Thanksgiving and The Saturday After

Why yes, I am months behind on my blog.  What's new?

Oh well. Life happens.

More important than recording it, is enjoying it.   And that, we have!

Today, I'm looking back at November 28th and 30th.  It was a wonderful couple of days.

We spent thanksgiving in Natchitoches with Cory's family.

The kids had been dying to make an Apple Pie, and they did quite a good job.

Then Lan took over my camera for a bit and got a couple of really nice shots!
This one really shows off Nana's blue eyes!

 And she caught a really sweet smile from Mason.

 Of course a day full of Thanksgiving activities tires a little guy out.  No better place than Daddy's shoulder to rest.

 And what better way to end the day than all the grandbabies piled on Nana watching the video for "What Does the Fox Say" LOL

 They are captivated.

We headed home the next day and on Saturday we headed to the Christmas Tree Farm.

We've had a fake tree for the last 8 years.  And after Christmas every year we say "We are going to get a real tree next year."  But then Christmas rolls around and convenience gets us.  We go to the attic and pull out the fake tree.  However, last year we decided to change that.  We tossed our fake tree on the curb so it would force us to get a real one this year. 

I'm so glad we did.

Once we got it into place inside, it was time to dress it up.....

....which was quite the task with Cooper around.  The ornaments are balls, so he treated them as such.  I've never been more thankful for shatterproof.

Coop finally directed his attention elsewhere.  But once we realized he was being a little too quiet, it was a little too late.  

He had thrown himself a little marshmallow party.

And boy did he have a ball.

Thankfully, he gave himself a little sugar high, then crashed just in time for bed.

YEEHAW!!!! Harvest Hoedown 2013

My parents moved out to "the middle of nowhere" Louisiana after I graduated High School.  They found an absolutely gorgeous 60 acre plot of land and knew they had to have it.  They could picture grandchildren running around in the yard as they rocked on the front porch.  A scene that occurs so frequently 12 years later.  Now my parents have always considered this land a gift from God, as they consider all their belongings.  They have also never wanted to keep this gift all to themselves.  They love sharing it with others.  They have hosted campouts, paintball wars, bonfires, youth water night, and numerous family get togethers.  However, their desire was to have an event where friends, family, church, and neighbors alike, could all come together for a beautiful time of fun and fellowship.

Thus, the idea of a Harvest Hoedown was born.

The plan: games for the kids, chili cook-off, my dad's famous hot tamales, hay-ride, piñata, and a bonfire like you've never seen.

In 2001, my parents hosted the first ever Harvest Hoedown.  It went so well, people were begging them to do it again.  Those who didn't come the first year, were already asking to be put on "the list" for the following year.  It quickly became an annual event and with each passing year it became a little bigger and better.

Last year, bc my sweet mama was taking care of me after a surgery, Harvest Hoedown had to be called off.  But this year, they came back with a BANG!!

The week leading up to the big event was quite busy, especially with a house full of kiddos.  But no worries. We put those munchkins to work!

 We had them sorting candy....

 Stuffing the piñata....

taste-testing cotton candy.....

 painting games.....

 even testing out the outhouse.  Not really. (Although it is a working outhouse)

 And boy, did we wear them out!!

My mom prepared these snazzy little ticket books for every kid who would be in attendance.

And when 4:00 on Saturday rolled around, the games began!

As the gams came to an end, the winners of the chili cook-off were announced. 

 The winners are: Connie Tuttle and Harry Langley!!!

 And here is Aunt Connie wearing her prizes

After dinner, was Hayride, Piñata and BON FIRE Time!!

We even had a few stick around to watch the first half of the LSU/Bama game. Never a dull moment....

It's rumored that this might have been the last year for Harvest Hoedown.  GiGi and PawPaw say they are getting too old. (humph!)  I guess that means we young folk better step it up if we want it to continue.  Who's with me?