Four Faces of Hunter

Hunter was a little too young to attend Vacation

Bible School this week, and as a result, I had a

chance to see more of him and catch in some

action videos.

In the first of four videos, here is

"Hunter the Sportsman."  He had made many

shots prior to me starting the video.

Here's "High Finance Hunter." He takes no

wooden nickels.  He knows exactly where

the color-coded coins go, but delights in

teasing Judy by pretending to put them in

the wrong places.  Priceless.

Here's "Aviator Hunter." I actually shot three

videos of him zooming around the house with

his P-47 Thunderbolt with me racing to keep up.

I supplied some of the sound effects, too. Two of

the videos were interrupted when he spotted what

he thought was a bug on the floor and came to a

sudden halt, announcing, "BUG!  BUG!" Any 

passengers probably suffered whiplash.  But in

this video he saw no bugs.  It ends when he says

"PORCH," meaning "I'm taking my show outside."

The final video is "Hunter the Nature Boy."

Under this magnolia tree were countless leaves 

holding rainwater.  We nicknamed them "water

boats," and he passed much time flinging the

water out of them.  He didn't mind a bit if he

splattered himself in the process.  In fact, when

we showed this video to Judy, he placed his

hand on his head to show her exactly where

he had been "sprinkled."

My next post will also be about Hunter.

In it you'll meet "Tractor Man."

Brotherly and Sisterly Love Up Close

Hunter just loves to take things apart.

"Why should I put it back together, I

already did the hard part?"

Bri loves to get comfy and lounge around.

To give Grandma and Grandpa a chance to

catch their breath between bursts of activity!

Something else both kids love is Grandma's

Fruit Roll Ups.  Hunter's chillin'.

And obviously Hunter loves his

big sis, Brianna.  Or is he just trying to 

squeeze past her?

Nope, he's in a hugging mood.

And Bri is very patient with him.

Hunter practices being as sweet to his

monkey as Bri is to him.  We learn by example.

And the monkey reciprocates with a 

sloppy wet kiss.

"See," says Hunter, "Life is all about

give and take."

Another thing both Bri AND Hunter love

is Pizza Rolls.  And when Grandma knowingly

starts some heating in the oven they just

can't stay away.

Bri loves riding her tricycle.  She can zoom

all over the house and doesn't need to be

pushed like when she was little.

When Hunter volunteers to take a little nap,

Bri demonstrates her architectural skills.

This is a house for Kitty Cat.  How sweet.

And knowing something of Kitty Cat's

preferences, she adds a lovely porch!

Tah dah!

In this cutesy video, Bri has been giving

Hunter horsie rides.  They're both tiring out,

and she keeps asking, "Do you love me, baby?

Do you love your sister?"  He stubbornly 

resists telling her what she wants to hear. When

he strolls off to play with his farmyard he says

N-o-o-o."  Bri isn't offended.  She says explains,

"I'm getting tired of 'Ride a Little Horsie."

But there's no mistaking what I saw:

It was L-O-V-E!

Claire Kirby is THREE!

For our family, the Fourth of July will always

be positively associated with another grand

event-- CLAIR'S BIRTHDAY!

Yes there was a party, but all in all, this

was like a huge play date, starting with 

this new water table from Granny and

Granddaddy.  It helped beat the heat!

How on earth did the boys ever get it

all to themselves!?

Even before hot dogs were served up, Claire

and Riley had decided one of the most fun

things is to douse each other with cool water.

Bri enjoyed the water plenty, but getting to

ride Claire's glide swing was a treat, too.

While Hunter explores new heights.

Perhaps with a few qualms.

Got to try everything.

I keep getting this feeling somebody's 

behind me.

Ditto what I said earlier about "new heights."

"HOLD ON, Hunter!"

"I am holding on.  Calm down, Grandpa."

Cooling down indoors, Hunter shows

Granddaddy some of his skills with a ball.

And Bri asks, "When will I be old enough

to walk with a cane?"

It's time to serve up the food, and Spiderman

plates are an instant hit.

The plates are almost as good as the food

that's on 'em.

Of course, when you're three, presents

are a huge part of birthday.

Or 23, 43, 83, and so on.

And when you're 20 months old, it's fun

to help big sister celebrate a birthday.

This picture neatly divides the over 35 group

and the under 35 group.  Actually, FOUR

generations are pictured.  Ain't it great?!

Wow!  Spiderman actually shows up for 

the party!

"Uh, Mom, that's a little too realistic for me."

Hunter says, "Okay, that stuff's great, but

can we clear a little space for my race car?"

Bri loves having a little cousin that is happy 

to follow her around-- when her own little

brother won't.

But then Hunter decides he doesn't want

to be left out.  He announces loudly each

time he passes a light on the stairway.

L-i-i-i-g-h-t-t-t!

Bri and Claire quickly get intrigued by this

mix-and-match doll puzzle.

As if on cue, all five children gravitate close

enough together for a picture.  Missing is

baby Reese, who has already been safely

tucked in.  His day will come.

Hunter knows how to back up to a chair

and get comfortable.  While figuring out

a new tool.

Evan remembers he's got a new race car, too.

"Hey cousin, you wanna drag?"

"No, I'm not sleepy just because I'm rubbing

my eye, Mom.  I just got teary-eyed when I 

saw that beautiful cake you slaved over."

Every cake needs an official taster, right?

This cake also got rave reviews from

another consumer survey.

I know it's hard to believe the children are

all standing still.  It's all because of a really

cool Japanese beetle on Hunter's orange shovel.

Bri courageously isolates it for scientific

study in a pail of water.  If that bug had

been smart, it would have flown away while

it had a chance.  But in fairness, they treated

it like an honored guest, not an intruder.

Which just goes to prove, when you go to a

three year-old's birthday party, you might

as well be prepared for anything.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

CLAIRE!!!

Father's Day

As with most holidays, we celebrated

Father's Day when we could get around

to it.  At least it was still June.  We enjoyed

a fine breakfast at the Sanford Cracker Barrel

with Judy's parents and our friends Gail and Jeff.

(I had the perfectly named "Grandpa's Breakfast",

and you might want to check it out if you like

chicken fried chicken for breakfast with sausage

gravy, plus numerous side dishes.)

Jeff and Jack, two fine examples of fatherhood,

relax after a satisfying meal.  Since I'm taking 

the picture, can you guess where our three

spouses are?

When the ladies rejoin us (evidence on the

ground) I use the self-timer to take a photo

for the archives.  Similar to the one a month

ago for Mother's Day, but who cares?

Gail joined me and Judy for a brief excursion

into downtown Sanford to check out their

local farmer's market (a total disappointment)

and two thrift shops (pleasant surprises with 

50% off sales and FIVE CENT record albums).

As pleasing to me as the great deals was the

realization of an interesting fact about this 

old steam locomotive at the downtown park.

I had seen this steam engine before but had

never noticed it was an Atlantic and Western.

The significance of that to me is that the "Zero

Milepost" of the A&W during the Civil War

was right in the center of Loyd Street (now Central 

Avenue) in Atlanta. The street was named for pioneer 

Atlantan (and my ancestor, I believe) James Loyd.

  A monument to that milepost is prominently 

displayed in  Underground Atlanta.

So naturally, I felt I should pose as Buster

Keaton in "The General," his silent masterpiece

about the great locomotive chase during the

Civil War.  Thanks, Gail!

Now, a salute to two fine ladies who do 

everything they can to make me and Jeff 

happy.  And they succeed.  Judy and Gail set

 the standard as wives, mothers, and daughters.

Hope your Father's Day celebration was

as much fun as mine.  

And now we can move on to the Fourth of July!

Morrow Mountain in Summer

Regular readers know that Judy and I retreat to 

beautiful Morrow Mountain two or three times

a year.  When our babysitting opportunity was

switched to a different day a while back, we

hit the road.  This was before the current heat

wave, and everything was lush and luxuriant.

(not a shampoo ad-- sorry)

This is the classic mountaintop view.

On a clear day . . . well, you can see Lake

Tillery and nearby mountains of the

ancient Uwharries.

Just completed in the last year is the new

refreshment stand and boathouse where

you can rent a canoe or boat.

These folks on the lake stopped and chatted

as they passed each other.  Judy and I were

hiking the trail that follows the shore.

Now I've seen everything: satellite for 

waterfowl (this do-it-yourselfer should

have asked for help, though).

We love the footbridges that criss-cross

inlets where streams feed into the lake.

We always try to get at least one shot to 

prove we were there.

If summer comes will autumn not

surely follow?

What's this!? Dead ahead. Don't make any

sudden movements. . .

If we don't act afraid, maybe it will leave

us alone.

Well, what did ya think it was?  E.T.?

Or maybe a velociraptor?

You never know what you'll find here.

Like black walnuts.

And the tree from whence they fell.

The characteristic leaves make a nice pattern

against the brilliant sun peeking through.

Plenty of tranquil scenes along this walk.

One could almost believe we were on a

Caribbean beach.  But you know us better

than that!

Seek and find time.

Can you spot the lizard?  I bet you can.

And this deer seems to be asking unabashedly,

"Are you gonna feed me or not?"

Having pretty well devoured our own lunch,

we must answer in the negative.

To which he responds, "See ya."

And with which I'll close.

See ya.  Soon.