Hiding Behind

Davey, these things are great. You have got to try them. They are incredible. I feel like a different person when I have them on. I feel invisible, or at least unrecognizable in them. Can you see me? Do I look like me? They are Mommy’s, and she calls them “Sun Glasses” but everything gets darker when you wear them. Not like night dark, but like shady dark. In fact, I can relax from squinting with these on, see? Can you see my eyes? If you can’t see my eyes, then I can turn my head one way and look another without you knowing. Maybe they should be called “Spy Glasses”. Oh, we’re going to have fun with these until Mommy finds out.

His Dirty Little Secret

We designed our backyard for maximum baby safety. The fenced area is rectangular, eliminating blind corners and allowing optimum visibility for caretakers. With the exception of one large tree, all the landscaping is planted on the outside of the fence. The four gates all have safety locks. There is plenty of room to run and play and few hiding places, or so we thought. We were in the backyard playing recently with a couple of neighbor kids. I was visiting with one of the parents when I realized I couldn’t see Trey Davey. Glancing around the yard he wasn’t visible. I quickly checked behind the tree, and he wasn’t there. As panic grew I called for him and from under the slide I heard “Yes Daddy”. Even though he was digging in dirt wearing nice clothes, I was too relieved to care.

The Tears of a Clown

Several weeks ago, we visited our first playground of the year. The boys greeted the slide like a long lost friend and played properly for a while, but as it often happens, silliness soon overtook Benji. First he started sitting on the top of the slide, which made Trey Davey wait. Then, after sliding, he attempted to climb back up the slide rather than going around and using the ladder, again tying up the slide for Davey. After being encouraged to reverse his backward progress, climb the ladder properly and then slide without delay, Benji thought it would be funny to go head first down the slide. Down he flew like Superman, but unfortunately, he forgot to extend his arms to soften his landing. Snot, slobber and tears from the cold temperatures mixed with the dirt pad at the end of the slide to create quite a sad face.

Driveway Demolition Derby

We have a shared driveway two lanes wide that runs almost the entire length of our lot. We can park 14 large cars on this vast blacktop expanse. One would think two little boys on two small riding toys could play easily without colliding into one another, but as I remind Sandy daily, we have BOYS. Rather than trying to avoid an impact, they seek them. After each loud plastic on plastic crash both boys would shriek with satisfied laughter. They would also compete by pushing each other wheel to wheel in a reverse tug of war. After observing this, Zack Roberts and I steered them away from their demolition competition and towards drag racing. I sense that we’ll regret that too.

GeoTrax Trainee

We held Grandpa Edds birthday party in a conference room with the tables arranged in a big U shape. His Grandsons were given the center carpeted area to play. Sandy packed a large bag of toys and books to keep the boys occupied for the three hour party. This furniture configuration provided the boys with a very long elevated road for their trains and fire trucks to travel. It also allowed the boys an opportunity to show off their toys to each of the relatives as they moved along the room. After Great Uncle Richard showed particular interest in this activity, Davey explained in great detail just how everything worked together all the live, long day.

Birthday Denial

Many people go into denial when they approach a milestone birthday. They have problems accepting the passage of time and the realization of mortality. Some go so far as to ignore the event totally in a foolish attempt to stop time’s advancement. Few, however, become too upset about another person’s landmark birthday, but Benji did. He thought it should have been his birthday. We have celebrated so many birthdays since Benji’s (four months ago) that he believed surely it must be time for his next birthday again. When asked to sing “Happy Birthday” to Pa, Benji would say “not Pa’s birthday; BeBe birthday”. Davey calls Benji “BeBe”. When asked if it was Trey Davey’s birthday too he said, “no, not Pa’s birthday, not Davey’s birthday, BeBe’s birthday.” I think he convinced Uncle Stephen.

Happy Birthday Pa

Members of the Edds clan gathered today to celebrate Grandpa David’s 70th birthday. Great Aunts Linda and Gay Nell decorated the room, purchased a birthday cake and catered a tasty dinner of Kentucky barbeque. Daddy Dave prepared a funny video with several interviews of people including Great Uncles Richard and Gene Ray telling old stories about our Pa. Traveling Troubadour Troy Miller wasn’t able to appear in person, but recorded a special concert for the event performing one of Pa’s favorite classic country music songs after another. Grandpa David couldn’t have been prouder of his three grandsons who behaved perfectly during the three hour event playing happily in the center of the room while everyone watched.