Yummy!! We've been eating leftovers from Jenny's feast yesterday and, although we don't have the pleasure of having their company, the food is still so good!! Thank you, Jen, for sending our goodies home with us! It's so good I think I'll cook more of the same weekend after next for Sunday's lunch!! {I would do it this weekend, but 1 - it's too soon after Thanksgiving, and 2 - dad is working day shift so he wouldn't be here.}

Don't you just love all the food from Thanksgiving throughout the Christmas season??!! Are you eating and enjoying leftovers, too?!

Brandon & Jenny had us over to celebrate Thanksgiving with them today. This is what I saw coming into their kitchen. Brandon is such a help to Jenny and even cleaned up after the meal. However, in this snapshot, he's carving the turkey! Ian loves to help his mommy set the table and this is what I saw going into their dining room! Each place setting had a place card that Ian had handwritten. Do I have to tell you how my heartstrings sang? I even asked Jen if I could bring 'Nan' and 'Pa' home. I want to save them and remember how special this child is to all of us.

A cute thing we noticed was that on Jenny's place card, Ian wrote "My mommy". This firstborn of theirs is growing much too quickly.

And this is my baby girl. The only pregnancy I was able to carry to term. Thank you, God, for this special child. She has brought me such joy and laughter through the years. I love her dearly.

Then, it got cute. Ian came dragging a large plastic container into the living area, telling Pa "let's put our costumes on!" First, he wanted me to take a snapshot of him in his pirate costume. Then, he dressed Pa.
What a beautiful man I am married to, one that allows a grandchild crawl all over him placing leis, masks, hats, and laughing the whole time at 'Pa, you are silly'.
I am so thankful for you, Johnny Hood, and will spend the rest of my natural life loving each minute I have with you. Thank you for the laughter and smiles and heart memories you made this afternoon with Ian, Noah, and the one that watched it through a camera lens.

You didn't even flinch when Ian had you put on the Yoda hat. I am so in love with you.
Jenny took Noah to get his hair cute yesterday and both of us were dreading it. I was happy to see that it looks really good, although there aren't as many curls. It's definitely shorter, but still our curlicued baby. One day, we'll tease him about these paci's but for now, I shall do all I can to keep him little. Yes, sweet Noah, I'll sneak a paci to you, but sshhh, don't tell mommy and daddy.

And after our tummies were filled, we played 'Restaurant' with Ian and Noah with the play kitchen and food. After I went upstairs and played on the computer with Ian and Noah, while Pa visited with Jenny and Brandon. And after we got the kitchen partially cleaned and we were ready to leave, I snapped this of the two that made today possible. Thanks, Brandon and Jenny. It was a day to remember.

May it be one of your best ones yet!

Christmas Tidbits of Me!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. I was tagged, so read on to find a bit more about me!

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags? whatever fits!

2. Real tree or Artificial? artificial, I can leave it up longer!

3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving week

4. When do you take the tree down? one time they stayed up until the first of March, but usually it's the first of February

5. Do you like eggnog? NO, but I love custard!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Christmas, 1962 I got a stuffed pink poodle. Still have him.

7. Hardest person to buy for? everyone is pretty easy!

8. Easiest person to buy for? our girls

9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mailed

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? a fake fur headband

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping? when Jenny says 'let's go shopping'

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yep

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? whatever Jenny's coooking

16. Lights on the tree? Yes

17. Favorite Christmas song? all of them!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? both

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? if I sing the song :)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? it depends on which room it's in and what the colors area

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? both

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? the layoffs at the papermill

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? depends on the room

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I love moist dressing but prefer ham as the meat

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? SNOW.SNOW.SNOW

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? maybe Heather

27. Who is least likely to respond to this? most of the ones reading this

I tag any of you that feel like sharing a bit of yourselves with us!

Look who's at Bass Pro Shops!!

And look at the sweethearts on his knees!!

Today Noah is two years old,

And he has held my heart in his hands

from the moment I learned of his existence.

I have always,

and will always,

remain fascinated by the many expressions

that cross his face,

his "wook, Nan!" and "Oh, man!",

and the fact that he still

lets me rock him to sleep.

Sweet Noah, I will love you,

forever and a day~

BMW 323i For Sale~

Johnny just called. He's found a 2005 BMW 323i just like my 2000 one. BUT, we need to sell mine first. So, is anyone out there interested? It is a high mileage car, with 136,500 on it. We purchased it from a traveling sales rep. It's been kept very well and either under a carport or in a garage. Tan interior with all the bells and whistles. 6-track CD player (did I describe that correctly?) and sunroof. The picture below is NOT my car, but a year model like it (this one doesn't seem to have a sunroof, mine does). It's almost 10 pm and dark outside! You'll have to wait until tomorrow to see mine. You can call us at 334.361.8895 or email at jandnhood@yahoo.com. Oh, and the price is $7500 OBO.
And this is the second post for tonight, so continue on!

Twilight

Yes, I went to see it.

Tonight.

With Jenny, Deedee, and Haley.

And I liked it.

Not as much as the book.

But isn't that the way it always is?

I am now about to begin

Book Number 4~

and will probably

finish it tonight.

When I am intriqued,

I stay with it.

Have you read it?

Or seen the movie?

If so,

I'm curious,

What did you think?

This is Noah,

showing his Thanksgiving turkey.

Just wait.

It gets funnier.

I just love it.

Looks like a line-up shot.

The One That Killed the Bird.

Some Like It, Some Don't

Johnny and I rode with my brother, Nelson, into Montgomery yesterday to see mother. She is doing really well, looked great, and made three laps around the Physical Therapy room while we were there. Thank you for your prayers and support. She plans to return home the middle of next week. While we were there, she was introducing us to everyone and seemed to know almost each person within sight. The woman never meets a stranger and I wondered how she would be once she's home and doesn't have all the personable relationships she's making. Not to mention the nurses that are so sweet to make over her.

She is in the same rehab center that I spent 24 hours in after the eleven weeks of ICU. I was so homesick that I literally felt I would have a nervous breakdown if I wasn't allowed to go home. Once I settled in for the night, however, it got better and I thought just maybe I could stay the five weeks that was planned for me. BUT, at breakfast the next morning when I was wheeled to the dining table and the elderly man next to me went face first into his oatmeal bowl, I knew I wasn't staying!!! Not this girl!!!

Got someone to wheel me back to my room, called Johnny, we talked to the doctor who agreed I could do in-house therapy, and I went home!!!! Someone came three times a week for five weeks and helped me relearn how to walk, climb stairs, write, etc and I never had to go back to the rehab center. Yikes, I was sooooo relieved to see that mother's situation is different and that she's much happier! Oh, and she isn't having to wear diapers either. Ugh, I've told Johnny I did all that 'senior citizen stuff' at the young age of 50, so I shouldn't have to do it at all now. You think?

Giggles!

Don't you just love the way

your face automatically

breaks out in a grin

when you see Maxine?

{thanks, Patti!}

I wish I was in this area,

spending the week sleeping & living here,

with this man,

and these people!

And, so okay, I wish my hair

could look like this~

Well, what do you wish?

32-7

WHOO HOO!!!!

We traveled to Brandon, Mississippi to see Stacey and Leslie, and our grandbabies!! The trip over was overcast and it began to rain not long after we arrived. We had such a nice time snuggling Austin and Alaina, and went to sleep listening to the wind kicking up outside. This morning we had breakfast and after a little more visiting, left driving home. Johnny wanted to watch the Alabama game on home turf. Coming home, the sun was shining, but the temp was dropping! It's 6 pm and we're settled in, waiting on the game to begin. Thank you, Stacey and Leslie, for another awesome time in your homes. We love you so much and look forward to seeing you again soon!!

Birthday Girl

Ian took this picture of his mother,

our daughter, Jenny recently.
Happy Birthday, Jen~

you've made so many of my dreams

come true. And we positively adore you!

Raymond Elliott, a dear friend of ours,

took some snapshots recently in Bear Creek Swamp.

No, I do not know where this is.

I just liked the pictures. He has a blog highlighting

some of his hunting tales that you would find amusing.

Johnny chuckles out loud each time

we receive one of Raymond's writings.

I thought you might enjoy another reminder of the season,

along with this awesome liquid from the skies we are presently enjoying!

We're Home!

and we had the most relaxing time! It was overcast and cloudy most of the time, but as Johnny said years ago "a rainy day in the Smokies beats a sunny day in Alabama". We love our time in the Gatlinburg area and this trip was just as nice. My brother, Nelson, and his wife took her parents and they will all return tomorrow. One night we got together to play dominoes and eat ribs. I fell asleep listening to John and Brewer arguing over keeping score. {I do NOT play dominoes with Johnny Hood. He is too competitive for me. Besides, he always wins.}

It's been three weeks now since the surgery and I'm healing well. The binder aggravates me but I only have to wear it three more weeks! I still tire easily. Taking naps helps and I don't mind snuggling down for one! Thank you for your prayers! Hopefully, this will be the last medical procedure to correct a mistake made two years ago.

Thank you, too, for those of you that read Jenny's page and have prayed for my mother. She suffered a slight stroke Sunday and is presently in rehab. We saw her this afternoon and she's doing much better. She was growing tired by the time we left. They plan to have her up and in therapy early tomorrow. Please keep her in your prayers as she struggles to recover. She's a strong woman and I'll be glad to see her return home.

I can't wait to visit everyone and see what you've been up to! I've been to Jen's page and loved reading her 'Seen and Heard'. Hope to see some updates on other sites as well! We forgot to take the camera, bummer!, so there are no pics of our trip. But, I Googled one!