From the mouths of babes.

My grandsons came over on the Sunday following Thanksgiving to decorate the tree.  I had other family members over for turkey gumbo and it was really fun.  I enjoyed watching the boys and my great niece place (or throw)  the ornaments on the tree.  I had to reposition several as they were just sitting on the branches. 
After all the other family members left, my son and daughter-in-law along with the two boys were sitting around talking.  My oldest grandson (3yrs old) was patting my old dog Henry and was getting a little rough; so I told him to be careful with Henry (14yrs old) because he was getting old.  My grandson looked up at me and asked "Nona, how come Henry got old like you?"  I looked up at my daughter-in-law, who wouldn't meet my eyes; my son was looking down and fighting a grin.  I walked into my daugher-in-laws arms - who gave me a big hug and patted me on my back as we both laughed until we cried.  I then had to explain that when you have been around a lot of years like Henry and I have that you just get old.  My grandson said he was a lot of years older since going to "The Little Gym" - (where he takes gymnastics in Daphne, AL.).

You never really know what they are thinking until they start talking and then who knows what little ones will say.

From the mouths of babes!

Christmas Traditions

The grandboys are old enough to really enjoy Christmas this year.  We went to visit Bellingrath Gardens and Home "Magic Christmas in Lights".  It is a tradition to visit every year the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  The decorations were amazing.  After walking the gardens and enjoying the sights, we saw Santa in the gift shop and my son took the oldest grandboy over to watch the kids talking to him.  My son asked him if he'd like to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas and my grandson replied "I'll tell him later".  While they are really excited about Christmas this year, Santa can be a little scary in person.
Sunday night I had family over for turkey gumbo and decorated the tree.  My youngest picked up the ornaments and threw them onto the tree.  My oldest thought it was funny that the dog knocked them off with his wagging tail. 

There was laughter, giggling, and lots of fun.  Bellingrath is an old tradition and decorating Nona's tree is a new one.

Adopt a US Soldier

I had 2 brothers in Viet Nam in the 70's and I wrote to them both every day. I know they didn't get every single letter but they got most of them.  They talked about receiving my letters and enjoying hearing the news and what was happening back home. 
I found a website where you can adopt a US soldier in Iraq.  I received a name and address the day after I registered and I started writing last week and plan on sending a package this week. 
I'm hoping to brighten the day of at least one soldier and hopefully he will enjoy receiving my letters as much as my brothers did.

Want to help?  http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/

Key West - Fantasy Fest 2009

Wow!  What can I say.  I visited my brother in Key West and Fantasy Fest was in full swing.  If you've ever gone to Mardi Gras in New Orleans you have a general idea of Fantasy Fest - constant partying!  Crowds all day and night - a constant parade of costumes, body paint, and the occassional very brave soul.  There were very elaborate costumes, some very colorful costumes and then some without costumes.  Dancing in the street, participants and spectators. Street vendors with food and drink.
The floats didn't compare to Mobile or New Orleans Mardi Gras but were still impressive.
Going back next year?  Probably not. I will visit Key West again but been there, done that - I'll stick to Mobile Mardi Gras.

Greater Gulf States Fair

The fair is taking place in Mobile, AL this week and we all went on Sunday.  The boys had a wonderful time riding the rides, feeding the animals, and sampling the "fair food"- corndogs and cotton candy. 
While other kids are turning the steering wheel back and forth on the cars and trucks, my oldest is turning into the curve - just as if he is driving (remember he has a "big green tractor").
Nona gets motion sick so she didn't ride rides but had just as much fun watching the excitement in their faces.

Anticipation

They listen with a keen ear; the excitement grows!  Dancing in place they exclaim in gleeful voices - "It's Mr. Gray"
My grandsons can hear the ice-cream truck long before the rest of us and they begin dancing in place and the oldest starts yelling "It's Mr. Gray!"  not the ice-cream man but Mr. Gray.  The youngest starts pointing at the door.
I took them both a Halloween Pop from my all staff retreat which was their treat for the day and then the youngest heard the music and started dancing in place.  They weren't happy to find out that the couldn't have an ice cream too.
Ice cream is a favorite treat!  - they get that from their Nona.

Gulf Shores APAC All Staff Retreat

For the past 3 years Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connections has gone to Gulf Shores for a retreat/planning event.  The view from our meeting room is very distracting - but you would be amazed at the amount of work we accomplish.  I think we work really hard so we can have a little play time as well. 

Everyone pitches in and works on the meals and the clean up - they are gourmet meals let me tell you.  We have some "Iron Chef's" in our group along with quite a few artist. 

At dinner one night we had vegetable lasagne and chicken casserole; at breakfast one morning omlets in a bag and the next was homemade sausage biscuits; lunch was homemade calzone; there were Halloween cake pops and fabulous pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese icing.  Everyone ate too much!
Though most meals were prepared by staff, we also went to dinner at LuLu's one night, some visited the Pink Pony Pub, played games that a lot of people needed to practice, walked on the beach at sunrise and others who walked on the beach in the pouring rain.
We worked hard and had a lot of fun.  It was a great experience.

Jason Aldean - A Really Good Guy

My oldest grandson's favorite country song right now is "Big Green Tractor" by Jason Aldean.  He can sing the whole song!  He looked at me the other day and said "Nona, Jason Aldean is a really good guy; he sings Big Green Tractor.  When he gets a little older I'm sure he will tell me "he's cool".
(the tractor was too slow so dad had to work on it to make it go faster- he zooms around the yard, dodging hedge, toys and people - has 2 speeds and only uses fastest)

"And I can take you for a ride on my big green tractor"

cowboy birthday

My great-nephew who lives in Summerdale, AL celebrated his birthday today. My grandsons were somewhat overwhelmed by the crowd. They did however enjoy looking at the horses and bobbing for apples (well, picking them up out of the water and then throwing them in again).

The day was beautiful and it was great seeing family members.