She's an animal lover!

Thalia and I took our trip to the zoo today. I was worried we wouldn't make it this trip because it has been raining...and raining...and raining... and it's been C-O-L-D! This morning, it was cold - 37 degrees - but started to warm up to 40...and it wasn't raining.
When we got to the zoo, we walked directly to the petting barnyard...Thalia's favorite.
There were goats, sheep, and chickens out in the petting part...
Thalia loves them all, and they all love her!
She petted...and talked to them...
This goat in particular, was in love with Thalia! He kept nuzzling up to her...
giving her kisses...on the cheek, of course!
She told me later that..well, that the goat had some pretty bad breath!
Sometimes she would squat down, and a whole slew of animals would come to her...


The kisses on her ear made her laugh!



This was the sign in the barnyard...at the entrance to where the animals could go inside...no humans allowed through that gate!
This was Thalia's absolute favorite...and like I said, he was crazy about her!
Thalia sat with him/her (?) for 2 hours...she told me she loved to look in his eye!
We were actually in the petting barnyard for over 3 hours...but for 2 hours, Thalia sat with that goat!This one was making us laugh as he chewed his cud...and chewed...and chewed...and...you get the picture!

The ground was wet from all the rain...but Thalia found a dry spot where this goat was hanging out...this is where the two of them sat...and talked...and hugged on each other...

Look at them both laugh!
Here's a picture of half of the barnyard...

Thalia was sad to have to say good-bye to her buddy...
Before we left, we went and found THE wheelbarrow...where I've taken several photos of her through the years...

Our little zoo...we just love it!

Boys on the counter

Benjamin and Emerson were having a little snack of watermelon...
We sat them up on the kitchen counter...
They chowed down...

Their Papa kept cutting up watermelon...
and they kept eating it...



They weren't just left up there, of course. You can see Papa and their Grammy were keeping a close watch on the little guys!




They only stopped eating because we stopped giving it to them.

Washcloths were in dire need after that...they were covered in watermelon juice...

but they were happy...

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve started with a healthy supply of cinnamon rolls...
After eating, the guys had so much energy from all that sugar that they got to work outside. It helped that it was maybe THE one day without rain...

Some of our ladies were a bit concerned...watching out the window, praying he wouldn't get hurt...
Joshua wasn't worried, but he's not who they were watching...
Donnie! There he is, up in the tree...In this photo, you see the ladder...
but now you see, the ladder is gone. I have no idea why the ladder was taken away...
He was straddling a branch, and using a saw at the same time to cut off limbs...

I was thankful when he came down!
In the meantime, Thalia put Benjamin to sleep....
Her cousin, Peter, gave her a big hug and told her how proud he was of her....
Becky and GRITS were hanging out around the food bar...checking email...and just visiting...
Another shot of Aunt Becky and GRITS...
As we were waiting for our Christmas dinner to cook, some got a game going...
Some didn't want to play games, but just hang out in the living room...

With 19 people, you had a choice about what you wanted to do...
Thalia was happy to do anything...
She hung out with Sami for a little while...
Emerson decided he wanted to go for a walk...
He put on his Daddy's shoes...
and tried to open the front door...
He looked to his Mimi for help...
but all he got was a photo or two!
Benjamin came in carrying his potty chair.

"Poopie," he said.
"Benjamin, do you have to go poopie?"
"NO," was his answer!
He put the potty chair away and just looked out the window at the Christmas lights...
He made his way into the kitchen. He and Emerson LOVE the magnets...I eventually removed all the photos being held on by magnets because they kept ending up on the floor...

Finally, it was time for our Christmas Eve dinner...we had two tables set up and put the food on the bar...
The feasting began...ham, turkey and dressing, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, layered jello fruit salad, cranberry sauce, hot rolls, mixed fruit, corn casserole....it was tasty!
GRITS was happy...

Gabe was waiting for the line to get down before he got up to fill his plate...
Joshua wasted no time...
Lindsey was telling her Uncle John her favorites...
It was so special to have everyone here...


Cranberry sauce....made with cranberries, apple, brown sugar, ginger, white grape juice, cinnamon...Yum!Last but not least, dark chocolate pie! I think I made 5 of them during the week everyone was here.

Christmas Eve dinner...it was a great time having our family together for dinner!