Random Gavination

Here are a few pictures of what the boy has been up to lately.

G is digging the walks that Mama has been doing at Grapevine Mills Mall....I wonder why?

Bathtime with a friend is always more fun.
Without a doubt, a chocolate doughnut is Gavin's favorite. I gotta work on him eating cake doughnuts....he doesn't know what he is missing.
We helped Matt celebrate his birthday on Friday. Gavin asked for seconds of the chocolate cake...we aren't sure where he gets his love for chocolate cake from however.
Teaching the boy to like bacon - Check!

Dinner Out with a Friend

Last Friday to celebrate the end of the first week of school, we met the Hopkins' at Twisted Root Burger Company in Roanoke. The boys got to spend some much needed time together (they are in different classes to start the year), and the adults got to relax a bit after a hard week's worth of work.

Gavin was drawn to the thigh high stocking chair - very reminiscent of the lamp from A Christmas Story. That's my boy was all I could say...

Fort Building 101

The heatwave continues here in Texas. We are over 60 days of 100+ degree temperatures now. Another week or so of this, and we will have the record for the hottest summer ever in Texas....ugh - what an accomplishment.

Because of the heat, we have had to be a little creative in entertaining Gavin inside. Miranda was out shopping last Sunday afternoon, so Gavin and I grabbed a sheet and made a fort - complete with a dragon tent and an orange escape tunnel. The tunnel and fort came in handy for protection from hostiles (Mason).

Baseball Indoors

Since it has been so hot, I've moved Gavin's t and ball inside. We've explained that normally, we don't play ball in the house.

Gavin has been yelling, "score-f" after hitting the ball. I guess he has "scarf" and "score" confused. He has recently confused "lollipop" with "flipflop." As in, "I'm eating a flipflop, Mama."

I tried to record him saying, "score-f", I don't think he says it. But at the end of the video, you find out why we don't make many videos.



On another note, last night Dave and I were moving a desk from the blue room to the green room. Gavin had to help lift the table. So, we gave him an area to "lift" up as we moved it. When we finished, Dave said, "Thank you for the help, buddy." Gavin's response: "Just doin' my job," in his false deep voice; another thing I'd like to record, but you know how that goes . . .

Happy Birthday, Jonas

Well, I forgot Jonas' birthday temporarily. I remembered that I needed to get something when we came back from the Bahamas, then I visited potty training purgatory for a few days--and I'm blaming that on my forgetfullness.

On Jonas' birthday, Gavin and I made a run into Kroger. He has discovered the mini shopping carts there. On that day's visit, the bakery was his first stop. He asked for a cupcake; I obliged. At dinner that night, it struck me that we forgot Jonas' birthday. So, before eating the cupcake, we tried to get Gavin to sing to Jonas. It turned out being me and Dave, so you don't get to see that one. Here Gavin does tell Jonas "Happy Birthday" and says, "I love you."

Why it has taken me 4.5 weeks to post this, I just can't explain.

Summer in Photos

I haven't done the best job of blogging this summer--too busy playing, I guess.

So here are some photos that I haven't posted.

Sliding at Parr Park. Playing with stickers with Daddy.

Giving Daddy a big hug. Gavin has gotten good at giving hugs and kisses. When I ask for a kiss, I get a big pucker, then usually Gavin says, "And a hug, too" and gives me a big hug.

Ride 'em, cowboy!

Gavin insisted that he needed a cowboy hat to wear while riding his horsey. (If only his Mama insisted that he wear pants.)

Intently playing with a front-end loader. Love the cute outfit from Letha. (Dave thinks it's a bit "girly" despite the fish on the front.

Eating chips with Daddy.

Playing in the backyard. It's been so hot, you have to have the wading pool out to be outside.

Or the sprinklers to run through.

Our freezer went out. In moving things from the inside freezer to the outside deep freezer, I found blackberries and made a cobbler,with extra bread, just the way we like it.

Occasionally, early in the morning, we could stand to be outside for a bit. Gavin is a big fan of scooping mulch. Typically, he uses the big green shovel to scoop, but sometimes, it's more fun to fill it up with the little yellow shovel.


And, when it's all filled up, he must work to cover up the stepping stones.

On another day at Parr Park, a bobcat was spreading rich soil (ie--it had some manure in it). The boys were mesmerized.

G taking a break while the mamas behind him chat.

Random Gavination

Life is very hectic right now. Miranda is back at work full time again - school is only a few weeks away. It is also the busy season for the trade show industry, and I am buried with work. The Colorado River 100 is a little over a month away. And I start graduate school orientation and introductory classes in less than a week. So a few pictures of the boy will have to do for now.

Some news - I injured my left forearm paddling a week ago and haven't been able to paddle/train. So we took open time on Sunday afternoon to go see Winnie the Pooh with Gavin. We all had lots of fun at Gavin's second movie. It was cute, and lots of fun for the little ones.

You may have noticed that Gavin runs around a lot in his diaper....you may have also heard that we are now over 30 straight days with 100+ degree temps. Those two things may be related.

Feathers > Gold ???

You may have heard that there is this crazy feather hair extension craze sweeping the nation. I laughed a little bit when I heard that people were putting fly tying feathers in their hair, but thought nothing of it. Then I found out that saddle hackle feathers (long and thin feathers) were selling for boatloads of money on EBay. I checked it out, and yes, they were going for crazy prices.

Last weekend I listed two different saddles and one cape (different type of feathers). The auction prices were pretty meager all week - until today. One saddle (the black and white one) sold for $455, and the other (green and black) sold for over $100! I was in disbelief. I probably paid under $50 for both of those together when I originally purchased them several years ago. All total I cleared $575. I don't have any more of the coveted long feathers to sell, but prices are still pretty high on shorter ones too - so I listed four more today. Even if I can only sell them for $20 each, I will still double my money. I love this crazy fad!

It has been fun to think of what I can now buy with that $575. But after a $350 fridge repair bill last week, and also a $250 truck repair bill - it has already been spent!

Cool Pool Fun

July 15

Last Friday morning, Gavin and I met my friend Michelle at my boss' pool. (It's great to work in a place where you're treated like family.)

Michelle brought her camera and caught some really great images of Gavin having fun.

Splashing is always fun.
And the timing on this one is impressive, as was Gavin's aim to get me right in the face. I swear this looks like some sort of magic act, but it's the work of a fast shutter. It really makes me think I might need a really good camera.

Gavin loves standing on the edge and jumping in.
But, the camera doesn't lie; it isn't much of a jump before Mama's arms are out for the catch.
After all that fun in the water, Gavin spied the swing. This was his first time in a "big boy" swing instead of the baby one with the all around protection. This swing was very low to the ground, so he was able to climb right in. I was pushing him--just out of this shot.

He did really well for several minutes, until he decided he really needed to put his finger in his nose. He fell, but it was a short one. A big thanks to Michelle for being able to hang out at the last minute and for the great pictures!

Diggers and Dozers and Graders, Oh My

July 14

This month, Dean and Gavin are going to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Either Lindsey or I will take the boys and the other will pick them up. Last Thursday, when I picked them up, Dean said, "I want to go to Gavin's house." Having no agenda once we got home, I called Lindsey to ask if he could come play for a bit. Of course, in the back of my mind I'm thinking, "Really? This is starting at age 2? And, I'm playing into it?"

The boys had a great time playing with Gavin's John Deere comercial gator, grader, and front end loader moving sea shell pasta into other dump trucks and Gators. These boys are all boys. Increasingly, Gavin loves to lay on the floor to play with toys up close and personal. Dean laid right down with him to enjoy the fun.

Thankfully, I was able to get one picture of both boys laying down playing.
But soon, Gavin had to get up to get those shells securely in the front end loader's bucket.

It's so great that the boys are beginning to actually play together for brief moments.