HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone ! Hope your day is filled with love and thanksgiving!

Tshombe, Jordan and I woke up early and began preparing for the day. I decorated our table with dishes that Tshombe brought home last week. They were perfect for Thanksgiving dinner!

Meanwhile, Tshombe and Jordan put the Christmas tree together....

They fluffed it.....

Lit it and decorated it .....

And then they took a nap ....

'cause Christmas Tree decorating is rough and hard work --- when done properly !

O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !

How pretty are your branches !

Cookie Creations

Nana is the "creative cookie" in our house.
She likes to find cute cookie ideas and then make them.



This year she found a "Pilgrims Hat" recipe.


Jordan loves to help too.... she's the "taster"....


And Oreo is her apprentice.....


HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!

'Twas the night of Thanksgiving,but I just couldn't sleep.

I tried counting backwards,I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned — the dark meat and white,

But I fought the temptation with all of my might.

Tossing and turning with anticipation,

The thought of a snack became infatuation.

So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door

And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,

Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,

'Til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky,

With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie.

But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees ...

Happy eating to all, pass the cranberries, please.

May your stuffing be tasty, your turkey be plump.

Your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious, your pies take the prize.

May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!

MORE THAN ENOUGH !!

Our church has been "feeding Dothan" every Thanksgiving for the last 10+ years. Jordan & I signed up to help serve the food. We weren't sure what to expect. Since being a church secretary is part of my past, I know what can go "wrong" and what kinds of "glitches" to be prepared for .... but this was the most stress-free event that I've been a part of considering the amount of people that was there. We fed over 600 people --- without one glitch !!!!


We had more than enough help!


We had more than enough food!


We had more than enough rolls!



We had more than enough tables and chairs !




And most importantly, we had more than enough love and fellowship to go around !
God sure knows how to provide for His people and it's always more than enough !!


Happy Thanksgiving Dothan, Alabama

Hail to the Peanut !

Dothan, AL is the Peanut Capital of the WORLD !! So, each year the city and surrounding counties celebrate with a parade and HUGE Peanut Festival !! Sort of like an homage to the peanut. The day started with a parade....and the parade started with... you guessed it ---- peanuts !!!! lol

A huge tractor/turbine thing spewed out peanuts from a shute onto the pavement below.


And then everyone made a mad-dash to the center of the road and started filling their bags with peanuts !


Jordan filled her shirt .... 'cause we're not from around here and didn't know to bring a bag. ha!



We also bought a bag of "boiled peanuts" for daddy. Whatever floats your boat -- when it comes to peanuts, you have a huge variety here in Dothan..... boiled, spicy, roasted, baked, natural, brittle.... reminds me of the "shrimp" guy in Forrest Gump.


And to top the night off, we spent 5 hours at the National Peanut Festival!


Ohhhh, Ahhhhh... the mighty peanut! I say that tongue-in-check; however, did you know that peanuts and or their oils are used in soaps, biodiesel fuels, laxatives, dyes, shampoos, insecticides, and explosives? "Mighty" might be the correct adjective.






(Intermission: aren't they cute, sweet, and adorable? Awwwwww !)





Ok. Now let the fun begin !!!......


THE HIMALAYA !!!!!! and yes it's just like you remember it !!!



and still fun for the whole family !!!!!!




Now the Zipper, on the other hand.... was NOT how I remembered it. This was my favorite ride as a teenager with my best friendboy, Kevin. We would have that basket spinning around BEFORE the ride ever started and always thought it ended too soon. That's how I remembered it when I mistakenly said "Come on Jordan, you'll love this ride! It's great ! It's fun !"




That's Jordan and me in the middle basket..... spinning upside down.... while the entire ride spinned around....... let me just say that I made several promises to God on this ride. (I hope I can stick to them ....... any suggestions on how to solve world peace by the end of the year? -- email me!)

So, after a mild concussion and a bruised rib, we decided to take a break from the rides and eat dinner. Can anyone say Turkey Legs and Funnel Cake?

I'll let them speak for themselves ....



Alright, with full bellies it was wise to do something other than the rides. So, let's see the "spectacle" stuff. Like the ...

bwaahahahaaaaa !!!!!!!!

A festival just isn't complete without Fried Snickers and candy coated apples -- don't you think?

And to end the night, we rode the Ferris Wheel.... love the view!

Thank you, God , for creating the peanut and all its wonderful uses.... especially the medicinal purposes of the chocolate covered peanut M&M.

I love it so.

Cleaning the Tub 101

Scrub a dub dub, One Jordan in the tub......

One of my philosophies for cleaning house is "just get in there and do it !" So, Jordan pretty much took me literally when I asked her to wash out the tub --- she got in there and did it !! :-)

One day, Boo, you will thank me for teaching / making you help out with house hold chores. It builds character !! Really, it does.

You may not thank me for taking pictures....lol !

But one day you'll thank me for teaching you about "getting in there and getting it done!"

OK. I admit it. I was wrong.

She's spoiled ! Very, very, spoiled !!!