Thanksgiving in Warren

We had a great Thanksgiving with Lane's family. We drove there yesterday morning and spent the night. We had lots of good food and enjoyed spending time with everyone.

Rhett and Alexee always like hanging out with their older cousins, Luke and Katie. We ate lunch around 1:00, so Crosby ate early and then took his nap. He's sitting in the high chair that Lane used when he was a baby.

Bob slicing turkey

Rose Mary and Lance in the kitchen

Aunt Shelby and two of Lane's cousins (Amanda & Dena) were there, as well as (sister-in-law) Jennifer's parents and grandmother.

Crosby playing basket ball.

Rose Mary & Dena
Crosby spent a lot of time at the door--he loves to open and close doors.

Luke trying the potatoes

Bob impressed us all with his bullwhip popping trick before lunch.

Lunch time--Everything was delicious!

Luke, Katie, Rhett & Alexee

Beulah & Zanette

I took two buttermilk pies. I cannot stand to drink buttermilk, but this is my FAVORITE pie. My family got the recipe from Judy at His Doorkeeper, and she posted the recipe here. I ate way too much of this.
Rhett in their back yard. They have so many big trees in their yard, and the leaves were so pretty. When we got there yesterday I think it was 77 degrees. A cold front moved through with the rain though and it was in the upper 40s this morning...gotta love Arkansas weather!

Katie & Alexee

I think the back yard is so pretty

Thankful for this sweetie!

Guys playing Angry Birds.

Lane, Amanda, Dena, Rose Mary & Katie

Luke and Rhett still playing Angry Birds

Katie & Alexee playing an old-fashioned BOARD game!
I wish we still played Pictionary and Scattergories!

This is Luke's Thanksgiving mouse. Luke, now 15, made it in Kindergarten and brought it to Grammy & Bobba's house for Thanksgiving. It is part of the centerpiece every year.

Crosby was so good and had fun exploring Grammy & Bobba's house.

Playing the organ

Grammy & Alexee

We're so blessed!
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

Weekend with Grandparents

We had a really fun time visiting Lane's parents last weekend...See photo album here.

This was Crosby's first trip to their house. As with R & A, we took C's picture with Bob & Rose Mary on the front steps:

I looked back at the pictures of the other two kids' first trips:

Alexee in June '08:

And Rhett in July '04

Lane and his Dad were playing in a golf tournament, so Lane, Alexee and Bogart went to their house on Friday afternoon. I stayed home with Rhett & Crosby because Rhett was scheduled to have a soccer game Saturday morning, and we planned to drive down on Saturday. However, it stormed/rained out both the first round of golf and the soccer game. The boys and I waited out the storm and got there early Saturday afternoon. By that time the sun was shining. We took the bigger kids to the city park while Lane's Mom stayed home with Crosby for his nap. Here are just a few pictures from the weekend--there are a lot more here.

On the train at the city park

Jumping from step to step in Grammy & Bobba's back yard

Lane and his Dad leaving for their round of golf on Sunday

Musicians

At the school playground

(where Lane played when he was in elementary school)

Pink Tomato Festival

Lane and Rhett just returned from an overnight trip to Warren. This weekend is the annual Pink Tomato Festival, so Lane wanted to take Rhett for that. He rode several rides with his cousin Luke and ate cotton candy. Today his Bobba took him back to the square to walk around, and he came home with gifts for me (a necklace) and Alexee (a pink hair bow) that he chose himself! :) So sweet! Bobba took Rhett & Luke to lunch, and Rhett told me he ate his whole plate of fish.

Here are a few photos that Lane made with his iphone at the carnival last night:

This ride in the picture below makes me feel sick just looking at it! I think he rode it three times!? I guess he got Lane's stomach for roller-coasters, etc. I once threw up on the giant swings at Dogpatch USA because I'd been on The Barrel ride three times in a row (embarrassing memory from a church youth group trip). I'm not much fun at amusement parks!
I'm really glad Lane took Rhett--he always has so much fun there. Look how much he's grown since this trip to the festival.

Garner Thanksgiving

We just returned from a fun Thanksgiving visit with Lane's parents. We ate a big, delicious lunch yesterday and have been snacking on leftovers every few hours since then!

Here is a summary of our visit in pictures:

You have to look closely because he blends in with the chair, but Bogart found a comfortable spot to sleep beside Grammy. He is wearing his fall leaves bandanna from his haircut on Tuesday.They have a wagon full of toys, and the kids enjoyed playing with those. Here Rhett is coloring.
It was really warm yesterday, so we walked to the school playground to play.
Bobba helping R balance on the bars.
My cute hubby. He went to elementary school here and played on this playground about 30 years ago!


The kids and their Daddy at his elementary school:
Grammy, Bobba & the kids before time to carve the turkey.
I made a strawberry salad for the lunch yesterday. Romaine lettuce, strawberries, carmalized almonds and homemade poppy seed dressing.
Rhett helping with the table.
The yummy meal, for which we were very thankful:

I made a Double Chocolate Mocha Trifle (*but cut out the "mocha" part).

1 pkg brownie mix (plus needed ingred)
1 3/4 cup cold milk
2 pkgs (3.4 oz) white chocolate instant pudding and pie filling
1/4 cup hot water
4 t. instant coffee granules (*I left this out)
2 c. thawed frozen whipped topping
1 bag crushed Heath bar toffee bars (in baking section already crushed)

Bake brownies and let cool completely. In large bowl, whisk pudding mix into milk until mixture begins to thicken. *Dissolve coffee granules in hot water; add to pudding mixture (I sifted out the granules), mixing well. Fold in whipped topping using spatula. Cut brownies into 1-inch cubes. Layer 1/3 of brownie cubes in bottom of trifle bowl. Top with 1/3 of pudding mixture, pressing lightly and 1/3 of chopped toffee. Repeat layers two more times. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Garners!