Thanksgiving Day

We started the day wathcing the Macy's Day Parade and eating homemade blueberry pancakes!

It was such a beautiful day! The sun was out, the sky was clear, and the temperature perfect!!!!

Andy's mom, Cathy, fixed the entire meal, and it was GOOD!!!!

Abbie and her counsin, Megan, had a great time playing in the leaves. Such simple play is a perfect reminder of thankfullness-is that a word?

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Charlie Brown

Well, it is that time of year again. This is a tradition, I will admit, that I married into, but I don't mind keeping. We are all in our PJ's eating popcorn and cookies. Hearing the genuine laughter come from Abbie is precious, and a sound that I do not want to forget.

It reminds me, of the simple things that I often forget as I get wrapped up in the daily stresses of life. I think we could all use a friend like Linus. He tends to remind us of the true meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I send Linus thoughts to all!

Thanksgiving Program

"Talking Turkey"

Presented by NCES Kindergarten

I attended Abbie's first school performance this morning "Talking Turkey." She was a very proud pilgrim woman doted in a costume made from construction paper. Her innocence, joy, and love melted my heart when she saw me in the crowd and proudly waved...WOW...that makes a mom feel great.

It is not often that I have a day off when Abbie doesn't, so I took the opportunity to stay and visit for a while. She was busy in the "Writer's Workshop" drawing herself as a rock star. She took her turn at the turkey hand print station and then we were off to lunch.

"Mr. Turkey"

"I'm a Little Indian"

Introducing Houdini

Houdini joined our family in August. A student at my school and her family were PCSing and could not take the recently born kittens with them. So, knowing how tender hearted teachers are, she brought them to school. A fellow teacher then found her way to my room with a bag of adorable felines. Andy has always wanted a cat, so I took this opportunity to play on his heart. Before I could even finish my sentence he said yes-BJ wished he would have said no.

Houdini was MIA for the first couple of days leading us to search the house high and low and places in which I now know I need to dust. Finally we found him just for him to hide again...hence his name-Houdini.

When I brought him home he would fit in the palm of my hand, and now, he is like a panther. His sweet little spirit has now grown into a big bully. He taunts BJ so and is relentless. He attacks BJ from all corners and from above with upper and lower right and left hooks, head locks, take downs, and the POUNCE. He even finds BJ under the covers.

Houdini is not only a master of hiding but also a master of destruction. There are times that one would think a 3 year old had been in the room...except he doesn't know the Barney clean up song.

I will keep you posted on the tales and woes of our little ferocious feline.

Callaway Gardens

It's FINALLY Fall!

Our recent visit the Callaway Gardens Butterfly Center secured the notion that fall has arrived and is planning to stay for a while. The colors of the trees and the creation and beauty of all the butterflies we saw are reminders for some and proof to others that only God could have created such awe.

Abbie is still a little scared of the butterflies, and I guess if I were at her level, a butterfly would seem a little large. We found a butterfly guide sheet and she quickly became a butterfly hunter. Oh, only if the fears we had could be settled so easily.

As we strode back to the van, Abbie found several places to stop explore. GmaJudi...the picture by the yellow flowers is just for you!

Lookout candy...here I come

Trick or Treating with Abbie is far different from when I was a 5 year old. This yearly tradition of being overly saturated by free candy use to be a neighborhood event, but now children are bussed into neighborhoods in order to get their bags filled to the rim. When I was 5 my mom and dad didn't have drive me to familiar friends and families' house in order to be safe. We knew everyone in our neighborhood, even the one house that was known to be the one where the "witch" lived. Nevertheless, our Colt's Cheerleader made her rounds and informed us she was big enough to go to the door by herself. The one nice change since I was a kid is the involvement of the local churches. We took Abbie to North Highland Assembly of God where we participated in "Trunk or Treat", cotton candy, inflatables, and a Christian environment. Thank you North Highland.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

A Family Tradition

We just finished watching the annual Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin and eating homemade carmel apples...doesn't get any better!

Pumpkin Patch at Chatahoochee Valley Church

My friend, Bridgette, from work invited Abbie (Andy and I assumed we were invited too) to her church's festival. It was a unseasonably warm day but beautiful. All the events were free and tended to by warm and gracious volunteers. Abbie's favorite event was the pony ride! She was a natural rider and so proud of herself. She played lots of games and made lots of new friends. Thank you Bridgette for the invitation, and thank you Chatahoochee Valley Church for welcoming us.

Indiana Summers

Abbie and I go to Indiana for most of the summer. She gets to spend lots of time with her GmaJudi and cousins. Here is a small picture diary.

Our summer started out with 5 stitches-courtesy of Aunt Ellen's glass table.

4 WHEELIN' DARE DEVIL

Playing on the golf course has become a traditional summer activity.

Happy Birthday AMERICA!

Thank you soldiers for our freedom!

At the end of the day....

it's all about family...

and we love ours!