Elmo!!!!! and Do You Think My Tractor's Sexy?

Elmo!!!!! Or Where's Jace?

Jace's favorite character is Elmo. This Christmas everyone remembered. It was like an Elmo Shower! He is not unhappy about it.

It was a beautiful day. Jamma (now called Meemaw by little Jace-man, making me feel old, ha!) and Pappy were babysitting. Pappy took his little man outside. A tractor ride seemed like a good idea.

Start at the top of the hill, under close supervision by a doting grandfather.

Roll down - what a thrill! Do you think my tractor's sexy?

CRASH!!!!!!!
Well, he ran it off the road, but at least he didn't hit anything. Learning to steer hasn't come into play yet.

Jace in the Box!

Early in the shopping season, I was told that Jace had been stopping everything and dancing to the Rockin Elmo commercial every time it came on tv. Being the grandmother who wants to see Jace as happy as a little boy can be, I ordered it early from Amazon - full price. I had been warned that it could be the Cabbage Patch Doll or the Tickle Me Elmo, the X-box or the Glow-worm of its time and be impossible to find closer to Christmas. Couldn't let that happen, could I?

With today's economy, I needn't have worried about that, though I'm sure the toy company wishes it had. Last week I saw it at a local store for 1/3 less than I'd paid, but I'd purchased too long ago and Amazon would only give me an 80% refund and I'd have had to pay for shipping, and it was too much trouble for so small a return; so I was 'Jump-the-gun Grandmother' with an expensive full priced toy while a glut of lesser cost ones remained on the shelves. Will I learn from this lesson for next year? Buy local is one lesson. Don't jump the gun is another. There's yet another lesson, which will become evident within a few photos.
The Elmo wrapping paper (following the theme of his favorite character) let him know which packages were his.

Jace had a blast ripping paper from packages and opening them.

He loved his Rockin Elmo, he loved his family's love and togetherness, and he really, REALLY loved Elmo's cardboard box. (At one point he even pulled Elmo into it with him as he tried to close himself up in it.) (Yep - that's the lesson!)

He loved Elmo's microphone and immediately went into a Justin Bieber imitation...swoon, girls, swoon!

At home, decked out head to toe in Elmo gear - knowing exactly what to do with that mike. The kid has style! Now, if he can only carry a tune...

Mom and the kids were here for dinner and gifts yesterday, I went to St. Peter's Basilica for midnight Mass with the Pope last night (He called this 'The Feast of the Heart' - I loved that!), and today it will be family time at my sister's. (Pope Benedict XVI also decried the commercialization of Christmas, and despite the Elmo misadventure, our gift-giving was confined for the most part to gifts of love and practicality...not counting the bourbon balls, ha ha.)

All photos here courtesy of Sandy Wright Photography.

Thanksgiving Day 2011

Hiding in Plain Sight. We were delighted to see a Tom Turkey as we turned the corner onto my brother's road for our Thanksgiving feasting. Here's one who got lucky!

Here are two beautiful cousins and a beautiful mom. I was busy handling an asthma attack and didn't get many family photos.

Roger pointed out these birds nest mushrooms with spore 'eggs'. I may have seen them before, but I didn't know what they were called. He and my sister in law Wanda are quite the naturalists, and it's evident in their lovely surroundings.

On our way down the drive I spotted this farm equipment and took this quick pastoral snapshot from the back seat.

We stopped at the forestry where Steve, Sandy and Jace climbed to the top of the fire tower.

Jace and Daddy on the top level.

Jamma didn't make the climb.

Looks like there have been some naughty people on the fire tower. These undergarments are in a tree beside it. Santa knows when you've been bad or good...

After the fire tower, we visited a sliding board...the metal was COLD! The slide was slow. That didn't stop Jace from having fun.

My Jace is a well-rounded boy. Athletic, cute as can be, and well-read too.

So, We All Went to the Park Last Night

We went to the park last night, and followed up with Mexican food at Puerto Vallarta restaurant. Naturally, Jace was a hit at the restaurant, with all the waiters talking to the little muchacho. We had fun at the park too.

First Jace tried out the swings.

Then a slide. He LOVES the slides.

After that we hiked to the creek where I snapped this shot with his daddy.

Back to the slides.

And then we met Bubba who, when he saw my camera, asked me to take his photo. Bubba has fun!

Jace liked this flip puzzle toy on the side of the slide set.

Then we headed out at dusk, when I got this photo of the moon caught in a tree limb maze.

After eating at the Mexican restaurant, Jace played in the shrubbery.

Another fun adventure with the marvelous Jace the Face!

Jace Growing Too Fast

Above is Jace wearing Pappy's shirt. A little too big for him yet.

Pappy has always told the story of his very young years when he lived with his grandparents. His grandfather used to play with the pots and pans with him when Grandmother was away, and scurry to put them away when they heard her come home. When she was there, it was forbidden. So, Pappy rearranged some cabinets the other day, placing plastic ware down low so Jace could play without getting hurt. Thinking he was doing something he was not supposed to do, he loved the treat.

Here are a few more photos of my little boy who is growing much too quickly.

Jace has cousins visiting this month. Lexie and Anthony are here from Mississippi. At 10 and 11, they are a lot of fun, and Jace is loving that.

Here are Lexie and Ant playing in Jace's wading pool.

And here is Anthony with Lorenzo, Sandy's Jack Russell terrier. Sorry about Ren's green eyes! Bad photographer.

We had a small fireworks display here on the 5th (the kids were enroute from MS on the 4th.) Here is the smoke from one of the big, beautiful explosives. It looked kind of eerie in the almost dark.