WEEKEND IN MARS HILL

Happy Birthday Gamps!!! It was such a blessing to be able to join you on your special day!

While Scott spent his long weekend at the TN game with some college friends (gotta love bank holidays!), Graham and I hunkered down in the mountains with Nana and Papa. Here are bunches of pictures from our weekend...

Graham and Papa pointing at each other...

Graham and our 17-year old cat became immediate friends... possibly because in cat years, Cocoa is 119 and way too old to run, or even move much at all...

Graham demonstrating "gentle pats"...

Graham loves Cocoa!!!

Here, we're attending a FUN festival where we picked up local honey and jams. Sadly, we missed the livestock, which apparently showed up later in the day...

Graham drowning in attention...

Papa and Grahamy playing frisbee...

Graham learning the phrase, "bad throw Papa!"

Caught it!!!

Gamps and Graham playing soccer on the hill...

Excitement of a new day...

A quick trip to the Nature Center to check out the animals...

Any bears down there?

Drinking Daddy's water... Scott joined us for the last evening and chauffeured us back home...

BUDDING SCHOLAR

Graham has never shown much interest in crayons, but he LOVES to paint!
He especially likes to make new colors by mixing colors together. The messier, the better! Thank goodness for washable paints!!!
Here's Graham "reading all the words" (the ones he recognizes anyway) out of a dictionary. It's amazing what can keep this kid occupied!!!

Graham's new favorite toy -- Frisbee!!!

Some shots of Graham playing football with Daddy... and due to the continued drought and water restrictions, our VERY thirsty backyard...


The beginning of Graham's new room (here's the color Mom)... We're only using top of the bunk bed for now, and though not pictured, the crib is still in use and in the room as well. It will take quite a while to get this room finished, but we're slowing beginning the transition. So far, Graham LOVES the extra space!!!
Checking out the neighbor's yappy dogs...

I don't remember what this picture captures exactly... Scott thinks it's a sneeze and I feel almost certain that it's a complaint of some sort...
This frisbee was discovered when we moved Graham out of his old room and into his new one. He throws it, bounces it, wears it, runs with it, chases it and even talks to it. He's a silly little boy!

I never want to forget Graham in this moment. His language has accelerated to the point where we have full, lengthy, back-and-forth conversations. He has opinions about everything and makes them known. His likes and dislikes are apparent, but a lot of the inflexibility we saw at an early age is beginning to disappear and we're noticing such curiosity and such budding interest in the world around him. He likes the moon, dinosaurs, trains, fire trucks and animals. Everything of interest must be spelled and discussed in length. He remembers everything. He gets so excited about the most ordinary things, like walking a new direction in our little neighborhood.In this picture (and the one above), Graham is giving himself five...
Here's Graham giving Daddy "two fives."
After a HOT summer, we're finally tackling our neglected yard. Thanks to the beautiful and massive oaks that line our property, we are once again knee-deep in old branches, leaves and acorns. Graham helps too of course and joyfully picks up sticks.
Resting in our neighbor's yard during a silly game of driveway-ball with Daddy... Hmm, does he remind anyone of a chicken in this picture? :)
Nope, not our doggy! While Aunt Melissa traveled for work, Samson stayed at our house.
Graham teasing the pup and showing off his split lip -- the most recent driveway mishap...
Samson's turn!

Examining his "old owie" -- a badly skinned knee -- which caused him to limp for a few days until the scab healed. "Walking feet" are now mandatory at all times inside as well as on our EXTREMELY steep driveway. It has been difficult to implement since we have such an active little boy who loves to run and play outside!

GO RED SOX

Here is Graham sporting his new Red Sox shirt in lieu of this weekend's series with the Yankees. Aunt Melissa brought it all the way back from Boston. We have so much other Red Sox paraphernalia in the house that Graham has been spelling "RED SOX" since he first learned to spell. This has already become a favorite shirt since Graham also knows that the Red Sox are Daddy's favorite baseball team.

Check out the mop of hair on this boy! Time for yet another haircut!!!

One of Graham's most endearing traits is his ability to entertain himself well. He often uses his toys for purposes other than those for which they were intended and he spins silly and imaginative games with the objects around him. Here are a few pictures I took when I happened to interrupt one of these "games."




I asked Graham to do a rain dance and this is what I got... So, we'll call this a rain dance for our poor grass, shrubs and trees! Our entire yard is dying from the draught that is upon us...
I think Graham and Panda are explorers today...
Scott loves to brag about Graham's fast ball! The two make quite a team!
Better stay on your game Daddy! Graham keeps pitching whether you're paying attention or not...
And now for the best part of the game: Hunting down all the balls!