Thanksgiving 2016

In a few more months, I'll be a year behind.  I always think that I'm going to sit at my computer and blog more than I ever actually do.  I'm going to have to make it a goal of mine next year because I'm the type when something is in writing, I'm more likely to complete it.  I LOVE checking things off a to-do list :)

meeting our new cousin, Eli

We will call him E-man

I love my little E-man

So let me think back 7-8 months to Thanksgiving.  We drove to Mississippi on Tuesday afternoon/evening after Bryce got off of work.  I don't remember where we slept because we got in at like 1 in the morning and B/G/E were there in the guest room.  Maybe B and I slept on the floor in the office.  I really can't remember, but it was so nice because on Wednesday morning, B/G/E were already there and that was my first time to meet my new nephew.  Ashley D was already there too and she was asleep in the recliner so I'm pretty sure we slept in the office.  It doesn't really matter.
Wednesday we had a very chill morning and at some point we went to to a park and played for a while before eating lunch at home. 

I love this girl!

She's more like a little sister or cousin

Lloyd and Ryan came down for the day too and it was the first time in a LONG time that I've been at my mom's house in Hattiesburg with both my brothers.  It was a lot of fun and I hope we can plan to do it more frequently since now we all have kids.  Eli was only a few weeks old and so small, but adorable.  I was a baby hog and held him a lot.  I realize, although I don't like it, that I will only see my nephew a couple of times a year (3 at the most) so he will grow up without his Auntie Katie (and Hantla cousins).   The whole crew went bowling and it was a blast.  Between Bub, Lloyd, and B, maybe 1 of them stood a chance at beating my mom, but I think she won both games.  E-man was passed around while people took turns bowling and it was just great. Lloyd and his kids left from the bowling alley and headed back to Jackson.  The rest of us went back to Gram's house for dinner.  I think she cooked spaghetti, but I could be mistaken, but again, that's not really important.  We ate dinner and played at the house for a while until it was time for B/G/E to head back to AL.  Some tears were shed, but Bubba and I always cry when we say good-bye to each other.  I'm proud of the dad and *boyfriend he's turned out to be these past few months.

Bubba with 187 and my mom (M) with 188

Brothers!

Bryce won this game 151 to 148

The Ladies (and E-man)

Thanksgiving morning was spent cooking and prepping food and watching the Macy's Day Parade. My mom invited a few of her friends to join us for the meal and AC came over also.  We had a great spread of the traditional Thanksgiving Meal, although one year, I want to eat at Golden Corral for Thanksgiving so then I don't have to cook or clean.  My mom used paper plates at least, so that helped with some of the clean-up.  After lunch we went to see Moana at the movies and it was great. We will own that movie eventually.  Before going home, we stopped to visit with Jeannie to say Happy Thanksgiving.  She's a very good friend to my mom and AC, but also to our family and my kids.  They call her "Aunt Jeannie".  It was good to visit with her and meet some of her family in town from Beaumont. 

Some busy days with family

Friday we packed up our things and headed down to the coast to visit my dad and Ella.  Details are totally gone, but I know we drove over and visited with Grandmalupe for a little while.  I think we walked to the playground that's near the beach and the kids played for a while before eating dinner at Daddyz in the Pass.  What I can't remember is what we did Saturday, if we drove to the coast on Friday.  It's possible that we picked up Grandmalupe and took her to eat at a Chinese Buffet she loves so much, that's in Pascagoula (about an hour away).  Or that could have been another trip to the coast.  Either way, I just don't remember.  Maybe this will be the motivation I need to start blogging quicker after an experience. 

Family meal at Daddyz

I know we drove home Sunday and we left pretty early because we knew there would be a ton of traffic.  We obviously made it safely but beyond that, I can't fill in any details. 

Disney World

W & E went to Disney April 16-21 with Gram and Granddad (K's mom and step-dad).  They had a blast and here's a link to the photo book that K created.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AYuWTZq2cMmTF-g

Spooktacular at Sea World

Since we had Sea World passes, we decided to go to Sea World for their annual Spooktacular event. My mom and Chuck came with us, so we left Friday after the kids got home from school.  We ate dinner at Buc-cee's on the road and went to bed shortly after we got to the hotel.  We stayed at the Comfort Inn and had a relaxing morning.  We went and ate the continental breakfast and watched TV in the hotel room before heading to Sea World at 10 am.  All the decorations were Halloween themed and the kids "trick-or-treated" around the park using a map.  We went to shows and looked at exhibits all day.  We ate at the Smokehouse and planned to watch the 8:30 Shamu show.  Before the show, we walked around while it started to get dark, and all the scary stuff started coming out.  We walked through the "doll" area and all these broken/scary dolls walked around and followed us.  We also walked through a Zombie spot and that really freaked the kids out.  Near Shamu's theater is the Crazy House section, and all the weird "sick" people yelling and screaming.  The kids handled it pretty good, and only cried a little.  I think Ell just walked with her eyes closed the entire time.  The Shamu Halloween show was a lot of fun, and then we headed back to the hotel.
Sunday morning was a lot like Saturday with TV and breakfast.  We drove back to Richmond and the kids went to Awana Sunday night.  While the kids were at Awana, the adults enjoyed a meal at Pappa's BBQ.

Our clan

A is finally tall enough to ride the steel ell

before the Steel Eel

After the Steel Eel and he loved it!

Crazy costumes everywhere

We let our kids dress up too

At the Halloween Shamu show

All 8 of us in a selfie

This was Jack.  He was our MC and was a little creepy with his pumpkin head

Surfin' Civitan 2016

We look forward to camp every year and this year was no different.  R, A & W were excited too and going to join us for camp on Monday after all the kids arrived and got settled.  The four kids were with my dad and Ella for the weekend and planning to join us on Monday.  Saturday afternoon, while at the playground, W jumped out of his swing and landed hard on his arm/shoulder.  My parents iced it and gave him some children's Tylenol.  It was pretty swollen, but W wasn't complaining about it so they thought it was okay.  Monday when they brought W to us at camp, we took him to the camp nurse, and she took one look at it and her eyes got real big.  She said "he needs an x-ray" and so that began the process of our first ER visit. I've already written about W's broken arm and how that whole thing went down, so back to Civitan Camp.

Due to our hospital stay and W's arm, B and I were in and out of camp for a few days.  R & A still went with Bubba and Gilly and traveled with their areas.  I believe by Wednesday B and I were both back at camp full time, and my mom and Chuck took care of W and E.

I was the area mom of Native Village and B ran the "Hang Out" (aka the pool).  Camp is one of our favorite weeks of the year and this year it was awesome again.  We had a great group of guys at Native Village and I spent a lot of time with Matthew Glaze.  I spent a lot of time with all the boys, but Matthew was always awake early like me, so we would sit under the pavilion and read together.  Our counselors were good too, and we finished in the top 3 for the Abbie Award.

It's a lot easier to show pictures of our week instead of try and recount all the stories and events.  I traveled with the group of guys most of the time, but I also had my cleaning duties back at the area.  As always, it's one of my favorite weeks of the year and it's a little glimpse to what heaven will be like when there's no judgment and only love and service.

Matthew and I early one morning

One night a counselor stepped on this and the nail went through his flip-flop.  He had to get a tetanus shot.

A and Jimmy playing cards

Josh and Logan building with blocks at Native Village.

A and Jimmy planning more

Jackson enjoying fishing

petting snakes and other reptiles from the zoo.

Slade with a baby alligator

Brody's turn with the alligator

Dylan with his buddy

R playing with Jackson

Native Village area moms

My love at my place