We Gathered Together

I like the hymn that goes:

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;

This song of praise was originally written in 1597 to celebrate a Dutch victory.

OUR Thanksgiving began at our house in the wilderness with some of my sisters and most of my children's families with the table set and the blessing said we lined up and filled our plates. 

My name place cards were my favorite. And my glittery faux autumn leaves as my napkin rings ran a close second as my favorite, too. I always make name place cards so as we add new family members and guests every one feels welcome and there is no question or choosing were one might suppose to be seated. I like my ideas.

After the food feast, the ladies took up the activity of photo shootings. Who doesn't like to keep the memories alive in pictures. The guys were setting up to go on an evening deer hunt and show and tell with their guns and their latest hunting stories.

This was the next to the oldest and youngest on Thanksgiving Day. They made for a good pair.

I took way too long and way too many pictures of these 3. I just wanted that perfect smile and perfect look. But I was informed that does not exist.  So here's the no smile picture.

Here's the no more pictures picture.

Some of the turkeys of the day.

There were some play time in between.

It was a beautiful day.

Still birthday partying

Still birthday partying with the fam for October birthdays. After a 2 year olds Minnie party a few weeks before, we included all October birthdays and anniversaries for one more party.

While waiting for a table at the restaurant, the birthday guy and little birthday girl took a picture. 

The shared birthday cake even included the football game win.

One of my sisters joined us for birthday cake. She was bombarded with babies.

October has more to come.

Happy Birthday to a Two Year Old

We have 2 year olds all over the place. Cohen had his two year old party 2 months ago and Brooklyn just turned 2..

Her party was all about her and Minnie Mouse. Everything from a Minnie cake, Minnie cookies, Minnie dress, and a few Minnie inspired birthday presents. 

A Mickey Mouse Park jumping house was a main attraction. Way big enough for kids and adults. Brooklyn looks so tiny posing in front of the jump house. 

Everyone took a turn jumping with the birthday girl. 

If you've ever been in a jump house as an adult, it takes a few minutes to actually believe you can really jump and bounce around. It was fun. 

Jumping with the birthday girl. 

Adults jumped in the Mickey jump house. 

And tried the swing house out. 

We stopped the playing and headed for the cake and food and some cold drink. The weather was beautiful and we worked up an appetite with all the jumping and swinging. We had to bribe the children to go watch Brooklyn blow out her candles and open gifts. And to eat. 

Happy Birthday to you!!

See the Minnie banner thru the window?
I like how Minnie's silhouette shows inside, too.
Showing just a hint of the party theme from outside to inside. 

Cake cut. Food served. Gifts opened. And back out to jump made for a birthday filled day. 

  

Gin 

Finally at Grandmother's

This post goes with the you tube video posted yesterday
here. 

Grandmother is a name given a pageant director 

Who is laying down her crowning skills. She getti

 A little older and forgetful and needs all the help 

She can get to pull off her pageants now, so they 

Say. 

So she gave a farewell pageant and we participated 

And enjoyed it and learned some valuable pointers 

. 

And finally Brooklyn did it at Grandmother's pageant.

The princess cheer outfit, and pompoms, and he

Smile won her Grand Supreme.

She had fun. And did so good all on her own. 

She placed grand Supreme

In 0-5 age division. Which is the  highest score in

That age group breakdown. There were 3 other age 

Group breakdowns with a Grand Supreme also. 

The only other higher award was the Ultimate which was 

The highest score of all the contestants. And that went to a 17 year old.z

It really is fun for a day. We never know what the outcome will be or how she will act.
We show up definitely not knowing what to expect each time. 

gin

You have received a YouTube video!

This is a video of Brooklyn at a pageant. A post about it will follow in a few days. It is poor quality video and is sideways. But I can't fix it. It's for her to watch years from now on my "mominthewilderness'" blog. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV9piV0X9Hk&sns=em


Ginger

Beach Bums

Not every person made it to the beach for vacation.  I am that person who didn't make it. I like the water, the sand, the sun, the amusements, the hotel life. But so far have not enjoyed it this summer.

So,  instead of me at the beach, here are my little beach bums at the beach. They went the same week. One to Fort Walton. One to Destin. And the parents sent me pictures everyday. Those  of you who see me on FB have already seen most of these. Those who have not, enjoy!

His very own sand castle!! 

Just getting started with her sand castle. 

Even the pool is good. 

They said she liked the waves coming in. 

At the beach everyday for a whole week. 

Waves big as her.

Can't keep him out of the water. 

Or her either. 

A nap on the beach is heaven.

.I can totally relate!

Happy 2nd Birthday Party, Cohen

This two year old is a happy awesome little guy today. 

His party was today celebrating with his 8 year old cousin who shares the same birthday. Next Thursday they will be 2 years old and 8 years old. 

Today was the big day for double the fun, double the guests, double the gifts, double everything with a monster truck party.  

Food, cakes, gifts, and swimming for the two of them. 

Happy Birthday Big Boy Cohen!

Gin

Birthday Treats

Being the wife, momma, and mawmaw of the brood I make sure birthdays are highlighted, acknowledged, celebrated, and special. I actually want to celebrate everyones birthday exactly the same way every month.  The birthday party for June and July birthday's were for Jennifer, Cohen and Brynlee's actual birth-day being a newborn. The day ended with a bang with fireworks for the 4th.

We first met for a birthday dinner. The waitresses sang the Happy  Birthday restaurant song and both honorees were given their own little Mexican desert. The baby slept and didn't participate much. 

Cohen liked the attention of them singing  to him and he thanked them for his own special birthday dessert. Jennifer was embarrassed with the attention, but didnt mind eating her own special birthday dessert from them. 

Towards the end I excused myself to the restroom and snapped a few pictures of the group as they were packing up. 

Then cake and gifts. 

The real party for Cohen's 2nd birthday is in a few weeks. But there is something in me that has to give a party anyway no matter how many more Bday parties they may have.  Jennifer's real bday was in June. But I am a month late with her

Also July is my dad's birthday month.  Wish he was here for his birthday party, he passed away over a year ago. But I will be thinking of him and acknowledging him in some way.

Happy Birthday!! 

Gin

Fun 4th

I had bought some cute patriotic decorations to have a little party.

Red, white and blue paper light lanterns were hung across the porch.  

A flag I keep hung inside the closet under  the stairs was brought out and put at the door steps. 

Patriotic fabric I had in my stash was wrapped over the porch rocker cushions. 

And a little BBQ, salad, beans, grilled corn on the cob, brownies and watermelon was a table decoration in itself. 

Only things missing were a few people and pictures of my decor.  

But I do have a few pictures to show. 

The little ones swinging on the swing.  

We pushed them high. It tickles your tummy, you know. 

Higher and higher. 

And we threw in the sleeping baby for just a second to get them all in their red white and blue.

May God Bless the USA everyday including July 4th. 

New Arrival

Baby grand #3 arrived 10 days ago, June 4. We're thankful for a healthy bouncing baby girl weighing in at 6 lbs 25 oz 20 1/2 inches at 12:44 am via emergency c-section. Her name is Brynlee Rae.

We made it to the hospital to keep big sister and wait in the waiting room. We looked at all the magazines, ate Zoo Cookies and water from the vending machines, and showed a few acrobatic skills. Big sister stayed up the entire time until we left at 2am decked out in her pjs.

She wasn't fussy at all and never showed any signs of sleepiness. 

We had one section of the waiting room to ourselves and had enough space to run around to pass the time. 

The magazine scene before they kinda got torn up. 

Baby and mom doing well and get to come home in a few days.

While I get to keep big sister all to myself for a few days. 

So since this post is about the new arrival , I must add one more picture of her. 

Gin