Last Saturday we went to my parents to celebrate Mom's birthday and visit before they left for their upcoming vacation out to Colorado for Mom's school reunion. I bought Mom some clothes at Kohls for her gift and some did not fit. So we left Baylor to work with Buddy on the shrubs while we went to exchange the clothes. We ate lunch, cleaned up and we headed out on our missions.
First they had to get out their supplies including a red rake, the pruners, and the wheelbarrow.
And Buddy gave Baylor a lift to the job site. Baylor told Buddy not to go too fast. Buddy said that would not be a problem because he cannot go fast (double knee replacements). Baylor replied, "that is because you are old." I laughed the whole way to the car and Mom and I laughed for quite some time at Baylor's funny quips.
Together they trimmed the shrubs that go around the back corner of the house, piled them up in the wheelbarrow, and tossed them on the creek bank out back. Baylor loved it and earned $2.00, which we put in his wallet when we got home.
Mom and I went across town to Kohls, returned the clothes, less the one she kept and went shopping. She tried on many items and kept as many as she wanted. I kept encouraging her to pick out tops and if she liked them to get them. This was her gift and I wanted her to have new tops for her trip out west. (And everyday she has worn one of the new tops, she tells me about it.) When we got home, Baylor and I took Mom to Rita's for a custard and Baylor had his first ice, which he loved.
I am glad we went Saturday because while Sunday was her actual birthday, it was not a nice day to be outside. But because of the swamp air I was able to see the funnel spider nest in my thyme plant. I guess I am done with this thyme for this year. But it looked so pretty I had to take a photo of it.
A few months ago we had the super moon and this month we had a blue moon. I truly love the moon in all its phases but a full moon just calls to me from my windows. And Baylor also as he spied it one night in our bed room window and we went out on the deck to admire it. I often tell him when we are out there about the many nights we spent out on the deck in the middle of the night looking at the stars and moon. He would wake up with night terrors and one of the fastest way to break him out of it was take him outside. It may have been the cool (sometimes cold) air or change of scenery but it always worked.
I took photos three nights in a row and I really wish I had a good tripod because balancing the camera on top of the grill is a bit limiting but I made due.
Friday Lori and I were off of work to celebrate her 43rd birthday as a family. Of course we were all sick (it is not a holiday or birthday without someone sick or in a hospital) But we managed to get it together after her two appointments to take Baylor to the outlets for new school clothes and to find an orange backpack. We went into every store that had back packs and only found one (I am not counting the cute orange sack at Gymboree). It is huge but he can have it for many years. I found some cute shirts and two cargo pants at Osh Kosh B'gosh. He also found a Flash mask that was totally cute on him of course. I was surprised how much he wore it while shopping and he made several people smile.
And Flash napped on the way home.
We ate lunch at the food court and had birthday cake at home. Baylor still loves to sing and blow out the candles so we did it twice.
Lori took a birthday nap and Baylor and I worked outside on pruning the raspberries and weeding. He used his front end loader to haul away trimmings and weeds.
Once it was dark enough I brought out some birthday fireworks. Flash was ready for some sparkler fun.
We only did two or three shows but it was just as much fun.
Lori went inside because she had to work the next day and Baylor and I finished up the box of sparklers.
This Saturday we did some shopping in the morning at Home Depot, Party City, and Walmart.
In the evening we went to a pool party for Natalie's 9th Birthday. It was at a local pool and they had a nice splash park area that Baylor loved. He was the youngest guest and of course I was his playmate. I was the only parent in the water other than the Browns but that was fine with me.
He fell asleep on the way home which was a good thing. He woke up at 1 am and did not fall back to sleep until around 3:30 which was not soo good. He said his ear hurt but it did not seem like swimmers ear and nothing really seemed to help until we tried the tylenol. Sunday was a rough morning but it was such a beautiful day and we finally made our trip to the creek. He has been asking for over a week to go but I just do not feel like going after work. The day was really just perfect for a trip to our creek. It is a very sort walk but he rode the wagon the whole way there. Since part of our mission was to get more rocks he knew he was going to have to walk back so I think he was conserving his energy.
When we got there these two boys were catching tadpoles for their pond at their home. Baylor was not very interested in them but did check them out. The tadpoles I mean.
And then the rock throwing commenced.
Two kayakers came down the water.
One Canadian goose
And four inner tubers and their dog. We had walked out to the middle of the creek hoping they were going to go on down the creek but they stopped here to end their trip. I am sure Baylor will be doing this some day.
The water was really nice and he tried walking out a bit a few times.
We both gathered rocks for different purposes and on the way home he tried pulling the wagon. It was really heavy and I was surprised how long he was able to pull it, especially since it was still on the trail. The wagon kept getting stuck on tree roots but he just waited for me to un-stuck it and off he continued.
Half way up the ally to the house we found a young matis. As we know they are good luck and this one was really lucky because a car came up the road and was inches from running her over! Good luck indeed!
