Memories

In looking through old photos last time we were in Blackshear my mom ran across several photos of her as a young girl perched on top of shiny new cars. She remembered one time when it was summer time and car top was very hot, but my granddaddy insisted that the photo be taken. He was very proud of his girls, and very proud of his cars.

When we were at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History last weekend they had an antique car on display. I couldn't resist taking a photo of Samuel and me with the car.

It wasn't a hot sunny day, and Samuel actually thought it was pretty cool to be perched up so high, but this one's for you, Mom, in memory of Granddaddy Hugh.

And He's Off, Walking, and Ready to Run!

Well... Samuel is getting, really, really good at walking.....

He actually did some running today, but that's still ending him in a lot of face plants.

The video below was taken in the Children's Section of the Fort Worth Science Museum, the day after Samuel decided to really start taking off on his own.

There were so many things to explore, but he spent almost the entire time running back and forth between the train table and the Lego table with two train pieces in his hands!

When we finally got him to give up the train pieces -after some bribing with a new ball and toy that we had to purchase at the museum gift shop- Samuel took off down the halls, and walked up, and down, three flights of stairs with Bill's help. Bill's poor back was killing him the next morning. But both of our backs are beginning to recover nicely now that our near 24 lb 15 month old is transporting himself.

This One is for Uba

Bill found a tumbleweed outside a few weeks ago, we saved it so Samuel could have his picture taken with it for his Granddaddy Carlton to see.

Samuel hits the Streets

...or grass rather...

.....

He's only taken one step on his own so far, but he's cruising along at lighting speed.

This video was taken this morning, while waiting for a friend to arrive to go with us on a day trip to a neighboring town, where he walked the side walks, with assistance, of course.

Later in the day we went on a walk with him and his walker along the sidewalk. He LOVED it.

It won't be long now......

Samuel's New Modes of Transportation

Samuel has been crawling for a little over a month now. He has developed his own method, different from anything I have ever seen.

It's taken me a while to get figure out how to get a video that is small enough to post, but here finally we have it:

(It takes him a few minutes to get going, but then he's off to the races.)

His Uncle Dan and Aunt Dez gave him a red ride in car for Christmas. He squealed when it was pulled out of the box, and I don't even know how to begin to describe how much he loves this thing. He cries whenever he has to be separated from it.

This weekend we reached the point where all of us where tired from pushing him around, so we put him in his walker and attached the car to the walker. Now his very favorite thing to do is pull the car behind him. He's gotten pretty good at it.

Rip and Tear, Rip and Tear!

One Christmas when my family was still living in Germany, my mom and brother were opening a box with Christmas presents, which had all of the paper, wrapping paper, stuffing paper, and all of that good stuff that packages that are mailed across the ocean need to make it there safe.

As they were taking all of the packages out of boxes, they started saying, "Rip and tear! Rip and tear! Happy Christmas Everywhere!". Every since then, we've said it every Christmas when we open packages.

Tonight, Samuel got his own introduction into the fun. My mom was busy organizing all of her ribbons and boxes and paper and Samuel got a hold of some of the ribbon, and boy did he have fun! - He liked the gold ribbon the best. He didn't even mind that his Uma put a bow on him. - Don't worry Dad, just a Christmas bow.

Farm Day!

My parent's church had a 'Farm Day' today at a ranch out in De Funiak Springs.We took Samuel to see what it was all about.

Here are a couple pictures from our adventure:

It was really cold (for Florida) so we bundled up for the outside fun.

Granddaddy and Samuel spent some time watching a sheepdog herd goats.

- I guess that would make him a goat dog?

Then we ate some good home cookin'.

Samuel, unfortunately had to sit that part out and just watch.

- They didn't have a baby food section on the buffet.

With our tummies full, we went exploring.

We saw lots of pied cocks, donkeys, horses, goats, several old saws, and a pig.

But Samuel's favorite part of the whole day was when he got to sit on a big red tractor!

Grandmamma and Granddaddy had to hold on tight. Samuel didn't want to get off.

So he and Mama sat on another tractor together.

After we had seen all there was to see we loaded up to head home.....

It was a long, but very, very fun day.