Happy Anniversary, Tommy and Allison!

I can't believe it's been six years! Two young people with big dreams and lots of love setting out in the world to make it on their own. Well, that love grew...and grew...and grew. Where there were two in that little family six years ago, now there are five. And the fun has just begun!

Turkey Day is Coming!

We had a busy weekend with a Thanksgiving preview, including family and food. Friday evening, we took Mamaw and Papaw to Traditions to meet Monroe and Mary Margaret Rieger, old friends of theirs. They had so much fun, telling stories about other old friends and the good times they used to have together. Saturday morning, I went and picked up daylilly bulbs I ordered through Keep Tyler Beautiful. They'll be so pretty in the spring! Then, I went to the Truman Smith Center for their Thanksgiving Feast. We had turkey and dressing and all the trimmings and were entertained by a local bluegrass group who were really talented. I saw many of the parents of my students and then had a speaker come to tell them about things they need to do to plan for when their children are no longer in school. Then Rodney and I went shopping and bought Christmas presents for some good little boys. (Can you guess who?) Yesterday and today were so cold! Rodney got all the fireplaces going and ready for our big Thanksgiving Family Feast and Fun Days which will be here so soon! I got lots of things done today getting ready for the holiday. We're going to have such a great time together, and I can't wait!

The Turkey Trot

(A poem for my favorite little ones)

Five little turkeys standing at the door,
One waddled off, and then there were four.
Four little turkeys sitting near a tree,
One waddled off , and then there were three.
Three little turkeys with nothing to do,
One waddled off, and then there were two.
Two little turkeys in the morning sun,
One waddled off, and then there was one.
One little turkey better run away,
For soon it will be Thanksgiving Day.

Veteran's Day Tribute to My Hero

In 1970, Rodney was called to duty in the United States Army. He bravely served a tour of duty in Vietnam. I'm proud of him, and am grateful for the sacrifices made by him when he was so young.

Never Forgotten

My father, Lester Thomas, served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. He was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed by the Japanese and stayed in the navy until the war ended. His father, George Thomas, fought in Europe during World War I. They were young men who gave up much for the freedom we have today.

Sunshine and Family Fun, Part II

This weekend was so full, I had to add a second part. James spent the night last night, and gave our new Karaoke machine quite a workout. I can see many happy (if not quite tuneful) family evenings ahead. His main reason for coming was for PaPa's help in a science project. He had to build a vehicle that would roll down a ramp made entirely of recycled materials. Starting with an almond container, they added wheels made of old golf balls and assorted extras, and it looks great. And it will even roll down a ramp! While they were hard at work, I took Mamaw for some needed retail therapy. She has lots of energy for shopping--wore me out. We went to Dillard's and Penney's, and she got some new tops and a velour track set (seems to be the height of fashion at the Hamptons). I came home, did some laundry and ironing, made some red beans, sausage, and rice, and am waiting for Cindy and the other boys to get here as I write this. Whew! What a great weekend!

Sunshine and Family Fun

The weather today was perfect, and that was the way the whole day went! Tommy came by with his two rough, tough little fellas and we went and picked up Mamaw and Papaw and had lunch outside at McAlisters Deli. We visited, and laughed, and ate, and enjoyed being together. Tommy and the boys were just passing through, so they couldn't stay long, but we made the most of their visit.

After they left, I went Christmas shopping. Dade has given me his wish list, but he's the only one. Then PaPa brought James home. He's spending the night here so he and PaPa can work on his science project. More on that later. What a full weekend, and it's still only Saturday!

I'm Proud To Be an American

The election is over and our new president, Barack Obama, will be inaugurated into office in January. This is a historic first for our country. It wasn't what we planned or hoped for, but we voted and our vote counted, and that is our right, our privilege, and our duty as citizens of this great nation. The United States is much more than one person or one way of thinking. We are strong because this country was built by giants and heroes, people who stood for their beliefs and fought for what they saw as right. We are descended from those great men and women, and we should be proud of what our nation that they fought for is today. It has faults, and it has problems, and it's had sad days and happy days, good times and bad, but this nation is the greatest nation on earth. People from other countries risk their lives every day to be able to live here, in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We are blessed to be able to call this great land (and state of Texas) our home. We are Americans, and the pride we have in what our nation has been and the expectation of what it will be in the future keeps us going through bad times.

Katy and Christmas

This has been a busy week. Bogey got a new friend named Katy. She belonged to a little boy who couldn't run and play with her, so her family wanted her to have a new family who could give her lots of love and attention and who had another dog she could play with. She loves to play with Bogey and to sit in PaPa's lap.

Today, we went to see Mamaw and Papaw and took them shopping. We took them to a computer and showed them the blogs with the pictures of them with Dade and Luke and Audrey and the video of Susan on the news in Tampa. Mamaw fell down last week and is a little sore, but she is feeling much better and she and Papaw enjoyed shopping and eating one of Jucy's big hamburgers for lunch with us.

Now, I have a big job for all of my family. I want all of you to think about what you want for Christmas. It's time for me to buy lots of presents for good boys and girls (no matter how big they are) and I want to know what all of you want.