Sweet Home Alabama !

Well, Tshombe has gotten another promotion and we will be moving to Alabama !! We have been told that we will be there for about 18 mo which means one more move and HOPEFULLY we'll be settled for a while ( at least while Jordi is in HighSchool !!

We visited Alabama and the city is the peanut capitol. They are so proud of this fact that several businesses around town have "dressed up" peanut statues !!

They have also painted their downtown area with several murals on the sides of their buildings.

Jordan is excited because they have a HUGE skate rink with lazer tag and a HUGE adventure park with bumper cars, batting cages, go karts, mini- golf and a HUGE water park with a lazy river and water slides...... well, ok, I'm excited too !!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!

Jordan made indian pins from walnuts (great idea, Nana !!) for everyone to wear in honor of the Thanksgiving history.

Tshombe's family came for Thanksgiving !! They traveled from Shreveport, LA; Birmingham, AL, & Mt. Dora, FL. We had a full house and we loved it !!! I know that we are to be thankful everyday; however, spending Thanksgiving with family & friends somehow makes the day extra special !!

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours !!

The Madden Challenge !!

Alright, boys will be boys (and in this case.... men will be boys, too !! ha ha) We had 5 preteen and teenage boys along with two uncles who challenged each other to a PS2 Madden Football "tournament". They had 3 tv's going with this challenge. DJ, the youngest player (age 11), won the tournament !!!! He earned the title "Uncle Slayer" !!

Games for everyone at Thanksgiving !!

There's nothing like a little "friendly" competition and my family sure loves it !! We had a good round of Scrabble and Sorry and Madden Football .... and those were just the "inside games" !! The kids played football, hi-li, ring toss, and bowling outside !!! It was a beautiful day and we all had a good time !!

Oreo Has Fun at Thanksgiving !

One of the young boys brought a laser pen light that showed a small ,round, red dot when pointed at something ...... Oreo LOVED it !! We got a good laugh watching her chase it. Now we know what to get her for Christmas !! (Finally a toy that she can't destroy !!)

"Just Being Neighborly"

Ok, I don't know why I think this is so funny but I do !! Two weeks ago, I was walking Oreo and just happened to walk past one of our neighbors who was doing some yard work. I innocently made a comment on how nice his yard always looks which sparked an in-depth discussion about various types of grass seeds, weed killers and pesticides. He then pointed to a row of banana trees that outlined his yard and made a few comments about them. Trying to be polite to an elder, I intently listened to him and privately hoped this conversation would come to an end since Oreo had yet to do her "business" and I certainly didn't want her doing her "business" in his nice, manacured lawn ! Well, two weeks later (today) he came with a gift !! He had dug up one of his banana trees, put it into a rolling trash can, hauled it a half a block to our doorstep and proudly said it was ours !! I oohed and aaaahed and said thank you profusley and then Jordan & I planted it in the back yard........ what else could we do ?????

It's All About The Candy !!

On Friday, Jordan's school allowed the kids to dress in their costumes. This was taken before school out on our front walkway.

That night, she and a friend walked the neighborhood and really racked up on the candy !! Her basket was FULL !! (and Tshombe has been enjoying it !)

Oreo got to go with two of her BFF's !! Pumpkin went as a pumpkin and Buddy went as a Bumblebee !!

Oreo went as a ladybug !!

Our "Mr. Potato Head" pumpkins.

Smarty Pants !

Jordi's first report card showed all A's & B's !! She received an Honor Roll Certificate !!

Just Because I Love You !!

What a wonderful surprise !! Tshombe got home before I did and put a dozen roses along with a BEAUTIFUL card in our bedroom !! I asked him what the special occasion was and he said "Just because I Love You"!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH.........

There's No Place Like Home !

Jordan's elementary school had a fall festival for the kids. We had a fun time! Lots of games, prizes, food and even a spooky trail outside. As you can see, she wanted to be Dorothy this year -- and she made a very cute one !!

... climbing the rock wall ....

...laughing with Fran....



...Dorothy......... .......Dorothy & Toto




.... Too Cute !!

My Superman !!

Well, well, every Superman has his Kryptonite and for Tshombe it is a non-detachable first base !! Two weeks ago today he slid into first base and injured his hand during a competitive round of softball. (I know he'd want me to tell the whole story so here it is..... he was on first base and the guy batting made a great hit but the shortstop made an even better catch -- so, he was caught running to 2nd base and he didn't want to be the last out so he ran back to first base, slid into it and was SAFE -- saving his team the last out, giving the 3rd baseman the opportunity to run home, and solving world peace !) ..... he played the rest of the game with this injured hand!

So, two weeks later (today)-- he went to see an Orthopaedic. The X-ray showed he broke his hand in two places along the outside metacarpal. ( TWO breaks !!) They took his blood pressure and it was a perfect 117 / 70 !!!

So, for TWO WEEKS my husband has been working 12 hour days with a broken hand, no pain medication, all while having perfect blood pressure --- Wow ! I really have married Superman !!!