I Love Thanksgiving

Well I do love Thanksgiving. First of all THANK YOU for cool, delicious weather! Growing up in South Texas, it was summer all year long, so I love the change of seasons. Tyler is beautiful in the fall. And YES, thank you for Grandchildren. I just adore them.
I like this holiday because you don't have to DO anything except cook, and eat and be thankful. No costumes to make, presents to buy, trees to decorate, Valentines to mail or eggs to hide. Just be thankful. Take a breath, play some games, watch a movie or take a walk. Well truthfully I'm not crazy about all the dish-washing, oh well.

We've eaten with Tyson's family the past few years and this year it was Janice's time to host. I wish I had taken a picture of her tables because they were so pretty. So inviting and so special. I brought a Cajun fried turkey and some mashed potatoes. Sarah made a broccoli/cheese casserole, Beth whipped out a pumpkin cheesecake, Janice and her family brought a ham, a green bean casserole, fruit salad, dressing, gravy and MOMO rolls.
This is Tyson and Sarah and Momo - Tyson's grandmother - and she makes rolls ... really good ones.
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I'm thankful that our daughters are such amazing moms.
I'm thankful that Tyson and Matt are part of our family now - they're such good dads.
Did I mention that I'm thankful for grandchildren?

Christmas Calendars

When Beth and Sarah were small, my mother (Grandma Hall) gave them a Christmas Advent Calendar that she made. It was so cute! It was made from felt and in each little pocket there was an ornament to put on the tree.

She must have loved sequins because EVERYTHING had sequins on it. There was the little train at the bottom of the tree....
Each ornament was adorable and sequinney and cute...


Each day during December, the girls would look forward to putting an ornament on the tree. Actually I STILL look forward to it! Here's what it looks like with all the ornaments.

SO I had to make one for Camryn and Emery (and their siblings)!

Honestly, mine are not as detailed, but I think they turned out nicely.

Love, Gigi
PS: Grandma Hall also made elaborate Christmas tree skirts, which I will NOT be doing !

Dedication Day

Emery Elizabeth was dedicated at Glenwood yesterday. One of our elders always holds the baby as they are dedicated and prays for him/her. Of course Beth and Matt asked Greg to do that for Emery! It was a special morning.

This is the blessing that the church read to her:

"We rejoice to take Emery under our care. We seek God's grace to be a community in which the gospel is truly proclaimed to all. We will support you and minister with you as workers together in Christ Jesus and heirs of His promise."

Afterwards we all came to our house and ate King Ranch Chicken. Like I said, it was a wonderful day!

It's Pumpkin Patch Time

This weekend we took girls to the Pumpkin Patch. And by "the girls" I mean Camryn and Emery. Beth and Sarah used to be "the girls", but they've been replaced, plus they are young women now and it's time to pass the title on. Sigh.


We went to Moore Farms, which is a family owned farm in Bullard. I used to take my kindergarten classes out there every fall. They have hay rides, a corn maze, and pumpkin fields. They always sat the kids down and read them a story. Plus there were lots of chickens running around and believe me, kindergartenrs get excited when chickens run around. Where was I?

Oh yes - "the girls" and the pumpkin patch. Here they are. Ready to roll!



We decided that the hayride and corn maze were a little advanced for our group, so we opted for a few photo opportunities instead. Plus we've had a monsoon around here the last few weeks and yes, it was muddy. Very muddy. Can I just say that it isn't easy getting babies to look at the camera and smile? Camryn - Camryn look over here! Camryn?


Here's a cute one.
I like this one too.
He's such a good grandaddy!
Don't you just love the hair?
Isn't she cute!
Before I go, I must include this picture! Beth would want me to, I know. This was taken in October,2003 on an ETCA field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. She looks good with a chicken!

Trunk or Treat 09

Here are a few pictures of "Trunk or Treat" or better yet "Emery's First But Not Last Ballerina Costume Night". Or something like that!

She did great for a long time - just looking around and taking it all in, but then it was sleepy time.

EMERY - you know that Snickers are better than Milky Ways!

Emery Elizabeth Madison

Emery Elizabeth is adorable! We love her so much. Here she is just minutes after she was born on August 17. Her daddy is in love with his little girl. This was taken when she was about a week old - oh the beautiful hair! And yes - we think she's a Mini Matt.

Once again - THE HAIR - so cute. Still just a week old here.

She looks good in any animal print! She got dressed up for our Labor Day party.

Her mommy loves her too.

She loves to wiggle and talk!Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks. I can't get enough of her!

Emery Gets Her Picture Taken

As a birthday gift for Beth, Matt arranged to have a 4D sonogram taken at Storkvision. So last Friday his parents came and we all gathered around the screen - nothing. She (Emery) wouldn't cooperate - the girl just couldn't get a clear picture. But we all went out and ate Mexican food afterwards, so the chips, salsa, fajitas, etc. made everyone feel a little better.

On Tuesday afternoon, Beth, Sarah, Camryn and I went to Storkvision to try again. Greg was a little late because he'd been to the eye doc with his dad, but made it just in time. Again - Emery wouldn't cooperate! As you can see from the picture she had her hand in front of her face and WOULD NOT move it. The sonographer had Beth move, walk around, turn over, proded her, etc. Nothing. The owner came and they both prodded, pushed, etc. You get the picture. Emery still wouldn't move her hands. Then Camryn woke up and started to cry (really loudly) and things begin to happen! All of a sudden the hand came down and there she was. I think she heard her cousin - well maybe.

Beth thinks she looks like Matt :>) He also bought her a diaper bag - so cute.
Emery Elizabeth, it will be so much fun to see you in person!