A hunter in training...

The time has come. Sheldon has developed an interest in hunting and is very excited about it. He has always loved guns of any sort and has pretended to hunt and fight, etc...but he now is actually getting into the "sport" of hunting. It is going to be fun to watch him...I'm hoping he will shoot his first deer before hunting season is over!

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Papa O and I have always shared our birthday celebration over each Thanksgiving holiday. Before my great grandfather, Paw Paw, passed away, there were three of us to celebrate our birthdays together...his birthday was on the 25th, Papa O's on the 26th, then mine on the 28th. I have always loved this tradition and will treasure those memories forever. I am thankful for each year my grandfather is here with us to share my birthday with. God has really blessed us with 89 and still counting years with him!!

On my actual birthday today I was showered with gifts and precious family time in Llano. I got several things that I really love and of course money to shop with...yeah!!! When we got home from Llano this evening, Ricky and the kids ordered pizza and surprised me with an awesome cake. It was the perfect way to end my birthday and start a new year full of more blessings.

Trail of Lights LLANO style!

We (well really just me and the kids) always look forward to seeing the lights by the Llano River every year. While most of it is the same every year, there are a few new additions each year which is always nice to see. Kalyn and Sheldon LOVE walking through the trail with as many family members who can go with us. This year Kristi and Aunt Joni met us at the park and we had fun! The kids sat on Santa's lap and told him what they want for Christmas...I will make them do this for as long as they let me! :o) Now that Santa knows what to bring this year, I better get to work...lots to do!!!

At the entrance of the trail

Here we go!

Snugglin' up to the hubby

Swirlin' under the big tree with Granden

Kristi and Kalyn

Cousins

The family We miss you Tanner Wayne! Kalyn and Sheldon liked this one... Up, up and away!

Sheldon's turn

So beautiful...and growin' up way TOO fast!!

Visitin' with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (Santa looks a bit distracted!)

Thanksgiving with Ricky's Family

Ricky's mom decided to cook for all of us for Thanksgiving this year. Since Kalyn and Sheldon were with their dad for the holidays, I decided to spend the day with Pat on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We did a little shopping, got a few things ready for the next day, and just visited. Ricky met us at his mom's apartment right after work and we went out to eat then looked around in a few stores. I still can't believe I convinced him to spend the night in the city in an apartment...ha!! Yesterday morning I enjoyed watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade while getting ready and before long Ricky's brother, Brad, and his wife Damary showed up along with Ricky's grandfather, Papa. Pat really outdid herself this year!! The tables were decorated beautifully and we had LOTS of yummy food to suit every taste bud...chicken, honey baked ham, lasagna (Brad and I don't like Thanksgiving food much at all...so thanks Pat!), dressing, green beans, rolls, fruit salad, cherry cream pie, and pecan pie!!! We all enjoyed being together as a family and feel so incredibly blessed...and so FULL! :o)

Hard at work in the kitchen

The beautiful table decor

Ricky and his mom...great picture!!

Papa with his grandsons

Damary and Brad filling their plates

Brad, Papa, Ricky

The "big kids"

Chera and Ricky

Have a BLESSED Thanksgiving!!

Introducing "camping" to friends is FUN!!

Ricky and Craig went to school together in Manor and remain good buddies today. They often go to lunch together during the work week and Craig is a mechanic on the side and has worked on our vehicles numerous times. We had been trying to find a weekend to have Craig and his family come out for a camping experience on our property. Our kids are about the same age and we thought they would enjoy getting to know each other...and we were right! Last Friday Craig and his kids (his wife had to work) followed Ricky home from work and we went camping. It was already dark when we got to the area where we would be camping by one of the stock tanks so that made things a bit challenging to set up. Craig, Ricky, and I set up our tents with the kids' help...well, really just the girls! Sheldon and Kendall were busy playing and watching the fire...boys being boys. A hotdog roast soon followed as did smores with lots of marshmallows and chocolate. It was pretty chilly out there, but it was really nice sitting around the warm fire just visiting. The kids and I went to bed around ten and the guys stayed up talking until past midnight (weird!). After a l-o-n-g night of sleeping on the hard ground in the tent we got up and cooked scrambled eggs, bacon, and texas toast for breakfast...yum-o!! To end our camping experience, we went on a long hike around the place...it was fun just exploring and watching Craig and his kids enjoy the country life that we have been so blessed with.

Let's do it again soon...with Darla in tow too!

It's almost time for...CHRISTMAS!!!

I normally start decorating for Christmas a few days before the Thanksgiving holidays so that it is all ready and waiting for us when we get home from Llano. This year I got into the mood a bit earlier than usual and the tree was up last night! Of course the kids were excited and had fun putting up their ornaments. I love this time of the year!!

2010 Ornaments

Admiring their individual ornament collection

Sheldon

Kalyn

Turkey Trot 2010

The PE classes held their annual "Turkey Trot" this morning. Sheldon's grade level ran at 9:05 and I am proud to say that he came in 2nd place!! He did so well and was very proud of himself. Kalyn's class ran at 10:45 and she came in 19th place. She was r-e-a-l-l-y sore this week from some activity they had been doing in PE. She told me it was an improvement from last year because she came in 23rd place then...HA! I am also so proud of her because she decided to run with one of her friends who has a hard time with running. I asked the coach how far the run was and she said it was a mile and half...WOW!! It was really fun to watch both kids run and enjoy themselves with their friends.

It's bright, mom!

Ready, Set, GO!!!

Picking up the pace

Sprinting to the finish line...come on Sheldon!!!

1st...Tucker, 2nd...Sheldon, 3rd...Kyandrea

I got 2nd place!!

My lil' turkey

Ready, Set....GO!!!

Come on, Kalyn!

Getting closer...

Almost done!

I'm GLAD this is over!!

So long retainer!!

Pre-Thanksgiving Visit and Carie's Birthday!!

Kalyn and Sheldon will be with the Springers this year for Thanksgiving so we decided to go to Llano over the weekend to celebrate my sister's birthday. It had already been too long since we had seen Carie's family so we got it all worked out for everyone to be together. The cousins were SO HAPPY to see each other and had lots of fun playing outside, going on gator rides and feeding cows with Granden, and visiting with everyone. My mom invited all the grandparents and my aunt's family out to the ranch for Carie's birthday supper on Saturday night. We all enjoyed eating, catching up and watching the AWESOME Aggie game on TV...whoop!!! Ricky was able to go hunting early Saturday morning then again in the evening which he enjoyed. However, the deer had other ideas and didn't come out much. Hopefully they'll be out and about more during the Thanksgiving holiday and we will be able to bring some venison back home with us!! Thank you mom and dad for a great weekend...see you sometime during Thanksgiving!!

Lil' visitor in the barn

Precious girls...Cambry and Kalyn (the sun was bright!)

Feedin' the cows

Granden and Oni with their grandkids

Happy 32nd Birthday to my PREGNANT sister!!!