Thanksgiving 2010

Thanks for not pressuring me to blog. With that said, here I go.

We were able to travel to Texas for Thanksgiving again this year. It's a long, hard drive, but totally and completely worth every single mile. My only regret? That I didn't take my own camera with me. Why? Because I don't have any pictures of Jay's family. That's it. Instead of saving up for the camera lens I've been wanting, I'm going to just buy a point and shoot to take with me everywhere. If not for Mom, I wouldn't even have pictures of my side of the family.

My kids with some of my cousin, Jeff's, kids.

(from my Dad's side of the family)

Dad and the 3 munchkins

This is what I love about my family...we just sit and visit.

Olivia talked Mum-Z into reading to her. He's such an animated reader that Olivia called for encore after encore.

Again...talking and laughing.

My grandma with a lot of her great-grand kids. 7 were missing!

Play, play, crash.

I love this picture of Olivia and me. Thanks, Linds!

My mom's side of the family also came over for Thanksgiving. Granny bought all of the great-grands (and 1 grand) singing reindeer. Cute.

Some of the gals

Mom, Liv, and Me

Love him.

My only girl cousin on my dad's side of the family. We have plenty of stories.

My cousin, Jeff, who is "Uncle Jeff" to my kids, and more like a brother to me.

Well, that's about all I've got. Sorry that most of the pictures include me...maybe that makes up for me always being behind the camera. :)

Girls, Outdoors, and Cameras In Hand

Carving With Dad...er...Mom

Last Thursday was Carve A Pumpkin With Dad day in Josiah's class. Jay was out of town, so I took on the pumpkin carving duty.

I asked Josiah what he wanted his pumpkin to look like. Fortunately, he said "just triangles".

I don't know why I even asked. It's not as if I could have done any kind of detail work.

Josiah wanted his pumpkin painted. It may not have been the best pumpkin carving decision.

Some of Josiah's friends...

Brady, Ethan and Josiah

I think I need to work on my skills. Josiah, however, was very pleased with our work. He even drew eyelashes and made the pumpkin a girl.

Isaac decorated a pumpkin for his class to celebrate Fall and good literature. The kids were to decorate it as their favorite book and talk about the story. Isaac chose to use There's No Such Thing As A Dragon for his pumpkin and presentation. He was super proud of his pumpkin, even though his wasn't wearing a dress, wig, shoes, glasses or hat like many of his classmates' pumpkins. haha

Somewhere Over The Funnel Cake

Olivia has really enjoyed her alone time with me during the school days. Today she made a really cute rainbow that she is super proud of.

The posing went on and on.

Our family was eating lunch with a friend the other day when she mentioned that she had never eaten a funnel cake. Well, I happened to remember seeing a recipe for funnel cake and invited her on over last night. She and another friend came for a night of Dancing With The Funnel Cakes. (See if you can decipher that one.)

The funnel cakes were amazing last night and today! The kids (who have also never eaten them before) thought I was the best snack maker ever. Score.

Boys Will Be Boys

The End

(Don't miss the post below about Mr. Andy)

Andy Shmandy

He may not be the smartest dog in the world, and he may nip at Olivia's skirt every time she walks by him, and he may whine when he's left closed up in a room, but he's pretty close to perfect in my book.

Andy got his first trim a couple of days ago and it changed his look so much. I told Jay that he doesn't look like a disgruntled teenager anymore (with his hair hanging over his eyes).

I wish that all (6) of you readers could feel his super soft hair. Until then, enjoy the pics and think of cotton.

Field Trip, Jags Game, and Nature Walk

Josiah's class has been reading the Junie B. Jones books. They were so excited when they found out that a musical was being put on by a local college on Junie B. Jones. I've never seen a teacher as eager for a field trip in my life. She's been reading these books to her classes for the past 13 years. I went as a chaperon.

Josiah and a couple of boys in his class.

(Tyler and Sam)

Kindergarten AND 1st grade went on the field trip, so Isaac was able to go, too.

(I can't remember the name of the boy on the left...Matthew, Isaac and Jack)

Jay went to a Monday night football game last night.

Jacksonville vs. Tennessee

Jags lost. Big time.

Olivia and I went on a nature walk today. I love all of the great things we found...even a dead dragon fly.

My little chipmunk gathering her acorns.