Wyatt's trip to Ma and Pa's house

A couple weeks ago I went to the summer Ag teachers conference in Springfield - I dropped Wyatt off with my parents in Sedalia and Cara (Savannah Ag teacher) and I headed down for a fun and tiring week. Here are a couple pictures that my Mom took while Wyatt was staying with them. They bought him a little pool to play in during his stay. He loves to be in the water - as long as it is not cold.
Wooo, that is a bit chilly Grandpa!
Wyatt and Ma went for several walks, to the City Park down the street. She said he liked to swing and bounce on the bee! My Mom was already making plans for next year when I have to go down to the Ag teachers conference and Wyatt will come stay with her!

Family photos

I am sorry that this is a short post, summer is flying by in our family! This past week, I have been in Springfield at summer Ag Teacher's conference. Wyatt went to stay with his Grandma and Grandpa Edwards. Derek stayed home and put up hay - you can see who got the short end of the stick! Even though I don't have any pictures, the professional pictures we had taken of my family are online! Go to http://www.scottericksonphotography.com/ and click on our album. This photographer did a great job with the material he had to work with. They were taken at our farm; see the mini round bale of straw, it was the last one in the field and just perfect for sitting on! Wyatt was not being totally cooperative as you can tell by his silly smile-grimaces. And the black fur-ball is Maverick, my parents dog. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Tipton!

This past weekend was the beginning of the Tipton Sesquicentennial Celebration (150 years). You can check out more picture and info at the Tipton Times website. Wyatt and I had a great time, the parade was very good with a lot of community participation. We were glad to see some many old friend who had also came back. (Hi Lawsons!)

Cousins Rylan and Ryker Edwards are ready for candy! Their Mom Krissie is trying not to melt in the heat and I was also attempting this same fruitless feat.
We have always sat in front of my Uncle Archie's store, TV and Stereo World. (l-r) My Mom Jeanne, my Grandpa Gene, Uncle Dan and cousin Jimmy Lachner.
Hey there is Grandpa Tom! He is a member of the American Legion and was riding their float/truck. If this picture had audio you would hear Rylan and Ryker yelling "Uncle Tom, Uncle Tom, Hi Uncle TOM!"
One of Tipton's claim to fame is actor David Koechner. He did an meet and greet on Friday at the bank and my Mom got me a signed picture of him. He said he could do a couple pictures for his old high school guidance counselor!
My old neighbor Harold Wolf driving his Dad's restored John Deere. He is pulling an entry to the outhouse races - four people push it down main street. Unfortunately, it was the only entry! I guess everyone knew is was a superior specimen. It had already been broken in earlier the summer in the Latham festival.
My Aunt Julie (3rd from right with while piping on her shorts) marched with Marilyn's Marchers - a group of girls who took dance and baton lessons back in the 1950-60's. I was impressed at their dance they did on main street - they still had their moves!
The 1958 Royal Court on a replica float of the one they rode on 50 years ago. Gotta love the chicken wire and tissue paper look.
Cecil Koechner always follows the horses and scoops up the poop left behind. And he always does it in a tuxedo. Yes this is David's dad, what a bunch of good-natured people!
My Uncle Archie and I thought this looked a lot like a float in the movie "Animal House". It was actually chicken wire pomping around a golf cart. Good thing most Tipton people have never had to pomp from MU Homecoming. Tissue paper, flour glue, your finger or pencil and hours and hours of bonding time, remember fellow Greek members? You GDI's don't know what you missed out on! *just kidding*
It couldn't end soon enough for Wyatt, who missed his morning nap. We left not long after the parade was over because he was sleeping and I was hot. Good thing too, when I got home it had gotten really dark and cloudy, then the rain came. My Mom and dad called a few minutes later for me to drive back downtown to pick them up. Good thing all the festivities are spread out over this past week. I wish we could have stayed around for them all!

Happy Birthday Wyatt!

Friday, July 11th was Wyatt's 1st birthday! His daycare had a nice birthday party for him complete with cake and balloons. Click here to see picture of Wyatt's first week

Wyatt is a little pro at eating cake but not at blowing out the candle.

Wyatt's method of eating the cake; he will go through the motions of using his fork but not actually get anything on it.Wyatt thought the balloons were a chew toy. He would grab the knot end with his teeth and pull and let it snap back. I thought it would snap on his face, but he knew what he was doing, I guess.
Birthday gift from Aunt Stacey - it is a WheeleyBug but in a holstein motif. Wyatt is not real comfortable on these wheeled toys yet, but he is trying! Mom request - does no one make kid cow toys in angus of even hereford colors? I am a bit tired of all the dairy cattle toys but we do have one toy with a purple cow - which I thought was a beverage.

Wyatt's First birthday party

We had Wyatt's 1st birthday party on July 5th, to take advantage of all the family in town for Independence Day.

Oooo, fire.

"This stuff is good! Why are you people laughing at me?" Mom note - I did not make his cake, our oven was broke. I did purchase it at the store and it was delicious!

Yes, he did eat the entire cupcake, except what icing is spread over his body. He then received a bath.

"Dad, this green Royals hat is dumb, can't you see I am wearing red for the Cardinals?"

"Again, why is everyone staring at me?"

Wyatt enjoyed chewing on the paper and boxes more than unwrapping them.

Thanks for the cool farm truck Megan and Greg!

Our guests enjoying the cake and ice cream, (l-r) Jeanne, Derek, Terri and Megan.
Whew, we are pooped. My Dad and his dog Maverick (on his lap) enjoy the front porch. Wyatt took a hard and long nap after everyone left, and I relaxed too! Derek had to "get outside and do something".

4th of July

What beautiful weather we had for the 4th! I remember last year's 4th, it was HOT and I was 2 days overdue (and 6 more to go) with Wyatt. What a difference a year makes! :) We always go to Derek's Grandma Vesta's house, it is north of Savannah on a hill so we can watch all the fireworks in town. It is an awesome spot!

Wyatt kept his Aunt Stacey busy on the front porch. She is so patient with him.

Joe Lyle got on the floor and played with Wyatt a bit in the house. We can't wait to come back and swim in your pool Joe and Mary Kay!

Aunt Keri is learning how to play the international game of "Hillbilly Golf" or "Ladder Golf"

Wyatt was so tired but would not miss any of the festivities, my Mom is make him smile with a raspberry on the next - nope, to tired to smile. Who is that badger in the background?

Tractor Cruise

The Show-Me Tractor Cruise was this Saturday (6-28). This year they went right past Grandma Vesta's house. Below are more picture of the tractors but I wanted to get this picture on here so you can click on it to see it full size. This was taken from Vesta's driveway looking south toward Savannah. You can see the parade of tractors traveling up the highway. I thought this was a cool sight and the picture doesn't do it justice. I love living in the country!

Early birthday present, a little Elmo chair. This is where Wyatt has his afternoon snack. When we were at Walmart buying it, he kept trying to "kiss" Elmo.

Wyatt cannot walk yet, but he can climb! He crawled into the laundry basket here and really thought he was funny!

We found a little cowboy hat when we were in Iowa, here is Wyatt modeling it. We did go to a rodeo in Mound City last weekend but I didn't get any pictures.

Here is Oneida Gillespie (Vesta's good friend), Vesta and Wyatt waiting for the tractors. We had to wait for a while before the tractors got to our house but we had fun playing in the yard, drinking coffe and reading the paper! The weather was awesome!

Here they come! The drivers all waved at Wyatt and some threw candy to us! It took about 45 mintues for all the tractors to go by. There were all kinds, colors and styles of tractors and we can't wait until next year!

Our cousin Clayton drove a tractor this year, his friend Jake is behind him in another John Deere.

Wyatt was getting tired/bored/overwhelmed after a while. Vesta found him this little chair to sit in.