very entertaining. The kids loved him. At the end of the program, the director told us that next week would be "Safari Greg." She said that he tells all about the jungle and brings animals when he comes. Immediately, I began to think of what kind of animals he could bring. After class, we were visiting with Carly and Grandmom, and they informed us that last time, he brought an anaconda. That sealed the deal for us. I will not intentionally be in the same building as a snake, especially one that could eat me. Lucky for Lee, after I shared all this with Nam, she fearlessly offered to take Lee next week. Another friend told me that he was at their library last week and brought 2 snakes and let the kids hold and touch them. I don't think I have to worry about my child being interested in that. At least I hope not!

Since Lee's birthday, our house looks like a Cars toy store. This afternoon, Lee and I went to Wal-Mart to invest in some containers to store the different Cars sets. I was pleased with the results, except that my label maker died as I was making the labels for the new boxes. He loves everything so much and can never choose just one thing to play with, so every day all the Cars toys are out at once. It's fine while he's playing with them, but it is a hassle at the end of the day to sort them and put everything in their places. Hopefully, with the new storage boxes, our routine will be a little easier.

We have anxiously been awaiting the start of the Diamond Jaxx season. For the past couple of weeks, we have had too much going on to attend a game. The next couple of weeks are just as busy, so our first game will be the July 3rd game, and we are SO excited. We love the weekly fireworks anyway, so to be able to catch their HUGE display will be awesome!

I'm really jealous of all my friends who are on their way to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville! I registered several places for giveaways, but so far, I haven't been the winner. I guess I should just come to terms with the fact that I'm not going to be since it starts tomorrow, huh? I have recently become a fan of Lady Antebellum and would love to see them. Honestly, I didn't want to give them a chance, because I thought their name stunk. I still do, but I LOVE their music and their story even more. Anyway, I hope the weather is perfect and everyone has a blast!