(When Jones and Freddie are sharing a dorm room at UT with their buddy AJ, I'm going to want to remember this story to share with their RA.)
The boys and I were sitting in the parking lot of Long's Chapel Methodist Church tonite, waiting for Jeremy to meet us to go to the Haywood County Fair. I had no idea what they were doing in the backseat, though I was impressed that they were being reasonably quiet. After a few minutes of this, Jones broke the silence. "Mama, wook," he said. "I spelled AJ's name." I was impressed that he'd figured out how to spell it without asking and responded, "Why'd you write AJ's name?" Without hesitating for a second, Jones said, "Because I love him."
Growing up, I loved our annual trips to Nashville more than just about any other place we went. That's one reason why it thrills me that Jones and Freddie get to spend so much time in Music City. I want them to love it like I did.
The bigger reason I love these trips, though, is that it means my boys are getting to be best buddies with the precious son of one of my best buddies. Brooke and I have planned, since before AJ was born, that our tiny trio would someday share a college apartment at the University of Tennessee. The memories they're making now are the foundation for that plan, and the pictures. Well, just imagine how AMAZING they'll look on the gallery wall of that apartment I mentioned.
And before you start, I acknowledge that most college boys don't have gallery walls of boyhood pictures in their bachelor pads. Still, it's fun for us to dream, and it's even more fun for us to make the memories that come with taking the pictures.
In short, it was another great visit. I really feel like these boys are the best versions of themselves whenever they're together. They are so sweet to each other - fits never ... well, RARELY ... happen. It's kind of astounding, to be honest, how well they do.
Here are a few "must-remembers" from this most recent visit:
1) the advent of the Push Pop - on the way to Nashville, the boys and I stopped at a convenience store, and Freddie emerged with his first-ever Push Pop, which he spent the rest of the day eating. As usual, he was very generous with it - Brooke said she saw him stop the Gator and, without saying a word, turn to A.J., pushing the Pop into A.J.'s unsuspecting mouth. He gave his buddy a couple licks of it at dinner, too.
The next morning, after Brooke took some photos of Jones and Freddie, I took all three boys to a convenience store, so each could have his own Push Pop. I imagine these treats will be a part of our lives for the foreseeable future.
2) Freddie still sleeps in bathrooms almost everywhere we go. He doesn't mind one bit. This time his digs were upgraded, though. Brooke's redone her guest bathroom, and it looks AMAZING.
3) While we were there, Brooke's neighbor brought a leaf blower over for A.J. to play with. The boys took turns playing with it. I imagine we will be buying a couple of leaf blowers before too long.
My favorite Mexican restaurant in America is right down the street from Brooke's house.
4) Once again, we brought the Gator with us, and once again, the boys had a BALL riding it all over Brooke's amazing backyard. What was incredible was how they'd stop and switch drivers every so often, without having be told to. I was very impressed with how all three took turns.
I was somewhat scared by the way Freddie drove, which is nothing knew. He likes to ride right around the perimeter of the lot. At the back of their property line is a little lip that goes up, like a tiny hill. It's shaded by tree limbs, and this is probably Freddie's favorite place to drive - thankfully, A.J. rolls with it and instinctively leans away from the tree limbs that, let's face it, could maim them both.
It was another awesome visit. The boys had a ball - and have been asking when we can see A.J. again since we hit the road right around nap time today.
Here's some video footage of our little Kings of the Road.
I love seeing these three in a row.
He may still be sleeping in bathrooms, but no more Pack & Plays!
the infamous Push Pop
sharing the Push Pop
Freddie doesn't ALWAYS make the best decisions at dinner. Then again, when baskets of chips are involved, neither do I!
Yes. He drinks salsa {face palm}.
Freddie was using A.J.'s camera to take a picture of me, Brooke, and Michael. Jones stood behind him, doing tricks to try to get us to smile. Wonder where he's seen that before?
I am going gray. Fast.
Freddie did NOT want Jones trying to stop the Gator by pulling on the flatbed.
I can't take credit for these incredible shots of our early May trip to Dollywood with Brooke in AJ. I also can't neglect to post them on the boys' blog, because, as usual, Brooke has managed to capture some of my favorite pictures of Jones and Freddie.
Here are a few of my favorites from an incredible overnite in Pigeon Forge.
I love this picture - not because I look even a little bit cute but because it PERFECTLY captures how I felt in the moment - after one of Jones's ridiculous fits.
