Great Thanksgiving Day!

Granny Rene brought the dressing and here she is putting it all together! Yum!

Daddy and Jerry having a discussion.

My Kiki

Claire helped Mom in the kitchen

Claire's favorite this year was the hashbrown casserole!!!

Pa Pa gave Ben some pointers on how to shoot properly

Scott takes careful aim at the target.

Jim is lovin' this action with the firearms!!

Dad and Jay!

Anna Beth's caramel cake was yummy as usual!

Granny, Jay and I

Anna is busy knitting gifts for Christmas while Jim enjoys Cathy being able to sit down for one moment :)

John John and Aunt Cat Cat

Ben, Claire and I are setting the table

Mom and Dad

My bro and I

Jeremy and Rosella - the children loved the gifts from Aunt Rosella!

Lindsay played and played with the puppies!! Fiona (lasses) was especially fond of the future Mrs. Jeremy Goddard:)

Jeremy and Lindsay and Fee

We had a blessed day yesterday as my family came over and up and down to our house for Thanksgiving. Mom, Dad, Cathy and Jim got here a little after lunch and Jerry and Rosella arrived around 4 and Jeremy and Lindsay arrived around 6. Jim, Daddy , Scott and Ben had some target practice while we were cooking! We enjoyed the time together and the delicious feast! I am thankful for my family!

Thankful..................

for snuggles in the early dawn hours with my littlest one.

for reading history with my middle two.

for heart to heart talks with my oldest.

for the constancy of my hubby. He is so dependable and witty and such a wonderful father.

for Daddy and John walks while all dressed up in their hunting gear. They even took their guns in case they saw something. Neither gun would hit the broad side of a barn :)

for cloudy days and good books and a warm house.

for a glorious Savior who daily feeds our soul with the choicest of food - Himself. Oh, the stooping love of Jesus. Our Grand, Glorious, Majestic Lord who came as a baby to live and die for rebels against His authority. How wonderful He is to meet with us daily and guide and correct and not leave us as we are.

for a wonderful extended family who I can't wait to see in a couple of days!

for the holiday season with its get togethers, decorating, yummy food, shopping and relaxing with no school :) !

for friends who encourage me with their laughs and stories and listening ears!

Thankful

I am very thankful to my family and friends for making my birthday yesterday soo special.
Scott brought home fresh salmon Thursday night and he and the kids prepared a delicious dinner for me. We ate by candlelight in the dining room and had a great evening!
Friday, Claire fixed me breakfast and we went bowling in the afternoon. On Friday night, Scott was very sweet to let me have a girls night out with some of my friends. We started the evening at Kyoto's. The food was yummy and Scott had a huge bowl of candy delivered while we were eating. Everyone enjoyed the food especially Ginger :) I'll post a pic later of her happy face!! The candy was for the movie we were going to after dinner-we went to see Blindside. It was a tearjerker.After that we caravaned to Barnes and Noble for coffee and more chatting and laughing! It was a great evening with friends. Today, Mom and Dad came down and let Scott and I go on a date. It is nice to get away at times and get to really heart to heart talk. I am so thankful for my parents, wonderful hubby , children and special friends!! God has truly blessed!

Last Race for the Year

Lexie, Anna, Hannah and Haley waiting for the race to begin.

Jay, a future Spartan?

Here are some of the Spartan girls before the race.

Last Saturday, we woke up bright and early and headed to Ripley for the Sav-A-life 5K.

Scott and Anna ran and the rest of us cheered them and the rest of the Spartans on!

After the race, the Spartan families gathered at the Gunnells for lunch and play. Mrs. Heather handed out some awards and we presented her with some gifts and we had a great afternoon visiting with all the families.

Scott is doing an interview for the homeschool TV channel.


Here are some of the Spartans after the race doing a cheer for the homeschool TV channel,

Olivia, Anna, Margaret, Belle and Becky relax after the race.

Forrest is giving a pep talk to the girls team.

Scott and Anna after the race. They look way too fresh to have just run 3.1 miles :)

Scott had a good time for his 2nd race ever - 30 minutes!

Ye Olde Medieval Feaste

The Blassingame family ready to start the feasting!

One of the medieval re-enactors.

Our hosts, the Pannells

The fiddlers 3, Richard, Sarah and Hannah provided some medieval music. These three are so very talented!

My handsome defender, a time traveler and King Jamie.

Eating by candlelight was truly magical.

The Ganns are awaiting the feast.

King Ben by the bonfire.

Martha and Anne

We had a group of medieval reenactors who showed us armor and weaponry from the middle ages and even staged a fight.

Landers shot at the bonfire with flaming arrows!!

Anne staying warm by the bonfire.


Leah, Anna, Margaret and Sarah

Lords and ladies feasting!

This monk was way too happy to be hugging a beautiful damsel!



These gals got a good deal on these lovely dresses from a local merchant in the villiage who was obviously fond of purple!

King Benjamin and his noblemen.

Ignore the modern, ahem, transportation but the carriage was unavailable and a hay ride was in order.

Isn't the boar's head cute? Scott spent days on the hunt to snag this one. :)

John about to chow down on the turkey leg.

Jay and Daddy are all smiles with all this bountiful food!




Here's that sneaky monk again!!! :)




Eli and Abby are so adorable in their outfits!

Claire and Molly await the beginning of the festivities.

Anna , Sarah and Landers

Anna and Amy are enjoying the fine food and entertainment!

We had such a wonderful evening at the Pannells last night! Their barn was the fairy tale setting of our Credo medieval feast! The candlelight sparkled off the pewter and the grapes, pears, apples , cheeses and breads were abundant on the tables! Our first course of soup was served and then came the smoked turkey legs, pigeon pie and the boar's head. (meatloaf:)

We then had cabbage and potatoes while all the time snacking on the fruit , cheeses and breads all along the table. Violin music from the middle ages was enjoyed next, followed by the reenactors performance and Landers shooting his flaming arrows.

We gathered around the roaring bonfire and then enjoyed tarts, pies and gingerbread for dessert. A most enjoyable time was had by all!

Bill and Tricia
Lisa, Susan and Yonea(who finally got rid of that monk?!?!)