Shippensburg Fair

We have been to the fair several times to meet Daddy for lunch and to check on the Volvo booth. Dallas has really had fun climbing up onto the machines. We were there last night checking on things at the booth and there was a very light crowd so we decided to let Dallas ride on some things. The first up was the jeeps and once we buckled him in we had to wait a few minutes for everyone else to get on. He was then ready to get out before it even started! She started it up and as you can see from his face, he wanted off! Daddy had to ride with him and then he was happy again. After that we rode the bees, a train, and the super slide several times. That was about all he could handle and we headed home. Other than a few trips to the fair we have had a quiet week.

I would venture to guess that no one else had a weekend quite like ours. We attended a bona fide tractor pull Saturday night. We laughed at how we had to leave South Carolina before we ever attended one. I certainly would not have thought we would be doing that in Pennsylvania. We packed up a blanket, chairs, and a cooler and headed over to the fairground parking lot. There were lots of people there and lots of tractors! I was not ready for how loud it was. We had just picked out a spot and were setting up when the next tractor started up and I started gathering everything up to leave. Dallas suggested that we move furter back. That helped some but it was still loud. We had to cover little Dallas' ears every time. Other people were more prepared for the noise with earplugs and headphones. I dressed Dallas in, what else, but his outfit with tractors on it. Daddy put on the crocs with it and I thought he looked so cute. I heard some guy sitting in his chair, that was set up in the back of his pick up truck, say something about that boy being in a dress. I can only assume he was talking about Dallas! I guess jean overalls and a plaid shirt would have been more appropriate! Anyway it was fun and there was lots of good "people watching". On Saturday we went to a parade down Main St. to kick off the 50th annual Shippensburg Fair. It officially starts today. The parade had lots of horses, even more tractors, and even more former Miss Shippensburgs riding in sports cars. Again, it was great people watching and Dallas loved the horses, the tractors, and waving to the cute girls riding by in the cars. Other than that we spent lots of time outside. The high was around 79 all weekend so it has been beautiful.

MommYYYY!

Dallas has discovered that he can call out "MommYYYY" and this nice lady comes and does whatever it is that he needs. I still have a monitor in his room and one on my bedside table to hear him throughout the night. I used to hear him talking or whining when he would wake up but now I hear him summoning me to come rescue him out of the crib. "Mommy, Mommy!" If I happen to be brushing my teeth and he has to wait a few seconds we will hear, "Daddy, Daddy!" It is quite adorable! He has also taken to sleeping with 3 items. He has a dog blanket named "Fancy" (some of you may remember that was Daddy Dallas' dog that passed away last year). He also has a Nemo blanket from BeBe and the newest item is a cow from our last trip to the zoo that Poppy bought him. We head straight to the kitchen where he has to be the one to turn on the light while we are juggling all 3 items because he just can't bare to leave them in the crib. I put him in his highchair along with his friends and get breakfast ready. Dallas now prefers pancakes to waffels. I found some in the store that are shaped liked animals out of the jungle so every morning he has one of those and some fruit or yogurt. I get his lunch ready while he eats breakfast and then we are off to get dressed, brush teeth, and brush his hair. I always hang is lunch on the doorknob of the back door so I don't forget it and he loves to get it off as we go out the door. I put our dogs Harley and Dixie in the laundry room when we leave and he helps me call them by saying, "Har-eee", "Dis-eee"! Then he goes and gets a toy and throws it over the gate so they have something to play with. How thoughtful of him!

Before we left for our trip, I was reading a magazine while on the elliptical machine that had a poll in it. The poll asked if it was cool to blog while you were on vacation. The majority of the respondents said "no" it was not cool to do so. I made up my mind right there that I would just have to be uncool because I wanted to share our experiences while they were happening. Half way into our first week in SC I found myself without an Internet connection and, as it happened, I did not have one for the rest of the time. We are back now and have lots to share. First I would like to thank Nana, Poppy, Bebe, and PawPaw for their wonderful hospitality. I could not ask for better grandparents for little Dallas than all of you. You love little Dallas so much and I enjoy watching you all interact and love on him (or should I say SPOIL!) We spent our first week in Columbia. We were so busy I did not have time to visit with friends like I was hoping but maybe we can do that next time. We spent one day traveling to Atlanta to visit with Great Grandmamma Jones and we spent one day traveling to Greenville to visit with Great Grandmamma Reeves. Each of their eyes lit up when seeing little Dallas and he thoroughly enjoyed playing with their wheeled walkers! We spent Saturday at Riverbanks Zoo where Uncle Whit was able to join us. It was very hot, but we had a great time. Dallas really enjoyed the seals, gorillas, and farm animals. He mooed at the cows, neighed at the horses, and baahhed at the sheep. He even helped Poppy feed a goat! Nana kept Dallas one night so Whit, Dad, and I could go see a movie. We ate dinner right before we went but when we got there I still ordered popcorn and bunch a crunch because I never get to see movies at the theater anymore and I was going for the whole experience! I was able to go out one night with Keith and Brittney to an engagement party which was alot of fun. We also stopped by Brett and Chelle's( they were our neighbors) for a brief visit and to let Dallas and their daughter, Caroline, play together. On Sunday we were off to Little River with Bebe and PawPaw. Bebe found out that Dallas really likes Nemo so she went on a mission to gather all things Nemo for him! I think it was a practice 2nd birthday or something but he had a great time getting lots of gifts. He now has Nemo pajamas, clothes, a camera, a placemat, a chair, a book, and a ride on toy. They recently finished the sunroom and that was a perfect area for Dallas to play with all of his new things! There was an early 4th of July celebration at the clubhouse and we walked over for barbecue and to check out the DJ. Little Dallas and PawPaw had a good time dancing. Daddy was able to join us on Tuesday. He was very happy to see us and we were happy to see him as well. We went out on the boat and spent time on the beach. Little Dallas really enjoyed the pool but was not so sure about the ocean. He really liked playing in the sand with the toys and buckets from Bebe. We went out on the boat the evening of the 4th to watch fireworks. What a treat to view a spectacular fireworks show from a boat under the stars! It was a really cool experience. Uncle Justin and Aunt Kellee along with our friend Keith joined us for the rest of the week. Dallas and Keith went to play golf and invited little Dallas and I along. We made it through the first 9 holes and left them (to their relief) for the last 9. Little Dallas loved the golf cart and clubs. Daddy had fun showing him what to do. We spent more time on the boat and in the pool. Everyone went fishing one day except little Dallas and I because I did not think he could make it for that long on the boat. We missed some excitement though as Keith caught a small shark and a flounder, and Uncle Justin caught a stingray! It was a long drive back home but we finally made it. Thanks to everyone for everything! We had a wonderful time!