Post from Parker

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmmmmnm m, , es
cfÅÅŸxxxxfdv cdfvff

Translation: I had a really fun day with my Pa and Granny. I especially had fun outside with my Pa and my new tractor!

Two boys and their Wheels

It may have been a little cool today, but that didn't stop two boys from having a good time this afternoon. Parker got a new tractor for his birthday, but he didn't much want to ride it until his cousin Arthur came down and showed him how much fun he was missing. After Arthur got Parker going, he traded his truck in for the golf cart, so he could get his legs in!

Riding off into the sunset!!!

Happy Birthday Tracie

Happy 25th birthday Tracie, you are a quarter of a century today!

Happy Birthday Parker

Monday, November 24th, William Parker will be two years old. He had a little party at Chuck E. Cheese on Saturday.

When his cake came he decided it was too plain so he added some decoration!

Looks much better!

Being the tidy boy he is, he cleaned the mess he made from his hands-although it left a slight blue tint.

He played some games.

ate some pizza with his friends. . .

had a little show with Chuck E. Cheese. . .

and opened lots of presents.

Happy 2nd Birthday Parker.
You are a lucky little boy to have so many people who love you!

My Thoughts on DC

As you read earlier, Steph and I spent last weekend in Washington DC. I thought it was very neat to see our nation's history and landmarks. It is pretty awe-inspiring. There is so much to do and see, we couldn't begin to see it all. I found myself really drawn to what it took to make this country. There is the Library of Congress and the White House along with other things. They didn't have near the impact on me as our war memorials. There are memorials to all the soldiers that have fought in major conflicts. Once you see them, they have the ability to make you stop and think. That is what they did to me. This is what struck me most about DC.

This is a picture from Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. We were there for the a special ceremony where American Legion representatives from all 50 states laid wreaths on the tomb.

A view of the cemetery from Robert E. Lee's house. I did not know that Arlington Cemetery was built on his land. He left his house at the beginning of the Civil War to never return.

High ranking officers are able to have special headstones as opposed to the government issued headstones.

A view of some of the government issued headstones can be seen behind me.

The grave site of President John F. Kennedy.

This is a view of the World War II Memorial. There were a group of WWII soldiers there visiting the memorial for the first time. They were brought in by the Honor Flight Group. It is said that WWII soldiers are dying at the rate of 1,200 a day. It really struck me that this was to be their first and probable last time viewing it. They were some of the lucky ones that survived the war. I was humbled to be beside them. The look on their face was hard to describe. It was a mixture of pride and sorrow. This memorial honors the survivors and those who did not.

Steph posted a picture of me at the Korean War reflecting pool. I thought I would end this post with a picture from the same pool. I found myself reflecting on everything it took to build this country. It took educated people who knew how to build a country through laws and regulations, but it also took common men and women who gave their lives. Most of them didn't get the honor of others, but they were just as important.

Abby is Two!

Monday, November 17th, little Abby King will be two years old! Can you believe it? Happy Birthday Day, Abby, please teach Parker some words when you see him at Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday to Kayla

Today is Kayla's birthday. I think she is seventeen! No matter how old she is she will always be the baby in the clan of Gibson first cousins! Happy Birthday to Kayla Beth.

It's Granny Lerion's Birthday!

Today is Granny Lerion's birthday. She is 75 years young. Last Tuesday she shopped me into the ground! Everyone leave her a birthday message and I will show her the post.
Happy Birthday Mom!

Trip to DC

I had to be in DC Monday and Tuesday of this week for work. Since I would be going for free, Jay decided he would just go too and we flew up as soon as he was out of school on Friday (a special thanks to the T and P airport shuttle). It was a perfect fall weekend for taking in the sights. Jay has promised Mom a blog about our trip so I am just going to do my 5 favorite pics from the trip and I will let him blog about the rest:

#1 - My pic with President-elect Obama. Can you believe we ran into him on the street?!?

#2 - This is as close as you can get to the White House since 9/11. We did go check it out from the side, though (where you can get a little closer) and we saw one of the Presidential dogs taking a walk on the grounds! If you look closely you can see there are two dudes on top of the White House.

#3 - Jay contemplating the Korean Veteran's Memorial. (Mom - I thought you would appreciate my reflective photography work in this one!)

#4 - Jay and I on the Lincoln Memorial steps.

#5 - The reflecting pool, Washington Monument, and if you look closely, the Capitol - oh, and Jay.

Greenway trail

A couple of weekends ago me, Jay, Kelsey, Trace, and Parker decided to take a hike on part of the Greenway trail (mostly I decided and just made everyone else go). We started at Percy Priest Dam - Parker was interested in getting a good look. Don't worry Mom, he's not THAT close to the edge......
This pic was actually from after our walk and me, J, and Parkey are just chillin'.

J and Parker were making sure Kelsey had plenty of water to drink.

Parker walking instead of riding....

Parker deciding to ride........

J and Kelsey taking in the trail...

Happy Birthday to Candace!

Today, November 10th is Candace's a birthday We hope she had a great day and got lots of presents. We also hope she has given up her aspirations to be a clown because it looks like in this picture she was just about to go join the circus.
Happy, Happy Birthday to you little clown and I think you should celebrate for the rest of the week! Don't even go to school, just stay home and read books and eat birthday cake!!!!

Happy Birthday Jason

Friday, November 7th is Jason's Birthday. He will be 25! Here he is all cute and sweet looking when he was 18 months old. And what great hair he has! Everyone wish a happy birthday to Jason. He is always at Misty's so we will make her responsible for showing him this post!
Happy Birthday to you Jason "Trouble" Lee Gibson

Parker's Halloween

This little devil boy trick or treated with his mom and dad in Nashville. He liked the lollipops he got the best and had to sit on his Aunt Stephanie's front porch and enjoy one!