Big Day in a Small Town

Back on my birthday, my mom and dad gave the boys this inflatable pirate ship. Since then, it's been in our basement, mostly because I keep forgetting to blow it up. Well, today, I solved that problem. Though Jeremy *THOUGHT* he could blow this colossus up on his own, he finally took my suggestion that, maybe, his dad's air pump was a faster solution - and one less likely to cause Jeremy's death, so Jeremy drove it over to the Pressleys'. The pump didn't work after all, but the solution Jeremy and his dad came up with was to use the leaf blower to fill it up.

Voila.

Not long after that, here comes Mr. Pressley's truck carrying some pretty precious cargo up Haywood Drive. Like so ...



The boys had a ball playing in it. I imagine it'll be the hit of the Back to School Bash they're planning for some of their Canton pals on Friday!

Lesson: Learned

If I didn't want to know the answer, I never should've asked the question!

In case you haven't heard ...

... BOTH of my boys look just like their daddy.

Ride, Ride, Ride

Anyone who reads this blog knows about Jones' love for Tec the Tractor.

Since he was about seven months old, Jones has been obsessed with this Welsh-import on the BabyFirst TV network. The problem with Tec is that we don't get it here in Canton. Mom and Daddy do in Greenville - that's where Jones was introduced to it - but for non-DirectTV subscribers in Canton, NC, BabyFirst TV is a no-go.

That means buying a $25 DVD with only three episodes on it and, while you wait for said DVD to arrive, letting your son stream episodes of "Tec the Tractor" via YouTube on your iPhone.

That's what Jones was doing this morning when Jeremy was about to leave for work.  He's been working out of a makeshift office in his parents' basement this week and suggested taking Jones with him for an hour or so, so Jones could visit his Nan and ride his Pop's tractor. I jumped at the suggestion and promised to come pick Jones up as soon as Freddie was up from his nap.

Just before we left the Pressleys when I picked Jones up, Jeremy took a few minutes to pull something ELSE that Jones could ride out of Pop's garage. It was his old "chopper," and though it took him about 16 minutes to maneuver his way into a seat better suited to his seven year-old self, Jeremy proved that the thrill-seeker gene still runs in his blood.

Happy Father's Day!

In all our celebrating of Freddie's dedication, Father's Day almost got lost in the shuffle. It wasn't until we got home from the luncheon after church that it even occurred to me to get a picture of just Jeremy and the boys.

Some self-proclaimed "family historian" I am.

In spite of this, we did celebrate Father's Day. Jeremy got a few little gifts before church, not the least of which was his favorite apple fritters for breakfast (thank you, Ingles Bakery). He also got a pair of swim trunks (because he'd coveted my dad's at the beach), a growth-chart (made by me and every other Pinterest user this year), and this sign, made by my friend Jennie and inspired by a quote by Freddie's namesake.

The story goes that Daddy and Uncle Dave were out playing one day when a friend of Papaw's started to worry that their backyard basketball court and baseball diamond may ruin Papaw's lawn. When the friend voiced his concern to my grandfather, Papaw's response was perfect:

"We're not raising grass; we're raising boys."

Wise words that Jeremy and I will be wise to remember as we raise OUR boys. This sign will help us to do just that.

Happy Father's Day, Sweetie!

Like Father, Like Son

Just in case you were wondering, the similarities between Jeremy and Jones don't end with their looks.

"Ride" of Passage

When my niece Lizzie Gray was two years old, I remember her coming up to me and presenting me with a Cinderella toy that'd come out of a princess-themed set of Duplo blocks. I have no idea where she got that princess-themed set of Duplo blocks; I'd never seen it before, but from that moment until about two years ago, the child was obsessed with princesses. No one taught her to be. She just was, because, apparently, God gave little girls two X chromosomes and an innate love for things that are pretty, pink, and supposed to wear a crown.

Nine years later, I'm beginning to think that little boys have an equally innate sense for things that have engines and produce fumes. Jones has become obsessed with a really poorly-produced Welsh television show called "Tec the Tractor." Any other show, he can take or leave, but turn on Tec, and the child snuggles up in the nearest lap, sucks on his thumb, and stares at the 15-minute television program.

I thought his love was for Tec specifically. Turns out, it's for tractors in general. Yesterday, Jeremy drove Jones to and from the Pressley's house on Mr. Pressley's tractor. Jones was in hog Heaven. Jeremy said he laughed the entire ride back, though, to be honest, the laughter could've been because his very pregnant mama was so close to literally losing her britches, as she ran alongside to get the pictures and video posted below.  Who can blame him?

Regardless, I'm so glad he got to share this special ride with his daddy.  Jeremy's been talking about it for a few weeks now, and though it made me a little nervous (it's hilly here in the mountains!), I surely didn't want to keep them from this special memory. Heaven knows, I have very special memories of riding on a John Deere myself. I just wish someone had taken pictures of me and Papaw, as we rode along the Ohio Riverbank!

Of course, "the Mayor of Haywood County"
couldn't make it home without being stopped
at the end of our street to visit for a spell!

Name a man who is more handsome than Jeremy Pressley.
You can't; there isn't one. I think he looks especially handsome -
and especially like his Pa Frank - here.

If Jeremy's going to take Jones on John Deere rides,
I don't stand a chance of EVER being the favorite parent!

It was naptime when they got home from their first ride. Three times,
I tried to take Jones from his daddy and the tractor, and three times,
he cried. Finally, I just had to use the Band-Aid method -
"1-2-3 ... PULL him away ..."

Jeremy's Birthday

Finally!

I am no longer "the older woman."  Jeremy has, at last, turned 36, making us, finally, the same age. 

We celebrated with Jeremy's family on Sunday after church and with mine for lunch on the big day. We went to the Rice Bowl, where Jones shared my Lettuce Wraps - and the peas and carrots that had been picked out of his daddy's Fried Rice. He did NOT behave all that well. I'm not going to gloss over the fact that he was fussier and more demanding than ever, probably bothered by the realization that his daddy's getting older.

I'm kidding. But not about the bad behavior.

Later, Jeremy and I had a hot date to the Cracker Barrel, where we very gratefully used Aunt Dolly's giftcard to Jeremy.  No need to get dessert, though.  It was the one day a year that I actually bake ... and this year was no different.  I made Jeremy the Cracker Barrel Coca Cola Double Fudge Cake that I always do, but he only ate one piece, which makes me think that, just maybe, my copycat wasn't anywhere near as good as the real thing.

Surprise, surprise.

The next family birthday belongs to my favorite almost 11-month old!  Countdown to Disney sits at 34 days!

I know this picture isn't of Jones,
but isn't Jeremy just so handsome?!

Office Visit

Jeremy's co-workers surprised him with a little birthday apple pie, so Jones and I surprised Jeremy by showing up for the celebration.  This is in keeping with my life's central ethic, which is to eat apple pie as often as it is offered, especially while pregnant when I can eat more and blame it on the baby.

While there, I got some of my favorite pictures ever of Jones and Jeremy.  And let me just mention here that Jones is becoming QUITE the Daddy's Boy.  If Daddy is around, he's the one that Jones wants. And Daddy is happy to oblige ... provided Jones's diaper doesn't smell like a backed up sewer line.

To be honest, I don't want to be around him all that much when he smells that way, either.

Enjoy these pictures! In anticipation of our Disney trip, I'm trying to get the hang of shooting without flash - playing around with the settings on a camera that's way fancier than I can even comprehend.  These look a little yellow, but I kinda like the natural, amber light.

My candid photography is, clearly, a work in progress, People.

FAST Fun for Father's Day

Part of Jones's Father's Day gift to Jeremy - and Jeremy's gift to HIS dad - was a trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. It's been a been a busy summer all the way around, so we just got around to going. Better late than never, right?

Jones did great. He took his first nap in the car on the way and his second while the rest of us walked around the really awesome Hall of Fame. The only problem we had with him is that he kept taking off  his daggone shoes. I'd switch to velcro shoes, instead of laces, but Jeremy says, "Velcro shoes are for nerds."  That's not what I thought when I got MY first pair ...

Regardless, we had a wonderful day with our wonderful family!