Monday with Meme

My mom, the kids and I loaded up this morning to go to Tyler for the day and spend with my Meme (my mom's mom).  We LOVE going to see her because she just adores the kids...and me...and mom...you get the idea.  Her 79th birthday was last week, so we went to take her to lunch to celebrate.  The kids did great on the trip which was a blessing (there is a special place in heaven for the inventor of the portable DVD player). 

We got there around 11:00 this morning, said hello, etc., then went to Traditions for lunch.  After that, we went to the cemetary to visit my Pop's grave (my mom's dad).  I can't believe it, but he's been gone for 21 years.  Meme is such a strong woman, and I admire her so much.  I just can't fathom living without Clay for 21 years.  Pop (Charles William Graf) is Ethan's namesake, and I so wish he could have met little Ethan.  I didn't know this until we were there, but my Meme's parents are buried beside my Pop.  I have very vague memories of being 7 years old and attending his funeral, but I have great memories of getting very special treatment for being the only granddaughter and the youngest.  I'm really glad we went out there today.  (Shawn, Emily, Chad - I didn't know this, but your grandfather is buried right next to mine.  I thought that was pretty neat.)




Then, we went back to Meme's and Rachel rolled over (with no pillow assistance) for the first time!   She was lying on her stomach on her little play mat and just rolled right over.  She did it about 10 times in a row, and she was very pleased with herself each time.  I did get a video of it, but don't know how to upload a video so I'll get techy Clay to do that hopefully tomorrow. 

Another exciting happening for us is that Ethan is very successfully using the potty now.  I guess he just woke up Saturday morning and decided that he would do it because Clay and I really can't take any credit for it.  He told me every time today when had to go (pee and poop), and he was very proud of himself each time.  On the trip home tonight, he told me he had to pee pee, and I asked him if he could hold it for a few minutes until we found a bathroom.  He said yes and ended up having to wait about 15 minutes - and he did it!  (Side note - this is the way the sign read on the drink machine at the gas station - The white cup's is the ice cup's.  Many of you know that I hate it when people use an innapropriate apostraphe...oh how I wish I had a camera phone.)  I took him to Target yesterday to get some pull-ups and some real underwear, so he's pretty excited about wearing those.  We have the underwear put in a special place for when he's really good at this whole potty training thing.  (Side note - I had my grocery list out at the store yesterday and it had been in my purse for a few days so it was a little crumpled.  He said, "Mommy, somebody was not very nice to your shopping list.")

Let's see - then we went shopping at a really cute little boutique called the Punkin Patch and got some things for Rachel and her cousins.  We ate dinner and then came home.  It was such a great day with Meme, and we're hoping she and her best friend can come this weekend to hang out.  And please say a prayer for my Meme as she goes to the doctor tomorrow for some testing.