Thanksgiving 2021

This year we spent Thanksgiving at Shane's parents. We spent time visiting, eating s'mores, online shopping and watching movies.

Before we headed home on Friday, we all went out to Ron and Derenda's friends house to shoot guns. Since the boys have had practice in the past, they did really well shooting at the targets. 

After shooting guns, the boys decided to ride a little motorcycle that Mr. Terry had set up "like a carnival ride". Malachi decided to go first, and despite only being able to go in a circle, he was gripping the handle bars too tightly and kept giving it gas. He ended up about 10 yards past the motorcycle.

Camden was ready to ride, but after seeing Malachi get thrown off, he kept second guessing if he really wanted to try it or not. After we finally talked him into it, and he too got thrown off. LOL.

Next up was Casen, and I will let you guess what happened to him. . . 

So Kelsey decided to show the kids just how to do it . . .

Finally, Nana gave it a shot. She was the smart one though, because she had Mr. Terry take the bike off of the pole he had rigged and she was off and riding through the pasture.

Since I had been doing a lot of on-line shopping prior to us going to Lumberton and then while we were in Lumberton, we had plenty of packages waiting for us. In a few of the boxes were the boys skiing stuff I had ordered for our upcoming ski trip. They couldn't wait to try it on and see how it fit. After they got it on, Camden asked for his pictures to be taken so he could see what he looked like.

Casen then decided he too needed his picture taken, but he wanted to pose. 

He felt like he was smiling too much in the first picture, so asked that another be taken.

Lord, help me . . . 

Fun at the Fields

We had yet another sports filled weekend. While Camden had a soccer game in Missouri City yesterday, Casen was playing in a tournament at Baseball USA, which meant we had to divide and conquer. Despite Camden's team losing, Camden played well and did an awesome job defending.

Casen's team played some great baseball and ended up the #1 seed going into their games on Sunday. They unfortunately lost in a very close game to the Hustlers. I have no doubt we will be seeing that team again. 

The Loss of the Hood Grandparents

It has been a rough past 8 weeks in regards to Shane's grandparents. Several months ago, Granddad started having issues and after he was taken to the hospital, it was found that a hernia he had was causing an intestinal blockage. He underwent surgery, which was successful, however he never really recovered from the surgery, ended up with double pneumonia and returned home on hospice where he ended up passing on September 9th. While he was nearing his final days, Grannie and Shane's dad both ended up with COVID, which turned into COVID pneumonia and both were hospitalized (right across the hall from each other) and unable to attend Granddads's funeral. Some of Shane's aunts and uncles who were also tending to Grannie and Granddad also ended up with COVID, so we felt it best we not attend the funeral and instead watched it on-line.

Grannie returned home from her hospitalization, but was weak and was suffering horribly from her chronic bak pain. After 74 years married to Granddad, she never wanted to be without him and begged him not to leave her. Seven weeks later, on October 31st, she left this earth and I have no doubt, was welcomed with open arms by her Heavenly Father as well as Granddad.

On Thursday, we headed to Georgia to attend Grannie's funeral. That evening, Camden decided to pull a loose tooth.

Despite the circumstances, it was nice to see family. Due to COVID, there was only a graveside service yesterday which was very cold and windy, but was nice. All of the family then joined back at Grannie and Granddad's for lunch where we looked through pictures and shared memories. This morning, we got up and headed home.

Trying to keep warm at the graveside.

We are left with so many memories of a wonderful couple whom everyone loved.  They loved their family fiercely and made everyone feel welcomed in their home. Shane and I share Grannie and Granddad's wedding anniversary and Casen's middle name is James. Neither of those things are by coincidence. I absolutely loved and adored them and pray that just a smudge of who they are and the love they shared for each other would rub off onto me and my marriage. 

2016

2018

2021

2021

Granny's summary of their
lives together

Some thoughts from Granddad

Halloween 2021

With Halloween being on a Sunday this year, we were uncertain if Casen was going to be able to trick or treat due to his end of season baseball tournament. Luckily, they were able to schedule the games early and his team came out in second.

As per last year, we headed over to our friend's neighborhood so the boys could trick or treat with Camden's good friend, Cole. The amount of candy the boys receive is insane . . . 

The boys and their loot.