Popsicles and Stickers

We have our first set of stitches behind us. And who would've guessed (heavy sarcasm) that it would have been Ben? He slammed his head against our headboard, caught the edge and cut his forehead. I hoped for some glue when I landed in Urgent Care. Instead, we got three stitches.

Ben was happy to visit the doctor -- laid back in the waiting room with his feet propped up, pl: aying on my iPhone -- until the nurses strapped him into a velcro burrito, stuck a two-inch syringe full of pain meds under his skin, and expertly stitched his skin back together. "I am afraid!!!" he screamed. I think he was more mad than anything because, honestly, I've never seen Ben afraid of anything.

 He picked out Hot Wheels and Dora bandages to cover the wound, and we wore those for five days, until we went back to Urgent Care for our second trip. Our conversation in the waiting room went a little something like this:

Me: Hey Ben, where are we.
Ben: At the doctor!
Me: Why are we here?
Ben: To get popsicles and stickers!

He didn't cry when the stitches came out, and the nurses told him bye "until next time" on the way out.  Something about his spunk made them sure this wasn't the first set of stitches. And yes, he got his popsicles an stickers.

John and I are really surprised it took us this long. The stitches are out, we've already got three more scratches on our forehead. Life with the fearless one continues.

Last Stop: Jonesborough

These are the last of my East Tennessee photos and for sure some of my favorites. There's something about Jonesborough that seems slower and more wholesome than a lot of my world. I love that my boys love it there and hope they always get excited about spending time with Mamaw and Papaw. 

When we arrived after Christmas, my Papaw was just a few days home from the hospital. He had a heart attack just before Christmas and had stents placed in his heart. He was moving a little slower than the rest of us, but still looked great. That meant, though, that Jack had to convince Uncle Steve to let him ride the tractor. It didn't take much convincing, and this time, Jack actually got to drive. He will be talking about that for months. 

And if Jack's getting a turn, so is Ms. Mary Beth. (Ben was inside, and let's hope it's many many years until he realizes there are tractor rides at Mamaw and Papaw's house. I'm not ready for that yet.)

 

 

 

 I think this is another one of my all-time favorites: proof these two really do like each other.

A Few More

Found a few more photos from Mom's house -- mostly of the boys playing outside and picking from a money tree Mom received at work. 

And this pretty much sums up our trip toward the end. 

Oh, How I've Missed These Women

 I got to spend some sweet time with my East Tennessee girlfriends on our trip last week -- thanks to my mom who watched Jack and Ben so I could visit. 

 

I love this photo -- all the boys got together for Brandi's from-scratch chocolate chip cookies and tolerated a photo from me.

A Trip for Fish

Jack told me this morning that he wants to clean fish tanks when he grows up -- like those guys at the Tennessee Aquarium. That's the product of all the fish talk we've been having in the past few days, after visiting the Tennessee Aquarium in East Tennessee last week. 

 

Thankfully, we found a gorgeous day in December to take the kids to Chattanooga during our trip -- we started in the river section of the aquarium, took a break for lunch, and then tackled the ocean section. The kids had a blast and learned a lot about fish, turtles, penquins, etc. 

The aquarium is located on the river near downtown Chattanooga and has some great views of the mountains. (This is like the upteenth pictures of mountains that I've posted from last week. I really really miss them over here in West Tennessee.)

Back to the fish. With the help of my mom and Ruby, I was able to play with my camera a little while they counted and chased children. I always joke to my friends who are photo whizzes that my kids move too fast to do much more than an automatic setting. But I'm learning. Slowly. 

                                

                                

                               

        

        

Before we loaded up the car, we let the kids play a little outside of the aquarium -- where a fountain keeps children busy in the summer. I grabbed this photo of Ben and think it may be one of my all-time favorites. (except for the fact that his fly is open. He's totally going to call me on that in a few years.)

 

An East Tennessee Christmas

                                      

Ruby and I spent the past week in East Tennessee visiting Mom and Don, and then later Mamaw and Papaw. All told, I think we put 1,100 miles on my car, but got to spend some great time breathing East Tennessee air.  Charlie and Miranda joined us early on in the week -- calling for the obligatory "grandkids" photo for mom. John took one look at this photo and said "poor Mary Beth." Lots of boys. 

I found the boys hiding by the tree after lunch, waiting on the grown ups to hurry up and eat. They assured me they were just counting presents and organizing them for later.

Our usual morning routine was a lot like it is in Memphis: Ben comes to find me around 6 a.m. and we find a quiet place to play as we wait for everyone else to wake up. One morning, I caught this sunrise over the mountains. Memphis is growing on us, but I never see sunrises like this in West Tennessee.