Thanksgiving {{I think}}

Well ... Thanksgiving was a bit different this year.

Let me re-phrase.

Thanksgiving was WAY different this year.

North Hall made it to the playoffs.

Which means practice.

Which meant no Dawson trip for the Stricklands.

My cousin and uncle's school made it to the playoffs as well.

Which meant practice.

Which meant no Dawson trip for the Jones family.

I love traditions.

I hate it when they don't happen.

It was painful.

It felt weird.

It was way too quiet with only 7 of us in the house.

But it was Thanksgiving.

And I was grateful for the time away.

For the quiet evenings around the fire.

For the gift of watching my boys be boys in the great outdoors.

Different?  Yes.

Bad?  No.

Grateful?  Yes.

Blessed?  Abundantly.

The boys taught Nana how to play Flow on her phone.

My how times have changed!

No more Chutes & Ladders for these guys ...

Jacob still put on his apron from Child's World

and helped Nana make the biscuits.

Angel biscuits.

Goodness gracious they are a favorite!

Nothin' but wide open fields behind the house.

Which set this boy up for pure happiness.

I truly LOVE watching him ride!

Jarrett thoroughly enjoyed driving me on the Mule.

And this kid man thoroughly took advantage of the fields as well.

We went from our normal 2 large tables,

1 table on the porch, 

to just this table.

But the food was every bit as yummy!

He wanted the turkey leg!

We brought Blaine's keyboard, 

as he had a recital to prepare for.

How much do I love him taking time out from dirtbike riding

to come in and practice a little piano?!

Well rounded is the goal.

Jacob studying the ads on Thanksgiving.

This was Toys R Us ... oh my!

Nana's famous chicken salad -

Bo's favorite, but still behind her pimiento cheese.

Some gun shooting at the sand pit.

Nothing compares to hitting a melon and watching it explode!

Bolt enjoyed the sand pit as well ...

and he loved riding in the back of the Mule!

Jarrett got in on some deer hunting (actually siting since he has no license or rifle).

He loved it!

Listening to the North Hall game via Dad's iPhone.

Ain't technology grand?!

Pretty proud of this pic.

The sunsets in south GA are gorgeous,

especially with the combine in the background.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up!

Love this setting!

We had time to get a couple of family pics before heading north.

Love the background!!

Jake-ster ... in his happy place ...

Jacob really looked forward to Dawson this year.

I think he loves the family being together almost as much as I do!

Here's evidence of his happiness ...

Monopoly with Nana & Lena

TV watching with Jess

Sorry with Jordan & Lena

Making biscuits with Nana 

(with turkey apron on)

Movie watching sandwiched between Nana & Jess

Some kind of bad guy, make believe game with Lena

Snuggles with Jordan

The Bunk Room

Really this should be titled 'The Locker Room.'

Because 1 room with 7 bodies in it,

especially teen boy bodies,

is bound to smell a little ... well, sweat-ish,

if you know what I mean!

But I love this room.

I love that all the cousins sleep together.

It's probably our boys' favorite thing too.

7 kiddos but only 6 beds leads to this ...

Jordan was sweet to share with Jacob!

But Jacob got fed up with being the one to share, 

so we found this note on Jarrett's bunk after a couple of days.

It says:

the bed is mine til I take its sine (sign) down.

Do not dserb (disturb).

from Jacob

to Jarrett

That kid.

Of course, he still had to share that night.

But he really was a good sport about it!

Another option is the recliner.

Blaine-o was found like this after a fun, full day of playing outside.

All. Day. Long.

Small Town USA

There's is nothing like Thanksgiving in a small town.

Dawson is the epitome of small.

*think 'It's a Wonderful Life'!*

But I love it.

It's like taking a breath of fresh air.

The fact that cell phone coverage is scattered,

cars drive about 15 mph (if you even pass one),

tractors are the main mode of transport,

and there's nothing but wide open fields

bothers me not a bit.

It's small, but its relaxing!

This is where Dad's high school used to be ...

the building burned this fall.

No small town is complete without The Pig!

Ahhhh ... and this to look at every afternoon,

right out the back of the house.

Nothin' like it.

The Sand Pit

Rural America affords a lot of wide open space.

A lot of unoccupied land.

Which in turn allows for a lot of gun shooting ...

This is the beloved 'sand pit' ...
it's off a dirt road that's about a 5 minute ride from the house -
a 5 minute DUNE BUGGY/4 WHEELER/DIRTBIKE ride, that is!

This is high fashion for out in the country!

Heading home ... :)