Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for family. This year, for the first time in a long while, most of our family was together. (Noticeably missing was Marina). We had a week long festival of family (and eating) starting on Wednesday night. My mother hosted a family gathering because one of my cousins, Amber, would be at her in-laws over Thanksgiving and wouldn't be around. So my mother made an Italian feast. We had lasagna, meatballs, spaghetti and garlic bread.
My sister flew in from Arizona with her kids. This little one is Harper (age 4) and she is enthralled by a video of some cats singing 'Unbelievable'.
My cousin Chantal and her husband Ryan joined us for dinner.
John's just resting his eyes.
Drew (age 8) looks really snazzy in that hat. Wearing hats for guys, I think, has become a lost art. I'm wishing it's something that hadn't gone out of fashion. Maybe Drew will bring it back.
Cheryl, Jennifer & my sister. Ed & Judy in the background.
Hmmm..not sure what they are talking about but it must be interesting.
Emily, John's cousin, came to visit us from school. She attends the University of Arkansas. We don't get to see Emily much but she's a pretty impressive girl.
You've heard of Cedric the Entertainer? This is Dane the Entertainer. Dane is 3. And he is entertaining.
Now this guy is just adorable. Dixon is about 5 weeks now and he is just the sweetest little guy. He also generates a lot of heat. I was trying not to be a baby hog this time but it's really hard when the baby in question is so cute.
The boys put up their warning sign. I got the impression they didn't want any company.
Bailey (who is 12 now) with Dixon.

Italian night at my mom's was a rounding success. It was great to see everyone and I'd like to think everyone had a good time. We had to leave to go home because John & I were hosting the next feast - Thanksgiving - at our house.
I made the stuffing - cornbread much to my sister's chagrin. Maybe I'll try and make the sausage stuffing sometime during the year. If it comes out okay, perhaps I'll put it on the menu for next year. John actually did the turkey this year.
Just another 15 minutes and it's show time.
Meanwhile, Harper was in the other room drawing pictures. She's showing us her handy work.
Mom & my sister are in the kitchen making gravy.
Harper is showing her handywork to Dad.
Mom & Atticus waiting patiently for turkey.
Miss Emily is obviously amused but by whom?
We get a special concert by Brendan who played Christmas carols on his saxophone. He's pretty good, by the way. If my sister had brought her flute, my John had pulled out his bass, John Windsor had brought his tuba and Paul had brought his horn we'd have had a nice band.
When I joined this family SEVERAL years ago, Paul was 2. Now he's almost taller than his dad. Time sure flies whether you like it or not.
Harper discovers my adding machine which she thinks is 'awesome'. Maybe we have a future accountant on our hands.
My sister and Kevin watching the Cowboy game.
Harper cheering for someone. That girl is a bundle of energy.
Harper joins the game of catch with Atticus and Uncle John.
Harper throws to Uncle John...
Uncle John throws to Atticus...
And Atticus catches.
The very last night we gathered again at my mom's. Unfortunately, my Uncle Ed was sick. The evening seemed very quiet without him. Harper and I played most of the night. This is Harper being a bunny. Or was it a squirrel?
Me and Harper and Atticus.
We thought this one would be just me and Atticus but Harper popped back in when Uncle John snapped the photo.
I don't know what's going on here. Overall, it was a lovely Thanksgiving holiday. It was wonderful to have everyone get together and visit.

To my family: Same time next year? Let's do it again!

Playoffs: Mansfield Tigers vs Guyer Wildcats at Cowboy Stadium

It's Saturday night in Arlington, Texas and Mansfield High School is in the playoffs. They are playing against Guyer High School (from Denton, Texas). The game is at Cowboy Stadium and the half-time show is the Mansfield Marching Band - featuring Paul Windsor on french horn.
Cowboy Stadium.
John & mom outside the stadium.
Me & mom inside the stadium. This is my third visit to the stadium. The first time was to see U2 and last time I was here I saw Texas play Nebraska.
The jumbo-tron. This thing is so huge that if you are sitting at any level other than the lowest, you are compelled to watch the game on the screen rather than on the field.
The ring of honor - Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith.
Paul before the game. That's the band section. They have a pretty big band. It looks like there's about 150 or so kids. The other team's band looked to have about half that.
Big John & little John.
This is the set up for the first score of the game. They're lined up.
The ball is handed off to the running back and SCORE! Mansfield 7 Guyer 0.
At half-time, the score was 14 - 10, Mansfield. The half-time show begins with the drill team. They do a lot of kicking and they do the same move as the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders - which is to jump in the air (while holding on to one another as seen above) and landing in the splits. That just looks painful but they did a great job.
Then comes the band. They march on to the field and make the formation of 'MHS' and then they stand in the same place the whole show. They were jamming, though.
Paul is french horn right in front of the flute - you can see him framed between the second and third flag (from the right).
The band coming off the field - that's Paul right in front.
Not a great shot but it's nice to see him smile. In the end, Mansfield won. They move on to the next round and they will play next weekend in Abilene.

Go Tigers!