Thanksgiving in Texas

Trystan, Briley & Jackson
Weston
Stella

Dylan, Mallory & Haley

Stella and Paw Paw Johnny

Kristie, Katelyn and Bradley

Jacob and Jeremie

Amy & Stella

Grandma Polly, Amy, Stella & Granny Beulah

Briley, Jackson, Wendie & Trystan

The bonfire (or "candle" as Stella the city girl called it)

Stella and Paw Paw (we are getting rid of the pacifier on Christmas break, I promise)

Singing turkeys take on a whole new meaning when a toddler is around

She loved this thing!

Dancing to the turkey tunes

Swingin' with Grandma Polly

We had such a great time in Buna for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to see everyone and I do miss home and family time. Stella had a ball! She played with all of her cousins, saw horses, cows, chickens, rode on the annual hayride (she was napping last year), and spent some quality time with Grandma Polly (Gee-maw), Paw Paw Johnny, and Granny Beulah. She also picked up some bad habits that always come with cousins and family time-burping just so she can say "Excuse me", slapping herself in the face and laughing, whining because she has an "ouchie" and wanting you to kiss it, and being genuinely spoiled rotten! The only bad parts of the trip were the airport adventures. Wednesday, we were expecting long lines and a crowded airport, so we arrived 3 1/2 hours early for our flight. Check in and security took 45 minutes. Needless to say, we spent a lot of time eating, going to the bathroom, washing our hands, walking (and running) up and down the corridors....

Sunday, we arrived at the airport at 12:15 for our 2:50 flight. We were through check in and security at 12:26. No big deal. We played and did the usual killing time in the airport tricks until they delayed our flight until 4:10....then 4:45....I realized that there are a lot of things that I dislike about people. Things that I might normally find endearing if I didn't have a cranky two year old in tow.

1. The person sitting next to me talking on their cell phone to every person under the sun. Normally, I might enjoy eavesdropping on his conversations.

2. The spoiled college girls from U of Georgia complaining that: there were no tortillas in their bag from the restaurant, wondering if the car service would get word about the flight being late, their friend deciding to take Adderall to take the test to get into law school and she would get really skinny (totally unfair), and various other mundane annoying things (on an average day, I would think it was funny)

3. When your baby is trying to nap and everyone has their cell phone ringers on the loudest, most obnoxious ring tones (I usually crack a smile when I hear someone's ring tone is "It's Gettin Hot in Here" or "Ridin' Dirty")

4. Cutting in line in the bathroom when it's obvious I am waiting for the handicapped stall so I can fit a car seat, back pack, and child in the stall with me (o.k.-that's always annoying)

5. This came later, but it was still bothersome...why do people stand directly in front of you at baggage claim when there are spots available all over the place?!??!

Then we boarded the plane finally! I thought we were taking a while to taxi around when the dreaded intercom message came...."I regret to inform you that Atlanta's airport has been shut down. We are to wait for thirty minutes for an update and from my experience if we are given the go in thirty minutes, it will probably be another 15 on top of that before we are cleared for take-off. I apologize for the inconvenience. " I couldn't help it. The tears started to roll. I had to turn toward Stella so the poor guy next to me wouldn't see me. Then, Stella kept saying "What's wrong, Mama?" Don't get all misty eyed over her cuteness just yet. She was a holy terror on the flight. She went from crying (the holding her breath followed by the blood curdling scream cry), kicking the seat in front of her, giggling and banging her head on the seat, wanting out of her seat, yelling at the top of her lungs, singing at the top of her lungs...it was craziness. Then, the pilot came on and said we were about to be in Atlanta. When the first bump came, I thought we were landing already. It was so jarring, I called out ( I am sure the guy next to me is thinking I am certifiable by this point). Then the plane jolted up again and there were three or four more big bumps. The plane was all over the place. It was the worst turbulence I have ever experienced. I prayed harder and made more promises to God than I can ever hope to keep but I will try my best. What made it worse was the commentary we were getting from the guy and girl sitting behind us(who had taken full advantage of two hours and getting to know each other-I even got to hear the "do you have a boyfriend?/Maybe we should exchange numbers/are you on facebook?" conversation). Anyway, we landed without a scratch and made it home safely. I have never been so happy to see Josh-and so was Stella!

Maybe next Thanksgiving, we will stay here.

P.S. We find out the sex of the baby on Friday. I have just started feeling movement here and there. Josh felt the the baby kick last night. Very exciting-we are half way there!