November 9-11, 2014

November 11th was Veteran's Day...and it was on a Tuesday.  Our schools are always off on that day, and this year, we had off Monday, November 10th, too.  We decided to go down and see the kids, but couldn't leave until Saturday evening because of a People to People meeting.  We went straight to Lindsey's.

November 9th and 10th, we just hung around the house and played...legos...legos...and legos.  We also jumped on the trampoline and read a 3-D book! 

On November 10, we went to a gymnastics center where one of the playgroups Lindsey is involved with could go and play on the equipment for free.  The pit of foam pieces...jumping into the pieces of foam...was a hit with both Benjamin and William...and most of the other kids there!

After gymnastics on Monday, we took off to go see Emerson.  We picked him up and immediately went to Sports Authority to look for a puzzle he had seen there with his mom...not sure how long before.  Well, it wasn't there.  I suggested we go next door to Target to look.

"No, Mimi.  They don't have it."
"Well, let's just go look."
"Mimi, I promise, they don't have it."

I suggested he go sit in the car with his Papa while I go look...just to make sure.  He did, and he was right...no sport puzzle at Target.

We started in the direction of the hotel, and then I talked about other places we could go to look for the puzzle.

"Mimi, I just want to go to the hotel and relax!"

"RELAX?"

I about came unglued laughing.

We went to the hotel so he could relax...and I went to Trader Joe's and to look for the puzzle. 

I didn't find the puzzle..so we just hung out until his mom and dad got there...then we went out to eat at Johnny Garlics...before settling in for the night.

He played a few games on my iPad...and then it was time to really relax...and go to sleep! 

What fun to spend the weekend with my little men!

Benjamin building Lego #60052's Engine

Benjamin loves Legos!  He's always loved trains...so Lego trains are a definite love of his.

Back in November, he told me he wanted "60052"...he even wrote it down for me on a piece of paper. "Benjamin 60052".  A couple of different times on the phone, he would ask me if I still had that piece of paper 'with 60052 on it.' He didn't ask if I would buy him the set, he just asked if I still had the paper. I did...it's still on my refrigerator.

 When he arrived on December 21, he was looking at the presents under the tree. He saw a big box...and it had his name on it. He told me it was about the size of 60052.   Later, he took it out from under the tree, shook it, and then had me take a picture of him with the wrapped box.  Christmas morning, indeed it was 60052, and he was thrilled!  I think he must have told me 10 times throughout his time here after Christmas, "Mimi, thank you for 60052!"

Since Thanksgiving, he would watch videos on YouTube of 60052...of how to build it, of what all was included. The day before he left to go on, December 26, he asked me to video him building the engine of 60052. That's what this blog is!

 

I cannot get rid of these 2 boxes underneath.  I've tried everything...so please just excuse them!

Joshua's first crab of the season...and ours too!

 This is Joshua's favorite food on the planet!  Crab... fresh crab...from our buddy, Jim.  Jim is a fellow-Marine...and he and Joshua have a lot to talk about.  Tonight, Jim brought the crab over and they sat around with a 6-pack talking.

 After some visiting time, Joshua and his Pop got ready to whack the crabs...

 they have to be backed..

I won't go into that, it kind of makes me .. well, it's kind of gross...

 

Ron was getting those creatures ready...

 Joshua was showing that he was ready...

 

He picked up a couple of the crabs for a picture...

until we heard,

"Josh, Josh!  Get him off!"

and there was my guy, with a crab stuck on his finger.

 Ron asked me if I wanted a quote:

"I shook him a little bit and quickly realized he wasn't coming off!  And it hurt...bad!"

 Joshua got a big knife to pry the pincher off..

then my poor guy just walked around for a while because it was hurting...

and bleeding..

 Notice the raised fingers on the counter?

Joshua had to take over completely..

 Once they were all backed, in the pot they went... Once the water came back to a boil, they had to be cooked for 20 minutes..

 The 20 minutes was up, they went into the bowl...

 They had some cool water run over them to cool them down...

They were put on ice...getting ready for Joshua!

 Joshua let them cool for awhiile...

a short while...

and then he said,

"I think it might be time for some crab!"

and finally, a re-creation of the scene when his Pops got attacked by the crab!

Thank you so much, Jim!

This Marine definitely appreciates this crab!

Who is this, Mom?

So...who is this, Mom?  I don't think this was taken in Mimi's house.

Sitting around Mimi's table

Daddy, Aunt Terry, Mimi, Ebba, Uncle Riley (Aunt Monks's husband), standing:  Aunt Jane, Uncle Charlie, Poopdeck, (Billy Brown) sitting:Aunt Monk and Uncle Buddy.

Talking to Mom, she has no idea what this occasion was.   It must be around Christmas because of the holly by the hat.  Uncle Riley wasn't usually at these gatherings.  So many are dressed up...Uncle Charlie, Uncle Buddy, and Poopdeck all have on ties.

Mom didn't think she had a picture of Uncle Riley...but, yeehaw, there is!

The Pressleys

The Pressley Family 

Back Row:  Levi, Henry, Villa, Wallace, Monta, Jewel (my Mimi), Bea

Front Row:  Pa. Wilson, Meemaw, Bonnie Christine

Talking with my Mom, she thinks this photo was taken about 1919.  Mimi would be about 16 years old then.  She was born November 13, 1903.  Mom said this was taken after the war, because Levi and Bea had come home from the war.  Levi was a sailor and Bea was in the army.

Levi was the first son.  Pa wanted to name him after his brothers so he named him Levi McGrew Algernon Prescott (and there were 2 other names??).  When Levi had a son, he made him a Jr. and everyone called him LP, Jr.  When Villa was born, Pa gave her the middle name of Thomas, because that was his only brother who hadn't been included in Levi's name.  So Villa was Villa Thomas Pressley.  Pa always called her Thomas!  

Villa and Monta (Aunt Monk) each had 4 boys.  Mimi had 2 girls, my mom and Aunt Jane.  Bonnie Christine died in childbirth.

Levi married Willa Mae.

Wallace married Olla Mae.

Henry was married several times, but his first wife was Ruth.  They had Henry Jr., who my mom is still in contact with.  

Wilson was married to Lorna.  She lived with my mom and grandparents during part of the war (WWII) while Wilson was gone. He had been back from the war for 6 weeks and they were in a car driving to see Meemaw.  Lorna always kept her hand on the door handle.  Wilson ran off the road slightly, and when he tried to correct, the car flipped and flipped.  The door came open and she was cut in half and beheaded from the flipping car.  

Wilson was always called "Shorty."  I asked Mom if he was short, and she said, "Well, he wasn't tall."

This was all Mimi's family.

My grandfather's brother, Butler, married Iva Mae.

Mae must have been a popular name at the turn of the century.

All these stories came out tonight as I was talking to my mom....all because I wanted to get it straight who all these people were in the photo. 

He's getting closer to 60!

 My little baby brother is 55 years old today...

the double nickel...

 One big change he's had in this last year...he's now a grandpa!  Yep, he has two grandsons!  Brody and Remy!!  Here he is with Remy...

Here's Brody...

 and with his son, Addison, and Remy!   3 generations!

Here's the one who has put up with him for all these years...his sweet wife, Becky!

Happy #55 to you, Brother Dear!

Love,
Your favorite sister

August 10, 1955

  

This was my first birthday.

I love these...seeing my parents, Mimi, the surrounding neighborhood...

59+ years ago!

 I love the clothes!  My mom's dress, Mimi's dress, and mine!

 And we're out in the front yard?  Did we come out here to take pictures...or is this where we celebrated?

 I love how my dad has his sleeves rolled up.

 My first birthday!  I'm SO glad you took these pictures, Mom.  I think I must have gotten my love of photography from you?  At least photographing family!