THANKSGIVING WEEK 2011

Our Thanksgiving week was busy this year. Mark and Mary arrived Tuesday late afternoon in time to fix us a delicious fish (crappie) dinner. Mary went back to St. Louis, leaving Mark to spend the week in Clinton visiting Grandma. She enjoyed having him visit.

On Thanksgiving Day, Mom, Mark, Ron and I had a lovely ham lunch and visited Daddy's grave at the cemetary. We missed him at our table this year - the first year without him.

Amanda and family arrived Thanksgiving evening for a few days.

Friday morning, the guys headed to Bolivar to play golf, while we girls enjoyed our annual baking day. Peyton wanted to go get Grammaw first thing, so we did, and she spent the morning with us. She was a great help with Garrison and played with Peyton too. Peyton unwrapped all 7 dozen of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey Kisses we needed for the peanut butter cookies. She enjoyed helping with white trash and dipping prezels, eating a few along the way. Mary and Tom stopped by for a visit and to take Grammaw home when they got to Clinton.

We headed to the square Friday evening for the parade and pre-party at the Elks, sponsored by Hawthorn Bank. Peyton enjoyed making an ornament, and we all liked the refreshments. Peyton liked the parade much better this year, but she still thought some of the entries were a little loud. She kept telling us she did not want to sit on Santa's lap - too funny. Joe arrived in Clinton late on Friday after working all day at Walgreens.

Saturday, Peyton wanted Grammaw to come over again, so we picked her up for a short visit. They enjoyed playing and playing. Due to the rain, plans for golf had to be cancelled. Peyton loved helping Grammy make the traditional homemade ice cream for dessert for our belated Thanksgiving meal. We took family pictures before sitting down to a turkey feast which was enjoyed by all. We signed the tablecloth which Mary will embroider - great tradition. We missed Grandpa at our table this year but welcomed baby Garrison.

Great few days!

Peyton Turns 3

Three short years ago, our lives were forever brightened by the arrival of our sweet little Peyton Augusta. I still like to think of her as a baby (oh, heck, I still like to think of Amanda as "my" baby), so I was shocked and appalled the other day when Amanda told me that Peyton is no longer considered a toddler but a preschooler! Wow!

Amanda and Chad hosted a lovely birthday party with a Dora the Explorer theme for Peyton today at Monkey Business at the Great Mall, attended by neighborhood friends, classmates from school, and family. Peyton had an awesome time, as did the other children, playing, eating cupcakes and opening the generous gifts. She wanted a giant cupcake for her "cake", which Amanda made and decorated beautifully. Grandpa, Grammaw and I had a great time attending. She even wore her birthday hat for a few more seconds than last year!

We stopped by Peyton's house before and after the party for short visits and to pick up Apollo - he is staying with us for a few days until the kids get here on Thanksgiving. Peyton looked so adorable in the top Amanda had made for her for her party - Peyton - 3 - Dora - says it all!

The afternoon before, Amanda and family and Ron and I attended the wedding of Matt Jones and his bride Tabitha in Warrensburg. Peyton was a hoot through it all, but especially notable was her comment after the bride walked in and we were all standing (we were on the back row for obvious reasons) - she said, "where did that "white girl" go (meaning the bride). Too funny.

We had a good time at the wedding and reception - time spent with our precious family.

It will be a busy week. My last night of spending the night with Mom watching Dancing with the Stars until next sweason. Tuesday, Mark and Mary are coming for dinner, bringing crappie Mark caught this weekend for a scrumptiuos fish dinner. Mary has to go back to St. Louis to work, however, Mark is staying through Saturday. Mark, Mom, Ron and I will enjoy "real" Thanksgiving Day together - ham meal. Amanda and family will arrive sometime late Thanksgiving Day through Saturday - Mary, Joe and Tom will arrive on Friday - then we will celebrate our family Thanksgiving - our first without Daddy (sad) - on Saturday late afternoon.

God is good - life is good. We are blessed.

Saturday Morning with the Grandkids

Fun Saturday in Olathe with the Todds. Amanda and Chad ran some errands while Ron, Mom and I stayed with Peyton and Garrison. We had taken Peyton a new Melissa and Donald (that may not be right) cupcake set - pretend cupcakes with frosting, candles, etc. - she had fun putting on her oven mitt and putting them in the oven (under the piano bench). She wanted to show Grammaw how well she drives her car - now that it is set to 5 MPH, she goes really fast! I tried to talk her into putting it at 2.5 MPH, but she wanted to go FAST! Fun, fun. We had taken Pizza Glen Pizza with us for lunch after Chad and Amanda returned home - yum, yum. Peyton ate well, including broccoli and the orange soda Grammaw had taken her. We squeezed in a little shopping after Peyton went down for her rest about 1 p.m. - wonderful day. Grammaw really enjoyed seeing the kids - it had been about a month since she had opportunity to play with them.