What Simon would Look Like with a Haircut

I took these pix while Simon was in the bath last night. They kind of show what it would be like if we cut his curls in the back. Matt came home mid-bath and thought I had actually cut Simon's hair! He was a bit relieved b/c he thought Simon looked like a girl. I think if we cut his hair, it has to be pretty short, not just with 'front' curls. The last pix is of Simon around Christmas last year (2006) with his short haircut!

Simon is in the habit of asking, "Are you happy?" if he sees someone smiling or laughing. Then he says, "I'm happy. Simon's happy."

We're trying to work on quick cleaning or 'pick up' with Simon. We use a kitchen timer and if he isn't done when it goes off, well then he gets a quick reprimand/rod and a second chance to clean up quickly. If he is tired, I usually don't set the timer, and I clean with him or either I wait until after nap to have him clean up.

Simon and Timothy during their "quiet down" part of their playdate on Wednesday.
I love their little facial expressions!
Simon and his "tuba" straw. He pretends it is a tuba and makes musical 'noises.'
Matt and Simon playing the game where someone rolls the ball down the picnic table and someone catches it at the other end with the bucket!
Simon on his new tricycle!
We didn't take any pix, but today Simon and I painted/stained the inside of his playhouse and while the stain was out, Matt painted our very 'weathered' Coca-Cola tables and chairs. Simon loved painting and didn't seem to mind getting dirty. It was fairly hot outside so we kept making him drink water and then we turned on the water hose for even more fun :)

Snapshots of Action

Matt came home a week ago Thursday for lunch and noticed our back tire on the van was flat; apparently, we'd driven over a screw. So, Simon was able to see his dad change a tire!
Simon 'found' his easter bunny in the garage and was so excited. For a few days, he wanted the bunny to sleep with him, but when we wouldn't let that happen, he would tuck the bunny in the red chair to sleep and would run the next morning to check on him! I guess SImon is ready for a little brother or sister! Simon at the time this pix was taken was looking at a photo album that kept his attention for a looong time.
Simon also looked at this teddy bear book for a looong time.
These last two pix are of Matt and his adventure in fixing our ibook that took a plunge a few weeks ago (open and on, it fell 5 feet and still works) SO, Matt ordered a part for $2 + $8 shipping and fixed it! The only iffy part is a couple of leftover screws and a bracket ... ??? :) I"m amazed at how people can fix things. Matt looked at a website for helping in the taking apart of the laptop. I can't even follow IKEA's instructions to put together simple things like a box...

The LAST INSTALLMENT from the trip

Simon on the plane with Mom AND Gigi this time. Mom had the privilege of sitting next to Simon until we were able to use laptops, and then we switched places while I held the laptop for Simon playing "Curiious George" (appropriate considering his t-shirt) and mom worked on her report cards on her laptop.
Matt picked us at the airport in Dallas on Tuesday evening. Simon ran to him and his first words to Matt were, "Daddy, play bibles with me?" (he pronounces marbles, bibles)
We met Dad at a SpringCreek BBQ so he could get mom. After eating, we showed the men pix/videos from the trip and Simon impressed them with his reading skills (with expression!)

The last installment from Pendleton

Simon and his everpresent 'stools.' I don't know where Simon learned to drink from the water at the sink? Simon entertained himself on the way to the airport by putting his socks on his hands ...

Outside in Pendleton

After a dinner with the family on Monday night, some of us wandered outside because the weather was unbelievably beautiful. The boys enjoyed playing in the sand that isn't there for play but I'm sure serves some functional purpose.

Pendleton, SC

The last 'stop' of our trip was Pendleton, SC. We went from visiting family here to the airport on Tuesday. Mom had flown in Friday evening and we split our time together between Cartersville, GA and Pendleton, SC.
Simon is sitting at the table in Grandma's kitchen eating cantaloupe. I like the pix where you can see him sitting with his Pa Bo watching ... boxing. Then Simon went on a 'seating sampler' trying out other chairs in the room!
The last pix is of the two pages he loves best in the POPCORN book.

Cartersville with Alex and Mom

Simon loved the dance floor and the disco ball! He kept running up to other children and grabbing their hands and trying to get them to dance with him!
Alex and Simon in the car from Rome to Cartersville. An easier trip than the one we would face the next day from Cartersville to Pendleton !!! (Alex crying and Simon yellling, YELLING, "SSTTOOOOOPPP IT ALEX!" and dirty diapers and dropped pacifiers and stopping to make bottles and making several wrong turns ...)
Simon and Grandma making Simon's nighttime snack.
After Sunday School, Alex and Simon played in the church playground for a bit.

Last Installment of Ringgold Photos

I love the pix of Simon clad in green on the screened porch. He looks like a little explorer or a child from the 70s or early 80s. Simon is seen exploring the yard with Papa. There's a picture of Simon's legs after the walk that morning! Simon didn't notice or care that he was bleeding. Very much a little boy, Simon is! The picture of the house is the house in Rome that Matt's parents lived at when he was born and for a year or so afterwards. It is one of two houses that Matt grew up in. Matt and I were born in the same 'hospital' in Rome, Georgia. Matt's parents moved out of Rome in early 78 and my parents moved to Rome in late 1978. From discussion, it seems that my parents were planning to build in the same neighborhood that Matt's parents had lived in...(but then my parents moved to Mobile, AL).
A shapshot outside of the Senior Center in Rome, GA (where we met up with my mom and grandparents).

A Child's Entertainment

All of my "golf" pictures were dark!!! Simon loved his 25 cent golf-club set from America's Thrift Store! I think our Wii at home has built in him a love for the games of golf, tennis, bowling, baseball, and, unfortunately, boxing. He is the only 2 year old I know who will stop and watch golf or tennis or bowling on television!
The piano picture shows his eraser perched on the piano. Simon was pretty attached to this eraser during his stay in Ringgold. Always asking, "Where's my eraser?"
As you can see in the Diet Coke Zero pix, the eraser is used to help bowl.
Simon poses with his Mr.PotatoHead glasses right before getting taking a shower. We have a pix of Matthew when he was two also wearing Mr.Potatohead glasses. Maybe I should get that pic scanned and then post it ???
Simon is seen in the last picture helping stir the pancake batter on Saturday morning...

Snapshots of Life

I've never seen Simon so willing to take pictures as he was that Mother's Day!
We took Simon to the park on Monday, before meeting Frank at Panera's for lunch. Simon loved the chance to run around unrestriced. And there were quite a few redheads in Fort Oglethorpe that day!
Ollie had to leave Monday night, and Simon kept asking where Ollie's house was. I wonder how long until Simon understand cities and states ...
Melissa came up on Tuesday for a midday lunch and visit. She is getting married this September, and we are hoping my midwife gives us the go ahead for travel (it is 5 weeks before my due date). I loved this spontaneous pic b/c of Simon's face. We had a few other shots, but they were a little bit more somber and posed ...
Sarah came up on Wednesday and we were able to go to the walking bridge, Clumpies, and Rembrandts where I gave her her graduation gift. It was actually kind of chilly on the bridge that night. We played a few rounds of MadGab outside Rembrandts which was a different kind of entertainment. We were home intime for bedtime routine with Simon and for Sarah to take her turn reading the now infamous POPCORN book to Simon. Simon pretty much has the storyline memorized and there are two pages that he has memorized word for word.
The last pix shows my determination to pick up 34 lb. Simon less. I had stools near bathroom sinks and his playpen so that I could pick him up less. It reminded me of how my friend Lisa would put a stool/ladder near Jacob's crib and he knew that only then could he crawl out. Pretty good strategy.