kids...

Did you know that yams are not available in the U.S.? We have two types of sweet potatoes here, and neither type is an actual "yam". Yams are native to Africa. I trust Food Network is right about this.

I can't wait until Thanksgiving. We are having a big shin dig at my grandmother's ranch, with spunky cousins and adorable great aunts and funny uncles. I've learned to make some smashing dishes since last year, and I can't wait to share them. I am especially excited because I thought until yesterday that Bubba was going to miss Thanksgiving to work, but now he has that Thursday and Friday off! And he has Christmas and New Year's eve/day off! I'm so happy about this.

Last night the three of us went to Walmart and shopped for Grace's birthday presents. We got her a Dora big wheels-type trike, a Disney Princesses tea set, an outfit that looks very Christmasy, baby doll bottles and diapers (she likes to use her own diapers on her dolls), and.... I forget what else. We had fun. Oh ya, new tennis shoes. As we were leaving Walmart, Grace was hungry (it was after 9pm) and we passed the in-store McDonald's. Grace started yelling and pointing at McDonald's, and I realized that this was the very first of many times she will beg for McDonald's in her childhood. We did stop and get an ice cream for her. (Of course I took some bites too. Which I had to report to my diet accountability partner, MIIIIIIRIam.)

I haven't told you about Noma's birthday, which was the 11th. She turned 12. She was born my senior year of high school, and now she's 12. I'm an old lady. But Noma looked fabulous. She has gotten so much taller and thinner in the past year; she is so grown up now! I have some pics of her in the dress I bought her and boots that Mary bought her. The pics really don't do her justice, she was so pretty in that dress. I'll show you anyway.

And this is the corn snake that mom indulged her love of reptiles with.
And these are the cutest cousins ever, at Noma's party.

I could look at pictures of my Grace and little Malachi all day long, couldn't you?

Speaking of Malachi, I uploaded the picture of him on his birthday, the only picture I got before we lost the camera! He's wearing his cute John Deer boots we got in Fredericksburg.

I also forgot to post Halloween pictures. Here is Grace, Cooper, and Connor, and grandfather Bob, in front of their house, waiting for trick-or-treaters.

And this is Grace packing herself away for the trip back home, ahah.


now here's a random picture of my lounging sweater I just bought at Gap Body for $23. It is so comfy!

Well I'd love to stay and chat some more, but Grace is throwing herself on the floor in defiance of my couch sitting. I'm sure she wants to go outside, like the public service announcements keep telling us to do. Why can't they leave me alone? I have a nice little butt dent in the couch.