I'm Thankful

Thanksgiving was a little different for us this year.  The last couple of years we have spent at home just the two of us.  This year we made plans in September to spend Thanksgiving camping at Frank Jackson State Park in Opp, AL. Earlier in the month Amy called and asked if we would be interested in keeping Amelia the week of Thanksgiving.  Of course we were excited to be able to spend a whole week with her and introduce her to our new camping lifestyle.  They came on Sunday on their way to Baton Rouge to visit with friends and left Amelia with an excited Nana and Paw-Paw.  On Monday, Bubba and I both needed to work so Amelia got to spend the whole day with her Aunt Ashley and cousin, Avery.  It was nice that she got to spend some time with Darryl's family.


On Tuesday, I worked half a day and Paw-Paw was on his own for the first time with his precious granddaughter.  This is what I found when I came home from work at lunch.

On Wednesday we got an early start with Amelia and Archie in the back seat as traveling companions.  Amelia loves Archie and he seems to tolerate her well, but it never hurts to be cautious when you are mixing an old dog with a little girl.

I bought Amelia a flashlight and the "Hi, Ho Cherry-O" game to enjoy while camping.  The first thing she wanted to do after we settled in at our camp site was to play the game.  Paw-Paw and I played for a long time with her.  Then he left to go visit his brother Joe for a little while and Amelia and I continued to play -- two whole hours!

The next day started with Nana and Amelia enjoying hot chocolate and coffee in bed.  I hate to post this picture of me, but the moment was so special I just can't omit it.  I'm thankful for a husband who still loves me even though I look like this when I wake up.

After breakfast we walked around the park, looked at the scarecrows which were still on display, and Amelia fished and fished.  She was determined, but they just weren't biting this cold windy day.

A Clown Scarecrow

Amelia was a little scared of this one.

It's a beautiful day.

It looks fishy here.

Still not biting the next day

Thanksgiving dinner consisted of Crock Pot Turkey, Dressing,Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Baby Lima Beans, Sweet Potato Casserole, Fruit Salad, and Pumpkin Pie.  We didn't eat until 2:00 and I was sure that I could tempt a hungry Amelia with the traditional Thanksgiving fare, but I failed.  When I brought out the Mac and Cheese, she ate every bite.  That night we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores over a campfire.

The next day was spent with Bubba's brother Joe and his wife, Judy.  We were supposed to be helping them put up Christmas decorations.  I think we probably slowed them down, but we really enjoyed being with them.  Amelia enjoyed seeing the animals, riding her bike on their driveway, riding their Kubota, and picking up pecans.  

Joe and Bubba admire their work.

After a busy day, we decided to travel to Andalusia to eat at David's Catfish House.  We were a little concerned that Amelia might be a little grouchy after such a busy day, but we went back to the camper and she got a bath and changed clothes.  It was just what she needed to turn on her personality to the fullest.  She sang and talked all the way to Andalusia.  She started planning a "Decoration Party" right after we returned to Joe and Judy's and admired their Christmas lights and wreaths.  She talked all evening about what she was going to have to eat at her party and who would be coming.  We stopped by WalMart to pick up some odds and ends and she selected a Christmas tin of cookies to have at her party.  Joe and Judy introduced us to something we had not had before -- Burger King Soft Serve Ice Cream.  Folks, this stuff is really good.  If you haven't tried it, you are really missing out AND it is just 59 cents.  Amelia said several times that it was delicious and we all agreed.  Amelia said several times that day, "I do like Joe and Judy."  We certainly had a good time visiting them.

Saturday morning we packed up and headed for home.  We had a wonderful time and Amelia was so much fun to be with.  It was not one of our read a book and relax trips, but it was a lot of fun.

Amelia wanted to help Paw-Paw crank up the stabilizers.

Sticking her head out the opening on the screen door was especially fun.

Amelia wanted to help Nana shell out the pecans.   (They were already cracked and sifted.)

She was really a lot of help.

I titled this blog, "I'm Thankful" because it illustrates some of the things for which I am most grateful -- this precious grandchild and the opportunity to have her for a whole week, Amy and Darryl who are willing to share her with us, Bubba, the husband and the Paw-Paw, the beautiful places that we can park our camper, this new lifestyle that we have embarked on, Joe and Judy and their hospitality, our good health.  The list of things I'm grateful for goes on and on.  I think the verses from a favorite hymn sum it up well:

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

Sun and moon and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

Pleasures pure and undefiled,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Amelia's 4th Birthday

This weekend marked a very special occasion as our granddaughter, Amelia, celebrated her 4th birthday.  It seems like just yesterday that she was just a cuddly little baby.  This is one of the first pictures of Nana and Amelia that was made not too long after she was born.

We adored her from the first time we saw her.  We have lost count of the miles we have traveled back and forth so that she would know her grandparents.  This weekend was no different.  We wanted to be there to share her birthday with her.


We arrived Friday afternoon and she was already excited about her birthday party the next day.  Although she has really been into the "Princess" theme for over a year now, she requested a "Toy Story" party and her mom did an outstanding job of honoring that request.  You can hear the excitement in her voice from the snippet of video below.

Amy made the cutest birthday banner and decorated the tables with characters from "Toy Story".  She even decorated the cupcakes herself.  The party was held under a pavilion near a nice playground and the children enjoyed playing together until it was time for pizza and cake.  We gave Amelia some boots and the reel and rod ("fishing pole") that she had requested.  Bubba showed her how to cast and she was catching on very quickly.

Amelia is a joy to us all, a very special blessing from God.

One of the most precious things she says to me is "I love you, my Nana."  I love you too, my Amelia and happy, happy birthday.

ThingsWe Like

Amy sometimes just does a list on her blog, so I'm going to copy that and tell you some things we like that are new to us:

  This is a rug that Joe and Judy gave us when we camped near them last time.  It is light as a feather and cuts down on trash being tracked into the trailer.  Next time we are going to put some pegs through the loops on the corners to make it lie flatter. I wanted to buy one, but the price on this one was too good to pass up.  It was free!!!  

This is a sign that Joe made for us to hang outside when we're camping.  The top sign says, "Travels with Archie".  Bubba is going to paint the letters so they show up a little better, but we love this.  Anybody that knows Joe and Judy knows that you always leave their house with something.  Thanks guys, we love the rug and the sign.

These are stick on levels that I ordered from Amazon.  Bubba was skeptical at first, but they really help you determine how level the trailer is when you park.  Before you stick them on you need to take a carpenter's level and put it on the floor and the counter inside to make sure you are level.

Finally, these three items are great.  On the left are the drawers that we pack with our personal hygiene items. The top drawer is for medicine.  The second drawer holds Bubba's toothbrush, comb, razor, etc.  All my makeup, deodorant, toothbrush, etc. is in the bottom drawer.  It only takes a minute on the day we leave to throw things in the drawers as we get ready that morning.  The tote in the middle holds tall items like mirror, curling irons, hair dryer.  Both of these go in the bathroom cabinet and then everything is at our finger tips.  The little heater on the right received its first trial this weekend.  The gas heater in the trailer works fast and warms things up in a hurry, but once we warm up we can run this little heater to keep it warm using "their" electricity instead of our gas.

I've got some other things I'll share later, but we are  delighted with these things and wanted to show them to you.  Our next camping trip will include a very special guest.  Stay tuned for more later.