A DAY TO REMEMBER 2022 FOR YOU...BUT IT'S REMEMBERING MY FIRST SON'S BIRTH TO ME!!

 43 YEARS AGO!!!!  Wha???? How is that even possible? And how can I be old enough to have a 43 yr old precious babyboy??!!  So, while I was wheeled back into the labor and delivery room right past a table full of whiskey bottles and beer and New Yrs Eve honkers and blowers...all I could think of was bringing that boy into the world!!!  6:53 pm  December 31, 1979.  One of the best days of my life!!

Our first born, who has been an awesome son and now...friend...to both his dad and me!!!!

Now, he's a best friend to his wife and the most awesome father to his two kids!!

And even tho today is his birthday, this guy is a hero to these kids every day of the year!!!

The oldest brother!

While today may be a special day for thinking about our past year, today, at our house, its all about remembering what a special day this was to us 43 yrs ago as well as all the years we've had with him since then!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAD!!!

love you more than you'll ever know!! 💓

(had to come back to add a pic I just received from my daughter in law....chad's cutie pies all dressed up for his birthday dinner!!!  swoon.......!)

Thanksgiving 2022

Wha???  Did someone say something about a Turkey Day??

Yes PoppyPearl!!!!

We had a great Thanksgiving celebration!  As per our usual tradition, we all gathered at the deer camp for fun, food, laughing an of course, hunting!

cute veggie tray made by daughter in law #1!

As usual, we had a whole lotta food to eat....roasted turkey, fried turkey, ham, dressing and gravy.

All the sides...sweet potato casserole, mashed taters, spinach madelaine, broccoli & rice, pineapple casserole, creamed corn. stuffed bread.  And chocolate pie!!!

And that was all after having a big dinner the night before....Cap'n brought home a 17lb prime rib roast and boy was it ever a pretty one!  Baked potatoes, roasted asparagas and tomato tarte, fresh avocado and salad with garlic cheese bread!  And the famous Disney World apple pie-YUM!

The big kids of our family!!!!

The day outside was rainy and chilly and just no fun for going outside.  Did it matter to us?  Not at all..

I'll take any kind of weather as long as I'm surrounded by all of my chick-a-dees!!!

Cousins!!!

I've often mentioned that the pose below is my all time favorite of my guys hunting....and the first one this season was too cute!

and...ahem....look how that pic is beginning to change???

AHHHHH...the cycle of life at its finest!!!!

Other happenings during the month of  November:

Case got his first one of the season right alongside his dad!!!

Katiejane won the All Around award at her first competitive gymnastic meet!!!

So proud!

Lilli got her first buck!!

My grandson called one night and asked me if I'd pleeeeease come over to Plano to go to the book fair with him.  So, what's a YaYa to do?? Why, hop in my car and hightail it over to take him! And Josey!! 

On a sadder note, we lost our daughter in law, Rachel's mother-Patty- on the 29th.  She was a very special NeNe to her grandchildren and we will all miss her very much but we know she is now with our favorite Rex and they are once again having a ball together!! 💕

I always have a warm heart at this time of year....when our group gets to spend time together for all the holidays.  They all make me so happy!!!

(just one of the gorgeous images my son, matt, sent me of the duck pond while hunting with his daughter...he is not only teaching her the rules and techniques of hunting but also how to appreciate the glory of nature around her!!  Pretty cool!)

It's Really Really Fall.....And We Got Rain!!!!

 Finally....RAIN!!!!  We got an inch and a half of rain last night and it was the most glorious sound ever!  We haven't had any in months and our grounds had just turned  to dust.  And as much as we love our sunshine and summer months, it was time for the calendar to change.  And seasons...as much as we get a change in season!! heh.

At the lake this morning....even the smallest amount of leaf change makes me jump for joy!!

The end of September brought a Canadian goose hunt for Cap'n and his boys!

They haven't been able  to do this hunt since before Covid and they always look forward to it.

It's a lot of traveling to make the trip happen but always worth it to them and I think it's a memory maker!

Per the course of weather patterns this year, it was also apparent way up north!  Usually they come back with pics of hunting in very cold temps with snow...nope....not this yr!

There were also some of their friends that were with them too!

Once they were home, I felt the call to visit my BFF from Spokane WA....only she was down here at her beach house in Destin, FL.  So what's a gal to do when her bestie is so close and we haven't seen each other face to face since 2019???  Why, hop on a plane and go to her...that's what!!

She always has LSU coffee cup and voodoo doll out for me when I arrive.  Right next to their Washington Eagles cups!

And my most fave veggie platter that she is world known for...pretty sure she made one of these when we traveled to Italy together yrs ago!!!

Had to make another trip back to one of our haunts that we visited 12 yrs ago on a different trip here!!

As well as back to one of our favorite restaurants!!

So once again, I feel fulfilled with girlfriend love!  We laughed until our bellies hurt, had some drinky poos together and lots of good food!!

Isn't that really what it's all about????!!!!

When it was time for them to go home, I hopped down the highway to another friend's shangri-la for a few days!!  This one lives on the other end of Destin and I get to visit several times a year!

5032!!!!

Everyday on  the beach!

Sunset walks on the beach!

Sunrise at the beach!

Can you tell that I find true tranquility at the beach???!!!

“Beachitude (n.) when you start to feel grumpy and snarky because you miss the beach.”

Although, it is always nice to get back to Home Sweet Home!

Back in mama's arms!

Even tho she got to go to work with Dad every day I was gone!!!

I did get to go over to Plano to keep these two crazies while mom and dad were busy.  Austin not only welcomed a broken wrist but also new braces!!!  He's had a 😫 few months...bless his heart!

And I got to participate in our annual Pumpkin Patch photo shoot with my Benton granddaughter buddies!

and then went to watch ms. katiejane dance in the pre-game show at the high school!

SOOOOOO many fun days!!!

Now I wait patiently, for Halloween pics of all the kids on Monday, as I write on this enjoyable rainy afternoon!!!