Thanksgiving recap...

I have so much to be thankful for; a wonderful family, good health, great kids and a loving husband. I am also thankful for my parents and my grandmothers. They help in any way they can. I also give thanks for my little brother and his family. I am so proud of him! I also love my Wimberly family! This year I am very grateful for my sweet, dear friend Michelle. I am so thankful for a friend like Michelle. She is genuine and honest, caring and gracious. I can't remember when our friendship started because it feels like we have been friends forever! I am so grateful to God for this life he has given me to live and praise Him for every moment!

Marvelous Michelle & I at Times Square in New York City last October.

So this year for Thanksgiving my parents and Mary came to our Wimberly Ranchette for lunch. We ate well on ham, dressing, green bean casserole, German potatoes, fruit salad and garlic bread. Mac requested that Mary bring her scrumptious pumpkin roll for dessert and I made a pecan pie. We were the stuffed turkeys this year!!!

We watched the Aggies play a great game against t.u. We came close, but we'll have to wait til next year to beat 'em. During the game, my mom and the boys and I started decorating our fresh Christmas tree. Mac and I do the lights and mom, Weston and Walker are in charge of decorations. My tree has colored lights (not like most trees these days) a deer antler and turkey feather topper, and this year a leopard print bordered tree skirt. From the top down it is decorated for everyone in our family. I love the ornaments! Many of them the boys made or they represent something special like trips we have taken. My favorites are the ones that my mom gives each boy every year. This year Mac got a football, Weston got a fishing Santa and Walker got a Santa rockin' the microphone (very appropriate). As you can see below it looked great!

As I stood back and admired our work, I noticed that it seemed to be leaning. We all decided that it was just the way the tree was made. No need to worry. WRONG!!! 20 minutes later....CRASH!!!! The tree is on the floor, water and all. I was speechless. And then.....I was M-A-D. I know it was ridiculous for being angry, but I couldn't help it. This had never happened to me before. I didn't know what to do so I just got mad! Turns out the tree stand and the tree weren't a good match. So we decorated my mantle and went to bed. UGH!

The next morning Trey & Mac bought a new tree stand, and then my mom re-decorated the tree. She did a great job, but it does look a little scrunched. She and I did suffer a bit of PTTD (post traumatic tree disorder), but I think we'll survive.

During my mom's visit she and the boys made a gingerbread Christmas tree. I've never done this before, but the boys and mom did a really great job. They want to eat it, but I keep talking them out of it.



Now......my house is completely decorated for Christmas. Trey & the boys put the lights on the house today. This is the earliest I've been decorated for the holidays. Now I just need to shop!
Here are some pictures of my decor.

This is one of about 25 nativity scenes I have. This is one of my favorites. It was given to me about 5 years ago by my secret Santa at school. The 3 pieces on the right were given to me last year by Michelle. I am taking it to school to put on my desk.

I really like this area in my dining room.
Now that we removed the wallpaper and painted,
everything looks sooooo much nicer.

I bought these Christmas plates at Market Days last year.

Above my kitchen cabinets.

My kitchen window. I also have a Santa collection.

This is nativity stays out all year. It is by far my ultimate favorite.
Trey got it for me at a silent auction. It is a Willow Tree.

My SIL Leanna taught me this trick. Use napkins for window
valences. Inexpensive and so quick to change out for seasonal decorating.

Sign above my bar area. This area in my kitchen has really changed. Below in the
background you can see there used to be a cabinet there. It hung too low
and made conversation difficult and cut off the living room from the kitchen.

Now you can see that it is gone! I love it! It really opened everything up.
The rooms flow together so much better. I really didn't lose any
storage. Remember that garage sale this summer?
I got rid of so much unnecessary stuff.

Trey is cooking supper!

That's it for now. Lots to show you and more to come!!!!

Family

A very scary situation has happened to my dear sweet friend and her family. I won't go into detail about it here, but they can use your prayers for a full recovery and strength to get back to a regular happy healthy life. Everything that they have been going through has really shook me. How would I handle something like this? Would I be able to do it with as much strength and grace as she has? How would my kids handle it? How would my husband deal? If there is anything she has taught me it is that life is precious. I know I knew that, but when something devastating hits so near and dear, you really do take a step back and focus on what is really important. My family is awesome. I mean that more that the word describes. Nothing compares to them, nothing replaces them and nothing is more important. Forget name brand clothes, fancy cars and the newest, latest greatest whatever. Family and true friends are irreplaceable and never, ever go out of style. I need every single one of them!

Speaking of family.....two weekends ago was the annual Family Fall Gathering in Utopia. We truly descend upon the entire 12 room bed and breakfast and then some! It is a relaxing weekend of kids, food, card games, kids, food, music, kids, food and talking not to mention kids and food! This year there were 38 Hedgpeth members with only 3 missing. Next year Lynde, Chad and Vivine!!!! I love listening to my uncles, aunts, cousins and my brother sing good old country songs. I like to join in occasionally, too. Trey and Mac like playing poker with my cousins and Weston and Walker enjoy playing with cousins their age. Enjoy the pics

Weston, Brette and Gracie

Walker re-discovered his DS.

The nightly card game inside.

The nightly sing fest outside.


Below are my two FAVORITE pictures from the weekend.

This is my uncle Don and his
youngest grandchild, Clayton.
I love this picture because it sums up how the two of them
spent the weekend. Clayton loves his grandpaw.
I think the feeling is very mutual.


The picture below is hilarious!
Mac.......you never know what
he will do next!!!!

My nephew, Bo, just had his third birthday. He is toooo cute! I love his scratchy voice and his energy. Wow, that boy and go, go, go! I also like how he thinks my boys are hilarious. He has the greatest laugh!

Now Bo was a gun toting cowboy....

Weston took these pictures at Bo's house.
I wish the towers
weren't in the background, but I think he did an
excellent job of capturing a beautiful sunset.

Only one more day of school. This year I am extremely thankful for my 4 boys. Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. "Be thankful with a grateful heart".

NO MORE TESTS!!!

I got word today that I passed that big bad test I took a few weeks ago! YES!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you GOD and everyone else who prayed and helped me in any way! I am SOOOOO glad to be done with that. I do not have any other tests to take any more! My last semester will be my internship and then it's graduation time!!!



Here is a picture of me and my dad. He and Mary came up for my birthday, which was 2 Sundays ago. They brought a yummy cake and gifts too. I love you Dad!

We have a busy fun weekend planned with my mom's ENTIRE family! Pics and highlights to follow.

A sock hop & a hayride...

We wrapped up Red Ribbon Week with an old fashioned sock hop. It was old fashioned in the sense that we wore socks to dance in the gym, but the music was very up to date. It was also crazy sock day "Sock it to drugs". Talk about fun! Our principal did have to explain that it was a dance because so many kids were just running around the gym. They had NO idea what to do at a sock hop! We danced and screamed and had a blast! Good fun for everyone. I think we'll do that again.

The fearless leaders of GIS. We can shake a tail feather!

Mac requested that I buy him these socks.
Pink and white striped knee length!


Weston in the background showing his break dancing moves that he
learned from Uncle JoJo.

What another fun Halloween. We hosted the hayride again this year. It was the biggest one yet. This year we had two trailers full of kids! The only thing that would have been better was more houses passing out candy. I don't think the kids noticed, though. They literally raced to the front doors and raced back to the trailer! Soooo fun to watch! We ended up on the town square finishing up the trick-or-treating and then stayed to watch the movie on the side of one of the buildings. I love our small town!
Weston was a jail-bird bandit!
He's a cute criminal don't ya think?

Mac was too cool, I mean old, to dress up
so he pulled a trailer with his friends.

Here are two styles for Walker. Up top he was dressed as a pirate.
Below, he was dressed as Napoleon! So versatile!

Football season is officially over! Both teams ended up in third place. We are happy that they did so good, but glad to have our evenings and weekends back! Our focus now will be archery, but that will only be two days a week!

Just relax...

Test over! It wasn't as bad as I built it up in my mind. That's probably because every single one of my friends was praying for me and my mom lifted me in prayer during a big-time church thing. I feel so silly for all of that, actually. I'm certain there are more important things to pray about than me passing a test. I mean, come on! It's not a life or death thing! But, I appreciate and am humbled by it all! Now I can relax. I'll know in two weeks how I did.


A victorious weekend was had by both the boys' teams. Weston's team won 33-12. He fired off that line (does that sound like Trey or what) and had several great tackles and a sack. Mac's team was just too much for the opponent with a 47-0 win. I cannot get over how quick he is! He loves this game!

Trey & his boys!


Mac made a great one-handed catch!

Trying to catch the extra point pass.


Weston kicking off!

The boys also competed in an archery tournament last week. Wes shot a 214 and Mac a 362. Wes shoots 9 meters and 30 arrows. Mac shoots 18 meters and 60 arrows. I don't know their standings, but they both shot their personal bests.

Weston scoring his end!

It's Red Ribbon Week here in TX. This is a week we dedicate to focusing on staying drug free. At school we have themes for each day of the week. Yesterday was "i can be drug free" and the kids brought canned goods. Today was "put a cap on drugs" and could wear hats, caps or wigs. Too cute! Here is Walker's hat. Weston wore is Tom Landry hat and Mac wore a cap. I wore a socerer's hat. Tomorrow we wear camo and "join the fight against drugs" We will also have a musical presentation. Thursday is "stay in the game; stay drug free" and we'll wear jearsey and Friday is "sock it to drugs". Wear crazy socks and the big boys get to have a sock hop. The Red Ribbon Parade will also happen that day! Whew........lots going on!!!


I'll have more pics from the rest of the week's activities. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy have that hated test behind me......and relaxing!

Tests....

I hate tests. I hate that I have to take a B-I-G test on Saturday. I hate that it is about stuff a bunch of dead guys thought up a long time ago. I hate that it is a test that matters. I hate that I have to spend a Saturday morning in front of a computer to take this test. I hate that I am not prepared for this test. I hate tests.

There.......now I feel better. Well, not really, but at least I got that off my chest.

Pray for me to pull it together and do good on said hated test.

Where did October go?

I just realized I haven't made a post since September. What!!??!! I know they say "time flies when you're having fun" but I don't remember having that much fun.

So here goes a little synopsis of our October happenings.

* Played a lot of football. Not me, but the boys! We've won some and lost some. Mac and Weston have played AWESOME each week. I'm a proud OEM, that's Over Exuberant Mom, for all you Banquete alums.

*Mac has had a few injuries, but they haven't set him back on the field. His hand has been smashed between helmets a few times to the point that he has a large knot on the top of his hand. A couple weeks ago he hurt his ankle and toe. I really think he broke his big toe, but we didn't find out officially. Besides, what do they do for a big toe anyway? And there was no way he was going to miss a game.

*Celebrated 4-H. The annual 4-H festival was the first weekend of the month. Then it was 4-H meeting and One Day 4-H. Lots of 4-H happening this month.

*Mac got a deer. A nice 10 pointer.


*Bullseye. The boys are loving archery. Weston competed in his first district wide competition last week. He was nervous and was using borrowed equipment, but he found he groove and shot 193. That was super for his first time out.

*Hosted Oktoberfest party. We have done this with Trey's family for several years now. It is a nice evening and fun to be with friends and family. Grown ups only.

*Walker has lost another tooth and makes us smile all the time!

* Study!!! This weekend is a big one for me. I will take my comprehensive final to get out of college. Right now, I have MAJOR senior-itis. I really want to be out of school and get me life back. Please say a quick prayer for me for Saturday morning.

We seem to live one day at a time around here. There isn't much long term planning going on, except that our Saturdays have been booked with football since August. Once games are over, I wonder what we will do on the weekends. I'm already looking forward to the holidays and seeing my brother and his family, sleeping late, wearing warm pj's cause it's cold outside, seeing the Hedgpeth familia at the river (the whole crew and that's a large amount of people), and getting back to church (that is a big hole I need to fill right now).

Here are a couple of pics of the latest football games.

Mac is in the center of the picture tackling the runner.

Almost as tall as dad!


Weston had 3 huge QB sacks at his game. These are the
war marks that he checks on his helmet after every game.



And here's a picture of Walker....just for fun!