Giving Thanks

We spent Thanksgiving with my family in Birmingham. The kids and I headed out Wednesday, and Daniel met us up there Thursday morning. We went straight to lunch at my Aunt Anne's house. As usual, it was amazing. I forgot to wear my turkey pants, and I was regretting it. Such good food and time with the family.

 

I didn't even fix this joker a plate. He ate a couple Cheez-its and a squeezie fruit. I think Avery ate a sweet pickle and the butter off her bread. Wish I had their appetites.

 



The kids' table. Poor Jack ended up by himself since none of the other kids ate anything.

 

Family picture. I always forget, and this year I remembered. It's hard to get everyone to smile.

 

This was the hardest picture of the day. I think Jack was the only one who smiled and looked at the camera in every shot. We had to settle for Colty crying.

 

Such a sweet picture with Meme!

 

This child never naps. After saying she wasn't going to sleep a million times, I looked over and she was racked out!

 

We had breakfast Saturday morning with our sweet friends the Howards. Avery and Fulton had so much fun playing and catching up.

 

 

Auntie Beth gave Avery some kinetic sand for her birthday, and we finally got around to playing with it. It's really cool. It's mushy and it stays together so you can build stuff. It entertained them for a while.

 

 

Once Colt figured out how to play with it, he had a blast.

 

I was a Mississippi State fan before I was an Alabama fan, and I have been so torn this season. I am so proud of State, and it was very bittersweet when Alabama beat them. So we cheered for both teams today. Sadly, the kid on the right lost to those ridiculous hotty toddy folks. I feel bad for Dan Mullen and the players. They played their hearts out this season. The little girl on the left, however, is hopeful for a big W! Roll Tide!

I love my Vet!

Happy Veteran's Day! The past decade has brought many thoughts, prayers, and thanks for those brave men and women who so devotedly serve our country and fight for our freedom as we fight in this horrible war. I heard someone on the Today Show say that we should also be thankful for the families of these men and women who also sacrifice much. I don't know fear and worry until my spouse is in another country on the front lines. Today, I honor and thank each and every active military man and woman, and also the countless men and women who served in the past. And, of course, this includes my incredible husband.

Daniel went straight into the Army after high school. He got to jump out of planes, shoot guns,and run a lot. But he also did something very cool, which embarrassingly, I had never heard of till I met him. My husband guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. This is a very prestigious job. He was the 472nd person to receive the Tomb Guard Badge back in the early 2000s. Since then, less than 200 more have been awarded. It is also a very grueling job. You walk up and down the aisle at a certain pace for a certain amount of time. Day, night, rain, sleet, snow, heat...it doesn't matter. That tomb is always guarded.

I am so proud of Daniel for enlisting in the Army. It really saved his life. I even got a tour of the Tomb and cemetery by my favorite veteran on our honeymoon six years ago. It was amazing to see where he lived and worked for such and important time in his life. I can't wait to share it with our kids one day.

Daniel is on the far right.

 

 

 

So, hug and thank all the veterans you can find today. We civilians have no idea what it takes to do their job everyday.

 



Happy Halloween!

We were supposed to spend Halloween in Indianapolis, but we came home early and decided to spend it in Birmingham. Good thing, too...it was sleeting and snowing in Indy that night. Yikes! Avery and I spent the morning visiting some old friends and eating donuts.

 

I found this cute idea on Pinterest. However, I found out quickly that when you put a sharpie on an orange, it immediately quits working. Definitely a labor of love. We delivered them to my old coworkers at NSFH.

 

Nothing like a good ol' Krispy Kreme donut.

 



 

 

We visited Memaw, then we were ready for a fun night. I decided that we would trick or treat in our old neighborhood in Helena. The houses are close together, and it's flat. Plus, we got to see all our friends! After some fifty cent corn dogs from Sonic, we headed to Helena. Sweet Meme came with us!

 

 

Avery and Fulton picked up right where they left off. And I knew I wouldn't get any good pictures of Colt this year. Boy can't sit still.

 

 

We miss our friends!

 

 

 

 

 

We had fun trick or treating. It didn't last too long, though. Right as we were starting, the wind started blowing and the temperature dropped about twenty degrees. It was freezing! We hit a few houses, then headed home. We stopped to visit our friend Gigi in my mom's neighborhood and hit a couple more houses to round out the night.

 

 

Digging into the candy before we made it home. A boy after my own heart.

 

 

They did pretty good! This girl would have eaten everything in her bucket if we would have let her.

 

 

What a fun night! We had a blast seeing friends and trick or treating.