Lots of Faces

  In the last week or so we were lots of places and saw lots of faces. 

So, on this eve of Thanksgiving I am going to share a plethora of photos with you. 

Yes they were all taken by me and no they are most likely not in chronological order.

Lets just start this show with some pure sweetness for the beginning of the holiday season.  

This is my niece Hailey.  I was babysitting her and she was taking a nap.

Okay, well she did take a short nap until I came in with my camera.

       

We went to Missouri so the guys could deer hunt.  

More importantly on the way we spotted a bunch of Eagles near the rode in a field. 

Luckily for me, I was driving at the time and my camera was with in arms reach in the back seat.

And luckily for everyone else, there was no one behind me on the highway. That could have been bad. I probably would have seen a lot more birds of a different kind.

 Anyway, here are some of the birdies.

 Flying

 Flying

 And flying

 Here is my blue eyed boy and his beautiful wife and their baby, Cocoa.

He doesn't always have that scowl on his face.  Only when I get my camera out and point it his direction.

 And we got to see my daughter and most of our grandsons.  Isn't Levi adorable. 

Yes he had been crying if you want to know. His mommy got out of his sight for a minute.

 And Mator Salad.  Thats not really his name. It's Mason. 

But Mator Salad is cuter, just like him.

 And our eldest grandchild, Adrian.

 We got our Jack back.  Yea!  Does he look excited?

 The guys went hunting.

    

 And we took a nap. Even though, he wasn't tired.  And was not going to fall asleep.

 Then we went bowling with his Aunt Kate and Uncle Chris

          

Look at that form!

He was loving the jerky Aunt KK brought.

 Oh and when we got back home,  Fall was gone :(

 And Chris, Lauren and Cocoa came for a visit.  

The puppys were helping her get her homework done.

My Dad and I also went to Arkansas.

But that is a whole different blog.

Dear kids,

Actually that title should say "Deer and Kids".  That is what my week has been about.  My SIL and Hailey went to Missouri. The guys went deer hunting and I watched the kids.

As many of you have already seen. 

This is the deer.  It went from this.

To this.

To this.  Yummy!

 Preston

And Raquel

Had something to show me.

 It was an Eagle

And his buddy

They didnt think that was near as exciting as I did so they went back to the patio.

And used the chair like a merry go round.

First it was Raquels turn.

Then Prestons.  I can still hear him giggling.

And of course I couldnt pass up this shot of an Aster.



Oh Brother!

Last week on my trip through the midwest I stopped at my older brothers house. I hadnt been there in about 12  years.  Shameful, I know.  So here are some things from my visit and a possibly a few random photos.

Here is my brother and I when we were little. 

When we still liked each other. 

You know, before the teen years hit us like a ton of bricks.

There were two other siblings, but they came later.

I drove by the house that we lived in as teenagers.  It hasnt changed a bit.  Except it used to be a yellow color. And there weren't rails on the porch. And there used to be a giant rose bush to the left that attacked him once. And that fence didnt used to be around the yard. Okay so it has changed a little. But so have we. We grew up. Grew apart.  Matured and grew back together.  We have more in common.  Enjoying the finer things: family, friends, food and nice wine.  (Okay so the wine is all me, but there is still time for him to learn ;)

 Here he is! Making me dinner.

He made Jambalaya while I envied his wildly curly hair.

He chopped lots of veggies.

Here is a pepper I picked out of his garden. 

 And other stuff.

And the bacon.  Yum 

 Some chicken breast. Look at those hands chop away.

Those are some excessively musically gifted hands.

 Some of the best sausage I have ever had.

 Then it was outside to cut the herbs.

More chopping.

Stir it all together.

 And add some rice. Love the way he meassures. Just like me!

 Notice it has changed at bit? 

He added some tomato sauce and wine.

 Now on to dessert while it simmers.

Simple, delicious pumpkin cupcakes.

 I spooned them into the liners. Messy, I know.

And yes they have Christmas print.  Hey, gotta use what you got.

 Mmm cooling in the window.  Can you smell that?

 Get a little closer.  How about now?  

Mmmm mmm so fall like.

 Frosting the minis.

 And now, just as important as the cooking is the clean up.

I would have helped but you know,  I had a camera in my hand.

 Opening a bottle of wine for us.  OKAY, okay, for me!

 And viola'.  Dinner was served.

 Then we kicked back and watched a movie with his babies.

See that cross in the back ground?  Its mine now.  I love it.

 Does this photo looked staged?

I am starting to ramble. It's time to go. Just one more thing.

I took this shot in his back yard.

Do you see the irony? Or is it just me?