Andy, Kristan, Bridget, Chris, Mommy, Daddy, and I spent the afternoon at Cody's home swimming.
We went over to Andy and Kristan's to watch Texas play football.  All the teams we root for won: Texas, OU, OSU, and Arkansas.  We spent the night there.

From the moment I got up until Daddy picked me up after work, I was running full blast.  I was happy all day because either GGM, or Barbara, or both of them were playing with me.  Daddy requested that I not take a nap, so he and I could both go to bed early tonight, so we didn't play things that allowed me to sit down and relax and possibly fall asleep.

While playing Fireman, Barbara told me about Smokey the Bear and how he was famous for saying, "Only YOU can prevent forest fires." 

We all played Hide and Seek first with people, then we hid my purple ball.  I sure get a kick out of finding what ever is hidden.  And we all played with Play Dough.  Barbara made us pepperoni pizza and also a coral snake pizza (out of Play Dough.)  We loved one (pretend) and didn't want to even try the other. 

We played catch over the kitchen bar, which meant that I could not see the ball until it came over the bar, so I had to use my noggin and pay attention to help me catch it.

I stirred some sugar into some strawberries.  I helped prepare chicken and noodles, and also a pineapple cherry cake.  I ate a bunch of ribs and also a lot of cantaloupe.

Video of me eating strawberries.

Barbara and I played two more games of Old Maid.  I watched a couple episodes of Handy Mandy, a show I have not seen in a couple of months.

 We wanted to play in the water outside, but we thought ProLawn would show up to mow, so I ended up in the shower.

 It is funny that not long ago I was sort of scared of showers, now I stick my face under them like the big boy that I am.

The only toy that was downstairs was my purple ball.  It ended up in the tub with me. 

ProLawn did mow.  Right after they left Barbara and I played in my wading pool.  I normally don't play in it very long, but because she was in the pool with me, I played for almost an hour.

GGF and I snacked on pretzels.

I scraped my leg and insisted that Barbara take a picture of it.

I used my paddle board as a bat, and would hit my purple rubber ball with it.  I did a great job of hitting "home runs."

I slept 10 1/2 hours last night.  By 7:40am I was already dressed and had eaten breakfast so I got to watch a little Fireman Sam before leaving for school.  I walked right into school ready to learn.  Miss Amanda, the school owner, stopped Mimz to say they are just so proud of me and the progress I have made.  She said I have such a big personality and am a good listener, and overall a great little boy.  That sure made Mimz proud.

I brought home my very first "homework" assignment.  I have a small brown sack that I must put four (no more, no less) items that tell something about me. Barbara and I spent some time talking about what things might be good choices.  Something having to do with fireman, super heroes, Play dough, Maggie, vehicles, cowboys, boots, blocks, books and balls... all of these would be good choices. 

If someone wants me to go to sleep, all they need to do is put me in the car and drive for 15 minutes.  It works most of the time!  Today it worked two times, but both of those naps were very very short. 

I never tire of playing Fireman.  Barbara and I sit on her bed to play this.  We play different fireman, have fire dogs, build a fire station.  use the bed posts as fireman's poles.  We cook, drive to fires, fight fires, get hurt and have to go to the hospital.  Sometimes we are "off duty" and have fun doing regular things. 

Barbara drove me home to Mommy and she helped me clean up my toy room.  It didn't take very long because we keep on task.  A good thing happened: we found a pair of my tennis shoes that had been lost for a few days.

I was asleep by 7:30pm.

Mommy drove me to Mimz home today.  (Barbara and my great grandparents needed to go help Grandma pack at the lake.)  I was in a foul mood so Mimz just ignored me.  I tried so hard to be mad at her, but finally I flipped the switch and I was my normal sweet self the rest of the day.

When Mimz picked me up from school, I talked up a storm and said I loved going to Miss Annette's class. 

While Mimz worked in the kitchen, I enjoyed a game on the iPad and played with my fire trucks.

Then we went to the park to get outside and burn some energy.  I love my scooter.  I have sure gotten my money's worth out of it.

I helped Mimz prepare a new taco casserole recipe after we got home from the park.  I liked it and I ate a bunch of it at dinner.  Daddy liked it also.  I had a nice hot bath and was asleep by 8:30.

***pictures just now added back to August 24th***

Today is my first day of going to school three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9am to 1pm.  I have a new classroom and my new teachers name is Miss Annette.  I went into school happily.  When I got back in Barbara's car after school, my first words were, "I had a good day."  All of my former classmates moved with me.

Most best friends at school used to be Hannah and Olivia.  Now my best friends are Isaac and Brent.  I like the boys because they play rougher.

Barbara wants us to do more arts and crafts but I still want to play fireman.  We sat on her bed for two hours playing fireman.  I never tire of it.  She is real tired of it.  We also played cars around the pool table, and Hide and Seek with GGM and GGF.  No TV or iPad until shortly before Mommy came to get me. 

Mommy took me to Mimz' home before driving to work.  Mimz helped out again so Barbara and GGM could help with the packing up at the lake.  GGF stayed home to rest from the full day of work yesterday.

Here I am being cool.

Mimz had a special treat planned for us on this rainy Monday afternoon.  We went to see the new Disney movie, Planes.  I was so very excited to go to the movie theater for the first time.  We had to walk in the rain to get to the theater.  And we were the only people watching the movie.  There were so many previews I had to make my first potty visit before the show even started.   The show started, I crawled into Mimz lap, hugged Monk Monk, and watched five minutes of the movie before I fell asleep.  Mimz sat back and enjoyed the movie.

Mimz bought me a new toy go-cart.  I like all kinds of vehicles.

We went over to Aunt Kathy's home to visit.  I enjoyed getting to play with Landry.  Later Daddy took me to Mommy's home.

3

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Mimz and Daddy were at Lilly's wedding this weekend. 

Barbara and my great grandparents were at the lake helping Grandma pack more boxes.  Mommy and I wanted to come to the lake to help but we decided to stay at home so they could work in peace and quiet.  All week they have found that by 3pm they are all very tired and ready to quit for the day so they can rest up to work again the next day.

Today was Lilly and Derek's wedding.

Hudson, Landry, Derek, Lilly, Harper, Beckett

Beautiful bride Lilly is my first cousin once removed.  The four children are her niece and nephews.

 Mommy and I drove to the lake to help pack.  My great grandparents, Barbara, and Andy were there helping also.  Mommy and I packed PaPa's dresser and his shoes.  I had to try on his cowboy boots and work boots.  They were heavy and very hard to walk in.

Andy rough-housed with me.

 We played Hide and Seek.  Andy dropped me in this box...

GGM found me.  When I was a little kid, I would go hide in the same place over and over.  Now I know I need to find new hiding places.

Boy, I woke up in a great mood and it lasted all day.  I went to the lake with Barbara and GGM to help Grandma with the packing.  I helped everyone do everything. 

I helped make boxes, removed things from cabinets, and put things in boxes.  I even helped move a cabinet out to the truck.  I may have slowed down progress a bit, but anytime I am having a good time, everyone is glad to have me around.   PaPa is at his job in Nigeria, so GGM and Barbara needed to bring food for us to eat... Grandma can cook, but she doesn't take the time to do it.  PaPa is the cook, and Grandma cleans the kitchen afterwards.

We were all pretty tried by 3pm, so we closed up shop.  I was asleep in the car at 3:30 and slept for an hour and a half.  

We played cars and Keep Away and Hide and Go Seek until Mommy came to get me.  Barbara very happily waved bye to me and hurried off to soak her tired feet.  She is not used to standing all day.

Mimz texted us that she is having a great time at College Station.  She said two SUV's and a truck were loaded with decorations and stuff for Lilly's wedding and reception.  She wrote that she was sore from all the loading and unloading.  (Mimz and Barbara are the same age and they are not used to so much physical work.  Now GGM is 85 years old and she never complains about being tired.  She just works and rests and then goes back to working again.)

Lilly and Mimz were roommates for the night and Mimz enjoyed getting that time with her.
Mimz said the had the Bridesmaid luncheon and the Rehearsal Dinner today.  Then they decorated the reception area for the wedding tomorrow.   There are about 15 friends from Aunt Kathy and Mimz' college days there and they were all sharing pictures of their grandchildren.  Of course, Mimz had plenty of pictures of Morgan and me to share.

***Just added pictures going back to August 17th***

Mimz made me a check list of the things we need to do each morning with little boxes beside each thing.  I like checking things off when I have done them. 

I was looking forward to going to school.  There was a new lady in my classroom and I hesitated just a little bit but I took her hand and went on in.  Mimz was proud of me for doing that.

I ate all of my lunch and we played Freeze Dance.

On the trip home from school, GGF told me he needed my help bringing in the big recycle bin because his shoulder hurt a little.  I was glad to help.  Then I wanted to help hull pecans.  It was not a good idea.  I sort of made messes no matter what job I was given, so we put that project aside. 

 The table needed cleaning, so I pitched in...

 I got the table spic and span clean.  And I dried the table cloth also.

Grandma showed me how to hang up dish clothes.  I loaded some dishes into the dishwasher and added soap and started it.  I do like to help.

I played Fireman most of the afternoon.  Late in the day, I disobeyed the fire chief so Barbara quit playing with Fireman with me.  I sat on her lap for 20 minutes crying that I wanted her to play fireman with me.  She said she would if I said I was sorry, which I refused to do, so we were at a standstill with neither of us willing to give in.  I finally fell asleep.  When Barbara laid me down on the bed, I cried in my sleep, "Play fireman with me."  Boy, I am stubborn.

Mommy came over to find pictures on Barbara's computer for her scrapbooks.  I played catch and Keep away with GGM and Barbara while Mommy did that.   Mommy didn't get to finish because I was ready to go home.

Mommy brought me over to Mimz home before work and I had a great morning playing with Mimz before we went to my swim lesson. 

Right before my swim lesson Barbara sent me a text telling me to swim like a duck.  I told her I didn't want to swim like a duck... ducks just use their feet and I want to use big arms like a big boy.  Next week I will only have one swim lesson a week.  Also next week I start going to school three mornings a week instead of just two.

Mimz knows I like going through the car wash so she waited today for us to do that.  We ran a few other errands including taking a birthday present to Mrs. Finch.  I am finally talking up a storm when I am with the Finches. 

I ate a good dinner and watched Fireman Sam while Mimz finished getting ready for her weekend trip to College Station for cousin Lily's wedding.   We had a big job putting away all of my toys.

Happy 2nd Anniversary to Uncle Andy and Aunt Krissy!

I went to school happily.  On my way to school I asked for a drink from my sippie.  I asked Barbara why it was fresh water instead of apple juice.  She said she just filled it with water and forgot to add juice.  It was okay.   A fire truck at station 77 was pulling out and we followed it for a few blocks.  It had it's lights on but no siren.  And there was a police car parked in front of my school.  No problem.  The policeman was just staying in touch.

I played the old card game Old Maid five times today with Barbara.  I was the Old Maid only once. This was the first time I had played that game and I could do it, but I was not very focused and would often be silly.  Barbara and Grandma hope I love playing games.  Grandma has all the games from her childhood and from her children.  Barbara wants to go through them and bring home any that I might be able to play very soon.

Barbara and I sat on her bed for over an hour building a firehouse and driving our fire truck to fires.  I never get tired of that game.

 I enjoyed taking a shower in GGF tub.

It doesn't look like I have a tan, but I do.  The part of me that is covered up with shorts is very white .

I am a big help putting the forks, knives, and spoons away after all the really sharp knives have been removed from the dishwasher.

ReBath installed the last piece of glass for the shower in the master bath.  That job is complete except for two small items.  Yea!  We are finished with work on the Tomball house... just in time to help Grandma and PaPa move to their new house.

 

Mommy drove me to Mimz' home this morning.  Mimz was happy to be able to take care of me so Barbara and GGM can go help Grandma start packing for the big move which will be happened in early September.  I don't know why they don't take me up there to "help.'  They know I love to work.  

Mimz and I had a fun morning steer wrestling.  This video shows how we do it.

 

I had another swim lesson during which I swam the length of the pool.  Miss Sherrie said I am doing great!

 

Daddy took me home to Mommy.

 

  

Saturday August 17, 2013
Around 7:30am Mommy wanted to sleep in, but I wanted to get dressed and go eat, so she had to get up ready or not.  Cousin David made me a blueberry pancake.  It was supposed to be a bunny rabbit but it looked like an alien space ship to me and I gobbled it down.  Then I ate a second one.

There were snacks and chips and other food out all day for us to eat.  This was not a good place to be for me to not eat sugary stuff.

Normally there are 50 plus people at this reunion.  This year there were only forty or so.  Russ Bates traveled the farthest coming from New York City.  We came the next farthest and Aunt Peggy came from Dallas.  Everyone else came from Oklahoma.  I was the only little kid, except for a five-year-old girl that one of the cousins brought.  The next youngest child was a ten-year-old boy.  I liked Carter, he called me "Bud" and played with me a little bit, but mostly he was hanging with the older kids.  Next year I hope more little kids come.

GGM went with Mommy and me on a tractor-trailer ride down to the stables. 

 My horse was named Josie.  Mommy led the horse while I rode.

I made the upside down "Hook'em horns" sign and all of those Okies cheered.   

It was lots of fun, but the funny thing was Mommy stepping in a big pile of poop.  I laughed at her predicament.   It only happened  one time because then she started watching where she was stepping. 

 I got to practice using a lasso.

 Here I go.....

I finally got the lasso around his neck, but I could not get him to go down.

Video of me using a lasso.

very short video

 We then rode to a nature barn, and saw snakes,...

a bald eagle, big cats, and other critters.

Every year there is a new t-shirt designed for the reunion.  Barbara and my GG parents never buy them, but Mary Frances bought me the smallest size so I would have one like most everyone else.  Mommy wished she had one but said she didn't know about them.  Barbara said read the reunion letters and you will know about everything. 

Barbara, and my GG parents and all the old folks stayed at the bunk house sitting around visiting.  All the young people went out and had fun.

 Back at the bunk house Mommy and I sent swimming. It is so much easier to play in a pool , like this one, when it is not over my head.

 That is me under the water.

Mommy and I had the whole pool almost to ourselves.
We had to get out of the pool for lunch and after lunch a group picture was taken.  I can not be seen in the picture.  I was hiding behind Mommy.  Nothing and no one could coax me out.   Mommy said, Oh well, maybe next year.   We do want to come back.  We both really enjoyed ourselves.

There is a silent auction every year.  I bid on a four-wheeler toy and I got it.  Mommy got a bucket of Dr. Pepper bottles.  Barbara got a picture frame.  Grandma and GGM got a sack of unshelled pecans.  GGF paid for all of our goodies.  We did not win the small jar of Proud Candy but the winner shared the candy with all of us.  

Mommy and I played at the new playground.  We watched the country guitar players and listened to the singers.   In the evening we went back to listen again except this time Mommy and I danced.  Still the old folks sat and talked about old times.  Every once in a while Barbara would take care of me for a bit, so Mommy could listen to the stories the relatives were telling but mostly it was Mommy and me having a good time together. 

For several years Cousin David has been videoing an interview with Bates family members.  He interviewed Grandma this time so now there are just a few remaining "grandchildren to interview.  For years Barbara conveniently disappears when she thinks David might be looking for her. It is doubtful he will get her to give an interview.  She is not very social now and never has been she says.

Everyone was still listening to stories but Mommy and I went off to bed around 10pm.

Sunday, August 18, 2013
We were all out of bed by 7:30am.  We dressed, ate breakfast loaded the car and were on the road at 8:30am.  The 8 1/2 hour trip home was uneventful.  I enjoyed my iPad apps and I took a long three hour nap.  When we got home, we emptied Grandma's car, loaded Mommy car and Barbara's car.  Mommy, Maggie, and I then drove home.  I enjoyed the reunion, and am looking forward to going again next year, but there is no place like home...

Thank you to Mary Frances, Stephanie, Madge Lee, David and all the other relatives who work hard so we can keep in touch with our relatives.

Mommy, Maggie, and I drove to PaPa's lake house, where six of us got in one car and drove to Western Hills Guest Ranch at Sequoyah State Park to attend the annual Bates reunion.   PaPa could not go because he had to fly to Nigeria on Sunday.    In a month when he gets back most of his belonging should be at the new house!  This will be a busy month for Grandma.

 I was great 98 percent of the 8 1/2 hour trip.  When we crossed over the Red River I turned my Hook'em Horn sign upside down like Okies do.  Everyone was happy I did that. 

We were just getting out of the car when I started climbing and letting the fun begin.  We were among the first families to arrive so we got our pick of rooms.  There are 10 rooms in the bunkhouse, a big meeting room, a kitchen, and a common bathroom.  GGF and GGM got the room with a king size bed and private bath maybe because GGF is the only remaining child of Reuben and Selina Bates' eight children.   I shared a room with Mommy and Barbara.  Grandma had a room to herself because Andy and Kristan did not get to come after all.

First thing we did after getting our gear into our rooms was go check out the new swimming pool.  It starts out at 0 feet, 0 inches and slowly gets deeper.  Half of the pool was not over my head and was perfect for little kids like me.  There was also a splash pad that I enjoyed.  It was a bit cold but I liked it anyway.   I was in the pool by myself.

The water temperature was pretty cool so Mommy said she would wait and join me on Saturday. 

 There were three of these fountains that were fun to play in....

I discovered that if I covered on of them up, the other two would shoot up higher.

 

 I played catch with Libby in the hallway.  Libby is not a relative, just a friend of someone there.

 I guessed how many Skittles were in a jar.  Hope I win them!

 Barbara and I went exploring and we found that at the other end of the lodge there were a couple hundred cowboys and many of them had guitars.

 We sat down and listened for over 30 minutes to a group of six men and women playing guitars, fiddles, and a banjo.  I sure wished I had on my cowboy boots.  One of the ladies came over to talk to us.  She let me touch her guitar.  I liked that and enjoyed the music. 

Mommy and Barbara joined us for awhile.  Mommy and I climbed the staircase so I could get a different view of the musicians. 

 I had my own pillow but I wanted to share so I could snuggle with Mommy and my cow.  Monk Monk is missing.  He will show up.

 

I had two pancakes for breakfast, so I am still eating well.

Mimz and I discussed my starting to go to school three mornings a week.  I was not receptive to the idea until she told me I was not in the baby class anymore and that big boys like Jeffery go to school more days a week.  That got me to thinking ... and twenty minutes later I announced that I was ready for three morning a week of school.

Miss Elizabeth told Barbara I had a great day at school.  In the car I talked about going to school three days a week.  I asked when I could start going five days a week.  Mimz said she was glad I had a positive attitude about spending more time at school.

For the fourth time in five months I knocked a lens out of GGM's eye glasses.  It was an accident while we were playing Keep Away.  I get quite animated during that game.  We made a quick trip to the eye doctor to get it replaced.

I played for over an hour with toys in the bathroom sink.  I was very loud and animated playing pretend farm, fireman, and pirate.  Barbara tried hard to get me to play in the bathtub because I don't make a big mess in there, but I had my heart sat on playing in the sink.

Grandma Brenda and Daddy are both sick.  I hope they both are well very very soon.

I am excited about going out of town tomorrow.  We had two family reunions in Oklahoma planned for this weekend.  One was postponed because GGM Avis' youngest brother Danny Tracy, who was to be the host, had seven-bypass surgery a couple of weeks ago.
Kristan has a new job as a first time teacher.  She will be teaching fifth grade homeroom and her principal just decided they would have parent-teacher meetings on Monday before school starts.  Kristan has to get her room ready this weekend, so she and Andy are staying here to get Kristan ready.  And that is understandable.  She needs to feel comfortable and be ready to start her teaching career. 
 The other problem is that Grandma is sick.  She has a cold and she thinks it is stress induced because of the selling and buying of homes.   It will all work out.  We just have to think positive and proceed with our plans to drive to Oklahoma in the morning.

****If I can't post this weekend, I will catch up when we get back.****

Barbara drove over to Mommy's home this morning.  I didn't want to wake up and it was 8:30am before I finally was willing to get up.  I said I wanted everything for breakfast: eggs, grits, pancakes and toast with jelly.  I ate eggs and grits and was full.

 Mr. Brad mowed his hard today and I helped him empty the bag of grass clippings.  While he mowed I worked on cleaning a toy tractor with a wire brush.

I have a hard time keeping up with my two pairs of gloves.  Mr. Brad solved that problem.  He bought me another set of gloves which I keep at his home.  Now I always know where my gloves are when I need to help Mr. Brad with work.

 

Barbara asked if I would like to turn off a lamp for her.  I said, "It would be my pleasure."  I make everyone smile with some of the things I say.

 

I often give compliments.  Today I told both Barbara and Mimz that I liked their shirts or their shirts were pretty.

GGF and Barbara enjoyed watching me swim the entire length of the pool at my swim lesson.

 

For the first time I jumped in from a higher landing.  I didn't want to at first, but then I wanted to be like the big boys, so I did it three times and liked it. 

 

 Video of me learning a swim stoke.

 Miss Sherrie likes for new swimmers to have two lessons a week.  Now that I have shown her that I have learned her safety points I could change to just one lesson a week.   The safety points are: get to the side of the pool if accidentally fell in, climb out of the pool, turn over from my front to my back, and not panic if I find myself alone in the middle of the pool.  The decision will be made this week about how many lessons I will have a week.  A thirty minute lesson costs $30.  Grandma and Mimz are paying for my lessons.  They know how important it is for a boy to know how to swim.

 

Back home, I played quietly for a couple of hours: Play Dough, reading, working a jigsaw puzzle, playing firehouse, and playing on the iPad.  I had been a good boy all day, so Barbara gave me another Hot Wheels car.  We raced my cars around the pool table.

 

Mimz came over to get me and I told her the story of the musical book that used to scare me and how we kept it in the TV control cabinet, so when I was a little kid I would not get into that cabinet because I knew that book was inside. 

 

Mimz could not keep me awake on the drive home.  She managed to carry me to my bed without waking me up. 

 

After my nap I dressed up as a cowboy, then a fireman, and finally a pirate and enjoyed role playing.  Mimz says the experts say this is a sign of high intelligence.