Book by Greg Stones

Once I got back he picked up on my actions while watching the games. Here he is imitating his father during the final World Cup game between the Netherlands and Spain.

In between repeat visits to the giant insect hall we also toured the mini-zoo, watched the planetarium presentation, and attended a hands-on animal demonstration. We had a good enough time that we bought an annual pass so that we can return with mommy soon.

At some friends’ house this 4th of July weekend Trey got a chance to try a 12″ bike out. We were all really impressed with how quickly he caught and mastered the pedaling, turning, and braking.

I’ve already started browsing our local Craig’s List for a used bike.

It’s been fun seeing him pretend to get into the games. He picks a team to cheer for based on color and if they score he assumes they won and the game is over.

When the US (white jerseys team) lost to Ghana (red team) I was quite devastated and asked him to turn off the TV. “It’s OK daddy. I’ll turn the TV back on and the white team will win!” he said. The following day he turned on the TV for us to see Germany (white team) play and when they scored he shouted excitedly “See! The white team did win!”

When I travel I usually try to bring Trey back a musical instrument from the country I visited. On this trip I brought him the infamous vuvuzela – a plastic horn blown by thousands of fans at South African soccer games. Here’s a clip of Trey blowing his vuvuzela during the USA v Algeria game.

Trey had them drive around on his matchbox cars for a while and then I set up some lights on the back porch and took some photos. Trey isn’t afraid of the bugs at all, but the tickling is what made the photos so hard to get.

One more video after the jump….

Videos after the jump…

Below are some videos of him enjoying his meal. The highlight is when he breaks down the dragon roll’s anatomy and ends with “And this is his bottom. The bottom… where poopoo comes out.”

Here’s a silly video we put together:

Music by Dan Deacon

Despite the rain that drizzled throughout the morning, “Uncle Kenny” led us on a fun hike through the swamps garnering “ooo’s” and “aaah’s” from the kids. Heidi and her siblings all have such fond memories of their time spent at the cabin while growing up. It’s cool that we now get to see Trey making fond memories of his own at that very same place.

On Saturday Tommy and Betty Haun joined at the Dinner Bell (another favorite of Peepaw’s) and afterwards we ate cake back at the house. Then Trey, David, and I went down to the nursing home in Madisonville to visit Grammaw. She was in really good spirits that day and we had a nice time with her. I read the story of “Brer Rabbit and Da Tar Baby” to her and Trey and they both really enjoyed it.

From the “do-it-yourself” images on the web site I expected the thing to look like junk but it is actually a really nice polished looking apparatus complete with caps on the ends and foam grips. Definitely worth paying the $39.99 for it instead of building it myself with parts from Home Depot that cost $14.

The second video is Trey opening his presents from his Uncle David and Aunt Brittany. They gave him a monster box of crayons and some massive paper rolls to draw on. In the background you can hear my mom explaining to my Grandfather how to use his new electric razor as well as music from a toy Philip received.

Be sure to click the HD button then the Fullscreen one above ↑

Music by Matt & Kim

Even at a very young age a child understands that a birthday involves receiving gifts. With a “Birthday Party for Jesus” a few important ideas about the true meaning of Christmas are relayed.

1. Christmas is about Jesus’ birth. It is HIS birthday we celebrate.
2. Like a birthday party, Christmas is a time when family and friends get together to have fun and celebrate a very special person that they all love.
3. Normally the birthday boy/girl receives gifts, but on Jesus’ birthday we receive the gifts. Why do we get gifts and not Jesus? We don’t deserve them – it’s not our birthday – it’s His!

That last one may be subtle but it will stick with a child as he grows up and he associates year after year that Jesus’ birthday means undeserved gifts for him. When that child is old enough to understand the Good News about the gift of salvation it will make perfect sense that he would receive such an incredible undeserved gift from Jesus.

Here is a video I made of Trey and the kids at our church party. Follow this link to our church’s Facebook page to see photos (Trey’s in there too!)

Like the music? That track is by Sufjan Stevens who has an amazing 5 CD box set of Christmas songs for only $15! It’s our favorite Christmas album every year.

Music by Lullatone
Shot with a Canon 7D, 50mm f/1.8

This second video is of Trey on the dance floor at the reception. He danced all night long – we have no idea where he got all the energy, but it sure was entertaining!

After some play time at my parents’ house this morning, we drove down the road to Echo Lake Park for a picnic lunch with my mom and brother Philip. After some fun on the playground we had lunch and then Trey and I walked the 3/4 mile trail around the lake.

Watch in HD on Vimeo.com

Watch this video in HD at Vimeo.

Watch the video in HD on Vimeo.

Watch this video in HD on Vimeo.

We filmed this in March at the Georgia Industrial Children’s Home, a place that has become own of our favorites to visit. That evening my camcorder broke and I was unable to download the footage to my computer to edit. It took the manufacturer 2 months to repair it and I just finished editing it. Trey looks so much younger in this footage and it is only 3 months ago!

Medici was an Italian politician in the late 1400s who brought Europe their first giraffe (technically Caesar brought one in 46 BC but he had it killed by lions in the coliseum). Medici showed it off in Florence for a while but it died shortly after its arrival. They were keeping it in a horse stable and it caught its head in the rafters and broke its neck. See why Trey needed to save it?!

Here’s a video I put together with some footage I shot of Trey playing on the deck a few weeks ago.

Music by Atlas Sound from their FREE Virtual 7″ entitled “Time Warp”. Download it for yourself over at their blog.