Family Visit

I have been absolutely terrible at blogging these last two months...going to try to get back on top of it!

My parents, Granny and my mom's sisters (Becky, aka Aunt Honey, and Debbie, aka Aunt Mimi) came for a visit on September 2. More fam was coming to town so it was a reunion of sorts!

Here are the sisters looking at stuff online...it wasn't anything crazy, promise!

 

 We had a good time while they were here...we went to the beach, ate a lot, relaxed. A kid stayed home from doing school supply shopping, while the other joined me (kind of a nice thing occasionally to be with one babe!). One day I had gone somewhere (maybe school supply shopping) and another group left for the beach (maybe) and Gran stayed at my house. When I got back I found this note on the counter in case Gran needed something...

 Super funny because it wasn't my dad's number! ha! I won't say who wrote it, though!

On Friday night, all the grandmammas had a sleepover at Linda's house (bear with me for the family tree here - Linda, Bonnie, Dixie and Sewanee's (who was not in attendance) dad was Gran's brother). Gran's sister's daughter, Sandra, and DIL Patty, also joined them.

 Like the rest of the week, I think they talked a lot and ate some yummy things...and stayed up past their bedtimes. Shame, shame!

They came home the next night, and Major introduced Granny to Angry Birds! Here she is playing a few rounds on my iPhone!

On August 5 we went to Bonnie and John's. The kids started out eating and playing in the hot tub (minus the hot).

This is mom and Becky on 8/6.

And on August 8th we hosted a shrimp boil at our house. Wouldn't you know it poured when we started cooking, like as in a flood! No problems with the food, though. It was absolutely delicious. Shout out to the Lamberts for giving us the play-by-play! I think there were about fifteen of us for dinner that night and so much food left! We didn't  mind the leftovers...we handled them quite nicely.

Everyone gathered around the table, stuffed!

It was so nice to have lots of people around, sitting around the table eating and talking, seeing Gran play Angry Birds! We enjoy the company - so, if you are visiting Orlando, give us a call!

Race, Cook-out and cornhole

Saturday morning (May 26) Jeremy and I ran a 5K here in town. This was my first one and I was pretty excited. We didn't pick up our packets earlier in the week, so we left the house at 6:00 am to pick it up and park and get ready.

There were about 800 registered runners/walkers, which Jeremy said was a pretty small race. Nonetheless, we had no problems parking and getting our packets that early. We walked around, talked to a few folks and before long began to stretch and warm up some.

One of the neatest parts was the playing of Amazing Grace on bagpipes before we began. Promptly at 7:30, we took off! We didn't try to stay together - he ran his race and I ran mine. It thinned out pretty quickly. I was amazed at the people that were talking the first mile, the boy that stopped on the path to tie his shoe and almost took out a couple of runners, etc.

When Jeremy finished he ran back to me and pushed me a little harder. I wasn't sure when to go hard because there was not a 3 mile marker, and there was a tough hill to push up at the end. I had already picked out a couple of people to get past - one was a lady and another was a man pushing a stroller. I made it past both, and I was excited!

Jeremy finished with a 21:04 (6:48 mile). He was 52 overall  out of 681 finishers, and 6th in his age group. I finished at 28:22 (9:04 mile) and was 279 overall  (I'm listed at 280, but we tied - the alphabet beat me!) and 4th in my age group.

I have no pictures from the race, but we had fun.

While Jeremy and I were drinking water and I was sucking down orange slices, my parents arrived with the kiddos. They ran the fun run and each brought home a medal. They were pumped. Ella Grace can even point herself out on her medal - it is pretty funny! I haven't dared tell her that those aren't real people on there.

After getting home and showered, and somewhat rested, we grilled Italian sausages and chicken leg quarters and mom's cousin Bonnie and her husband John came over to visit. The food was absolutely delicious! I don't think I've had an Italian sausage in years...they always smell so good coming out of Lowe's! ha!

And what visit with company doesn't end without a good game of cornhole?

Pop and Ella Grace took on Mom and Bonnie - 

 

 There are always some great poses, too.

 She is so in the game!

 I just thought this was too funny!

 The kids would inch closer and closer to Dad until he grabbed them in and tickled them...they always knew it was coming but didn't know when!

 The night ended with one more splash in the pool after Pop and Dad took them in.

 Bonnie, me and Mom (Nana)

 Bonnie & John

 The kids had baths and then Ella Grace took her brush to Pop. She didn't want a picture, though.

 Major was too tired for anything more, but I did get a picture of Pop, like it was during the week, with Ella Grace and Nana. (I love you, Dad!)

It was a fun week and we were glad Pop & Nana were here to see and do so much with us. We hope we didn't run them around too much between choir and AWANA programs,Major's graduation, Ella Grace's water day, Ella Grace's wedding and our race - I'm still recovering from it all.

Thanksgiving - Part II

On Saturday (12/26), we left my parents' to go to Jeremy's parents' house and celebrate Thanksgiving with the Jordans. The kids (of all ages) had a great time playing. Yes, it was Saturday and, yes, it was gameday. And what do the Jordans wear on gameday Saturdays in the fall? Yes, that would be correct if you said Alabama gear!

See, it doesn't matter how old you are you can play ball with the kids!

And you can show-off, too!

Uncle David was having some target practice with Austin, but Ella Grace & Major got in on the fun also!
Jeremy, Uncle Chris (aka Uncle Bubblegum) and Uncle David
These kids were captivated, and upon a closer look there was a HUGE bug. YUCK!
Jeremy with his family
Uncle Chris and Hunter
Our crew
David, Laura, Austin & Caroline
the kids with Great-Grandmother

the kids with Granddaddy and Grandmother
and the big boys with Grandmother (or Great-Grandmother, I guess it depends on who's calling her!)

We had a great time, ate way too much and saw a heck-of-a football game! At the end of the day we went back to Mom & Dad's to pack up and sleep. We departed while it was dark & rainy, got some gas and a redbox movie and were on our way.

As we neared home, there was so much traffic. After much debate we detoured, which in itself added an hour to our time, but there was no guarantee the traffic would let up when we got on the turnpike. Going through a national forest a black bear ran across the road in front of us. At first I just thought it was a huge dog, but, no, black bear! Can a road trip get more exciting?!

And it was SO good to get home!

Our Thanksgiving celebration

Aunt Lo-Lo drove in Thursday night and we planned to do a little Black Friday shopping. Ella Grace said she wanted to go with us (year 3, I believe). She went to bed earlier and we woke her up about 10:30pm to get going. We did a little shopping at Wal-Mart and Target in the Gardendale/Fultondale area then headed to the Galleria. To me, it just wasn't the same - I enjoy being in the crowds and the festive atmosphere that the day/early morning holds. But, shopping some Thursday night just didn't feel the same.

We got home around 6:15 and Lori and I went straight to bed. Ella Grace, though, thought she could stay up. When I got up & showered, Jeremy and I went into "town" and I got a sewing machine! So excited!

MeeMaw, Aunt Glenda and Aunt Sherry (my dad's side) came up and visited with us. Granny rode up with them, too. It was SO nice to see them all.

After MeeMaw, Sherry & Glenda headed back home, Gran headed straight for the tunnel!




That's one spunky lady, right here!

And it wasn't long before Ella Grace got in trouble - right before we ate. I put her in timeout and it wasn't long before she found our elf (Chuluota Toot-toot) hiding in the tree next to her rocking chair. Not too much time passed before this what I went back to see.
One exhausted five year old. She really didn't budge the rest of the night except for forcing her to eat a little food (which she didn't remember the next day) and getting her to bed.

Here, Major was so excited to see our elf!
We relaxed and just enjoyed each other's company for the rest of the day!

Our fun Thanksgiving Day

Our 2011 Thanksgiving was spent a little differently than in year's past. We had a yummy breakfast with Grandmother and Grandaddy, and then headed over to visit with Nana & Pop. This was our first visit with them on this trip. Nana had gotten a few new toys and, to say my kids were excited was an understatement.

They called this particular toy the "roller coaster" - and they had many turns on this. Ella Grace even took Holly for a turn.

Major had to try something new -

And then down the driveway (which is a roller coaster of itself).
We talked aboutmaking a fire, and it is hard to make a fire without firewood. Dad & Jeremy are hard at work trying to get a few pieces to get one started later in the afternoon.
Back to the toys, these are the motorcycles! ha! Ella Grace & Pop work to get them started.


The pink one just wasn't feeling it...
Major just took off on his - Pop kept telling him to slow down!


Here, Ella Grace demonstrates how you can also pull a baby carriage with it.
Please, do not try this with real infants.
The fire was a success. But, what is a fire without roasted marshmallows? So, we did it right!

In all the travel and commotion, I never did take a look at all the fun things Ella Grace made at school for Thanksgiving. Below, she (aka "Little Purple" - her Indian name) shows off her headdress, vest, camouflaged turkey, handprints, a napkin from her Thanksgiving treats at school, a picture of her jumping out of a pumpkin, and her "How to Cook a Turkey" page & "I am Thankful for..." page. Hopefully, I will get those up later.
There was no turkey and dressing on this Thanksgiving Day. But, we did get to visit with both of our parents and I think we were most thankful for this this time more than anything!