First Frost

It has been so warm, our first frost was (probably) about 10 days ago. and we may not have had a second one.

Flowers

They don't have any more gladioli at HEB where we would get our flowers every week. :(

However, while we were at Sam's a couple of weeks ago, we got some Carnations, and they still look very lovely.

I also got a replacement Cardinal for my little hanging basket.  The last one I had, had disintegrated, believe it or not.

Church

A few weeks ago, we heard our new preacher give his first sermon. We had been waiting many many months with the search committee working so very hard.  So, welcome, Burrow Family!

It was also "Light on the Hill"/"Food Drive" week, and so we sent the little boy up with our contribution.

Also, Cindy was back at church with us, and the little boy was totally psyched.

Thanksgiving 2016

We had Thanksgiving lunch at Oldham Lane again this year.  Judith had posted a sign- up sheet at church as an open invitation to join us, anyone who might otherwise be spending Thanksgiving by themselves.

We ended up with close to 40 people there.  I had prepared 2 turkeys, along with a ton of gravy, but the second turkey remained untouched.  The first one was pretty much decimated by the end of lunch.

A lot of ladies ( and gents, I suppose ) worked hard to make this meal happen. Hurray for them!

The little boy helped me prepare the cranberry relish, just like the way Granny Franny used to do it.  I tried to make the turkey gravy the old fashioned way, with chopped up boiled eggs.  Also, a mincemeat pie was a must-have for the hubs. :)

Like, drool.

And don't you just love goofy cousins at Thanksgiving, all decked in various shades of ORANGE?

And the older ones keeping an eye on the younger ones..?

Meanwhile, the grown-ups dug in to the grub.

I thought that it was very sweet of Jet to want the little boy to sit next to him, even though in the last picture, the little boy looks a little bewildered. LOL

And babies....

The little boy very much needed to stop by the Oldham Lane playground for a few minutes before leaving...

CUTENESS OVERLOAD!

After a short nap at home, it was time to reconvene at Stephanie's house for dinner.

The sunset on the way there was spectacular.

The guys were all caught up in the Cowboys' game,

while the rest of us tucked in to MORE GRAVY.

Once the game was over ( Woot, Cowboys won! ), the little kids took over the living room AND the TV. LOL.
*love love love love love*

Grandad's Playground Revisited

We used to go by this playground a lot when the little boy was younger, but not so much recently.

The little boy went around "remembering" all the different places at the playground, especially the sand pit.

The little boy and daddy had a fun time playing basketball with some balls they found on the grounds.

Then we walked throught the "ditch alley" to the street where Grandad used to live..

the feels, y'all.

*sigh*

Happy Birthday Hannah!

I love it when family gets together and the young ones run, play, laugh and even cry with abandonment :)

So, it was such a blessing to be able to celebrate Hannah's 1st birthday with the family & kids yesterday.

The little boy was very eager to make her a personal Birthday Card in her birthday theme, and made sure I reminded him to bring it along.

The party was at Hannah's grandparents' home out near View, and it is also where Charles and Joy are building their new home.

I was glad to see that Max and the gang were already there out in the backyard, and the little boy wasted no time in joining them for fun and games.

I am always so thankful that he has cousins around his age to play with whenever the family gets together.

The little boy later told me they were playing "The Fox and the Rabbits", and even tho little Jaidon was a little bit too little to follow the rules, the older boys graciously played with him as well.

It was so sweet that the little boy would try to look out for his cousin.

At some point, they probably tired of the game and came in for some hide and seek.

Finally it was time to sing Happy Birthday and dig in to lunch!

Argh, I just love it when these two get together. Such sweet boys.

And of course, the Lady of the Hour.  She wasn't really feeling the bow headband she had on, or her pink tutu, though :) But that didn't stop her from being just the most precious little thing :)

I mean, just look at all those precious ones... 

*my heart is sooo melting, I just can't...*

Halloween Part 7

aka THE FINAL FREAKIN' PART 2 WEEKS AFTER THE FACT

@the neighborhoods

After we left Hillcrest, we drove to some of the neighborhoods that participated in Trick or Treat.

We are still helicoptery parents and kept the little boy close to us all night. 

You never can be too careful.

The little boy had a great time, a great Halloween season and loved his costume.

What else can one ask for?

THE END