Family Ties

In honor of Mother's Day, Father's Day, and all the other days celebrating families, here are some recent pictures of Thomas with his grandparents--and great grandparent! These pictures document a lot of "firsts" for Thomas too--first time wearing sunglasses, first time in a swing (AND on a swinging bridge), first time in the sand, and first time in a pool!

Sha la la la....

Reading The Very Quiet Cricket with Mamaw:

Being "cool" with Mamaw in his new sunglasses:

Visiting Grandpa Chase and aunts, uncles, and cousins in Florida:

(Playing with Grandpa Chase's singing elephant..."I feel good!")

(Fish kiss!)

(I LOVE the pool!)

(

(...and the sand!)

(Christopher Columbus stance)

(Sand Pilates)

A Day with Papaw at Riverfront Park

(This was a favorite spot for Papaw to take Mommy when she was little girl.

Then and now---watch out for the goose poop!)

(High five!)

(Chasing the geese...just like Mommy used to do)

(Swinging and playing in the sand...just like Mommy used to do)

(Having fun on the swinging bridge...just like Mommy used to do)

(hold on!)

AND...

smelling Papaw's roses...

...just like Mommy used to do!

Happy Easter, Dinosaur Pup!

Happy Easter, Everyone! First of all, let me explain the "dinosaur pup" thing. Don't worry, Lance and I haven't joined some cult whose representative Easter animal is a baby dinosaur. No, "dinosaur pup" is what we call Thomas when he wears a shirt with a dinosaur skeleton on it (you'll see this shirt in pictures below). Now for this year's Easter news: If you recall, last Easter, Thomas tried to eat his Easter basket. This year, he actually understood that he was supposed to put eggs in it! (Though he got a little excited and broke a few in it...hmm...perhaps I should just embrace plastic for a few years and forgo the antique oak baskets...WWMD...What would Martha Stewart Do? Stay tuned for next year's blog to see my decision!) In these pictures, you'll see Thomas finding eggs at our friend Joy's annual Easter Egg Hunt. Her farm is just a few miles from ours, and she too has a menagerie of furry and feathered beasts, my favorite of which is the "big red mule." You'll also see him taunting Buffy (the Earthworm Slayer), our broody hen who hatched out four little chicks just in time for Easter! Thomas dabbled at playing the part of the fierce dinosaur pup, but luckily for Buffy, he found more amusement in playing in her food and water than pursuing her chicks!

Yes, in, in in!

The big red mule

Buffy protecting her chicks from Thomas, the fierce Dinosaur Pup

Don't get too close!

Raar! The fierce dinosaur pup has stolen an egg!

A better shot of the dinosaur pup and his basket.

Buffy and her chicks

Play Date on the Farm

Last Saturday, Thomas's Kindermusik friend, Anna, came out to the farm for a play date. While waving his "magic maraca," Thomas introduced Anna to all the animals, and Anna proceeded to tell him how they sound. (Chickens go "bak bak," cats go "meow," and horses go "moo"!) The whole time, the bees were buzzing and the birds were chirping, but I think we're all thankful that we don't have to have THAT conversation for a few years! For now, we'll just enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood like good cats, magic maracas, and afternoon naps.

Thomas (with the magic maraca) and Anna in the barn.

Ollie being a good sport.

Dandelions and a good cat!

He IS friendly!

Look at my magic maraca, Ollie!

Mmm...boogers!

Running around with the maraca.

Ruby and Anna.

Horse kisses!