Road trip...Griggs' 1st Lake Trip (August 2010)

Looking back, boy were we busy and on the go with our 2 little ones.  But, we love it.  It is fun to stay busy and fun to relax.  August was a busy whirlwind a bit, but full of memories and great times.  Griggs was just a month old (5 weeks) when I made my second quick trip to Dothan overnight by myself.  It's not a big deal for me to pack up and head to Dothan to see my parents for a night or two here and there, so, naturally, I wanted to continue doing so with my new bundle.  After Gram, Grumps and Mema's visit, I packed back up and off to Dothan I went for the night.  Philip would come up a day later to join me up at our lake house on Lake Eufaula for our first family vacation as a family of 4!!  We were so tickled to escape to the lake with both boys!! 

When I got to my parents we had a family cookout on the back patio that night.  William entertained everyone with his artistic drawings with sidewalk chalk.  Maggie and Grandaddy loved on Griggs and giggled with William.  I had fun hanging out with my brothers and watching the family enjoy time together.  Poppi came by for a few quick snuggles with baby Griggs.  The best part to me was sneaking in the bedroom later that night to find my angels sound asleep from all the fun...all tuckered out.  You'll see in the pictures :)  We also discovered that while it was too hot to be outside, Maggie and Granddaddy's brick floor made the perfect canvas for more sidewalk chalk drawings!  William was a happy, happy boy!!  I'll never forget his sweet face!  He was tickled beyond belief that he could actually draw on the floor, then Maggie could clean it right up!!  Thanks to Maggie for her creative thinking on a hot, hot day!! 



Once Philip was on the road to the lake, I headed on up to meet him and get us all settled in for the extended weekend visit!  I couldn't wait!!  I love our lake house.  I love how tucked away I feel and removed from all cares.  I love how still I become and how relaxed everything becomes.  I love watching Philip and William disappear on walks through the woods, down to the water, knowing W will be gathering sticks, leaves and rocks, as all little boys do!  I love waking to sunrise over the lake and watching sunset over the pasture.  I love to hear the crickets chirp and the boats whizz past.  I love to hear the trickle of the lake water.  I love the smell of the lake.  I love to hear the trees crackle and rustle in the wind.  I love to watch William throw rocks in the lake.  I love to watch William swim and splash in the lake.  I love how he is so natural around the water and nature.  I love watching Drake, our yellow lab, run full speed down the hill and go bouncing off into the water to retrieve a stick, and most often watch him lose interest to just splash around.  I love watching him wander around the yard.  I love rocking on the porch late at night with Philip, just listening to the night.  I love the naps on my college couches!  I love the sound of the AC as it clicks on b/c it always sounds like a "click" from Philip.  I love watching movies during the day and at night.  I love sunbathing at the lake!  I love fishing.  I love walking at the lake.  I love knowing that just down the street I can go buy a famous "Wilson's (baker's) hotdog" from my childhood!  I love knowing that William and Griggs are getting to experience part of my childhood just as I did by coming to Lake Eufaula!  I love my time at the lake with my family.  I love how truly away from the world we become and how we do slow down when we are there.  I love the lake!! 

Okay, after that little cry....yes, I cried thinking of the blessing of the lake and what it means to me....



How excited we were to be spending some time at the lake with our two little ones!  Sleeping in and napping always find us at the lake.  William loved showing his baby the lake.  William loved the outside time he and Philip had while Griggs and I stayed tucked away inside, snuggling and sleeping some.  I would wonder out with Griggs and find them down by the water and head down to find them.  Sitting on the shore, rocking Griggs while watching my husband and child play was just priceless.  The gentle waves rippled at my toes.  William had a blast collecting stones and rocks from the lake, not to mention all the sticks!!  A little boy is so very happy collecting rocks and stones...asking his mommy to hold them!  I pray I will always have open hands to "hold" his collections and that he will have that sweet, innocent spirit about life! 

Another favorite from that weekend was getting out with my new double stroller and walking with my boys!  I just loved walking up and down our road, pushing my double stroller, full of blessings while my beautiful yellow lab walked nearby.  William just loved having Drake-Drake with us!  He would call him over, giggle with every sniff from Drake and then squeal with excitement watching him run off.  I loved being outside getting back into my walking! 

It just so happened that my Poppi's side of the family the "GRIGGS"  side, was having our annual "Griggs Family Reunion" that weekend!  I was beyond excited to attend b/c of having a son and naming him Griggs!  We drove down on Saturday to Oak Grove Baptist in Shorterville to join the reunion.  It was great!  We even were able to get a picture of the youngest (Griggs-5 weeks) and the oldest member!  The food was great...endless vegetables, which everyone knows are my favorite!!!  I was thrilled to show off Griggs and see some of my family that we hadn't seen in a few years.  Poppi was very proud to have all 4 of his kids there!  We did miss having his sister, Sara, with us though.  She and her children and grandchildren had to miss due to her son Lyn's passing away.  It was bittersweet to be together, knowing one of our family was hurting so.  We lifted special prayers for her to carry her and the rest through the hurt.  So, after all the eating and visiting and catching up with everyone, we headed on back to the lake.  My mom called and said she wanted to drive some of my aunts/uncles and cousins who I've always called "aunts" up.  They came on up to get extra hugs on baby Griggs before heading back on the road.  William so sweetly shared his homemade chocolate chip cookies with them :)  He is such a sweet little host and loves to "welcome" everyone!  It is a moment I love to cherish as I watch his little manners mature and his little heart continue to grow with hospitality! 




We wrapped up our time at the lake quietly spending time together as our little family of 4.  We cooked together and watched some movies, just soaking up our time away from home.  William had fun drawing all over the front porch with his sidewalk chalk.  It's always fun to watch his imagination develop when he's drawing.  Another favorite of his lately has been making puppets!  He loves to create puppets with me and we create the most exciting stories to go along with our new puppets.  I included a few pictures of him enjoying his puppet time!  As we left that afternoon, we decided I would stay the night in Dothan so I wouldn't be driving home at night.  Well, the next morning, when I woke up in Dothan, my head was spinning beyond belief!  I couldn't walk straight, couldn't even sit up and hold my head straight.  I was very dizzy and spinning.  My mom quickly called the ENT for me and then she sent me right back to bed...but that made me spin even more.  I pretty much spent that morning curled in her arms as much as I could.  Poppi came over to drive me to my appointment so she could stay home with William and Griggs.  I felt so silly and ridiculous, but I could not walk straight!  Dr. Tim Gannon was able to squeeze me in that afternoon.  I was so relieved when I began describing my symptoms and he knew right away what I had and how I felt!  He shared that he had recently had the same thing and that it does come out of the blue and knock you down!  He prescribed me some medicine and said to just take it easy.  That meant I should rest :)  Well, I tried to rest some.  Later, my parents drove me home, moma driving my car with me and the boys while daddy followed in their car.  I slept most of that drive home and was so happy to crawl in my bed.  I was so thankful for my parents and for their help while I was feeling so awful after such a wonderful mini-vacation! 

Now, I can look back at the pictures from our weekend vacation with Griggs for his first trip to the lake and smile, knowing we had a blessed weekend! 

Oh, I just love life!  I just love being a mommy!!  God is so good.