Another crazy MIL story

I called my MIL yesterday to check on Cooper like I usually do. She told me what he had for breakfast, we talked for a minute, etc. Then she said that she was outside cleaning her patio furniture and that Cooper ruined his shirt - here's how the conversation unfolded:

Me: How did he manage to ruin his shirt?
MIL: Well, he was playing in the dirt, and I was spraying my furniture with that spray cleaner with bleach from the dollar store. When I got to scrubbing, I got distracted and didn't notice that Cooper was playing in the bleach puddle on the chair.
Me: What?
MIL: Well, you shouldn't put him in good clothes to come over here - I had to get that done.
ME: I realize that you need to do certain things around the house, and his ruined shirt is not my concern, I'm concerned that he was playing with bleach. That's very dangerous.
MIL: I washed his hands.
ME: That's great, how long was he there, did he touch is eyes, did it irritate his skin? I don't use cleaners with harsh chemicals for this very reason, I don't want my child exposed to those dangers.
MIL: It was that cleaner from the dollar store, so it probably didn't have any bleach in it.
ME: If it bleached his shirt, IT HAS BLEACH IN IT!
MIL: Well, I had to get it done. I'll buy him another shirt.

She just doesn't get it. It wasn't a nice shirt that I put him in, it was just a play shirt. I wasn't concerned about the clothes, it's just that she is absent minded sometimes and doesn't keep a close enough eye on him to see that he was playing in a puddle of bleach! I am grateful that he wasn't hurt in any way.

Mini-vacation

Earlier this month Don, Cooper and I took off for Nashville. Don had business there so Cooper and I tagged along and visited with Grandpa Walt. That was Walt's first time meeting Cooper and the first time I had seen him since my wedding (which I had to quilt him into attending). It was strange visit mostly because when I mentally picture Walt, I picture him more the way he was years ago - when I was a child. He was always more outgoing than my Memaw, always wanted to do things when we visited, but as time has taken it's toll, he doesn't do as much, and much like my Memaw, he doesn't venture too far away from home. I wasn't expecting a ton of entertainment mind you, just a good quality visit, which I got, but I wasn't prepared for him seeming so much older. He wasn't getting around as well as he used to, a little limp and his stairs looked like a struggle to him and that hit me even harder. I wasn't prepared to see him so much more frail, not that he is. I don't know what I mean - it was very nice, but different.

While I was there, he gave me my Memaw's wedding ring. I REALLY wasn't expecting that. The only catch is that I have to keep it in the blood-line, so any daughter, grand-daughter or my neice will eventually get the ring - but I'm not giving it up any time soon, that's for sure! Here it it is. The photo just doesn't do it justice.

We only stayed in Nashville for a day, then we went to Memphis to visit with Nana and Pawpaw. Cooper had a ball playing with his cousins and playing golf with is Pawpaw. I think now the Easter bunny is going to bring Coop some golf clubs. Here are some fun pics from our trip. Also, Don and I went to Graceland (I've been there before, but he hadn't) and we left Coop in the capable hands of Nana and Pawpaw. While we were leaving to go to Graceland, Don and I realized that was the first time we left Coop during the day - weird but refreshing to spend time just the two of us.

We introduced Don to Memphis BBQ. As a Texan, his idea of BBQ (beef) is VERY different than Memphis style (which I prefer, but what else would you expect from a Southaven girl?).