More Reunion Stuff

We kept meals as simple as possible -- hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. But, these are my dedicated cousins who stood over the grill most of the weekend. I have always thought I had really great looking cousins!

My brother, Doug (in the purple shirt), loves to research our family genealogy. He had 5 huge posters that map out the ancestors of Grandaddy and Grandmommie. My cousin's husband is helping him re-hang them -- I wasn't tall enough!

We met at the Women's Building in Anson, Texas (my birthplace). There is a swimming pool right next door that gave the kids a place to cool off and blow off some energy.

Have you ever tried to buy a purple shirt for a toddler boy? Well, we couldn't find one, so, we made this iron on for Terrin. (MeMe is my mom).

The eldest and the youngest. If Grandmommie didn't have a baby in her lap, she was cooking. She make the best homemade rolls ever -- hands down -- no recipe, just throw around some flour and stuff, and I loved to watch her roll them! What a pro.

Family - All Because Two People Fell in Love

Where were you on June 1, 1939? I think most of you were, as my Daddy would say, sitting on a stump in Arkansas. Alvie Thomas Hunter, Jr. and Nancy Bertha Daughtry were getting married. Why do I care? I wouldn't be here if they hadn't. They are my grandparents. Part of my recent trip to Texas was a 70th anniversary celebration and family reunion. So, how are they leaving there mark on the world? Let me show you:

Here is the famous couple. Well, famous if you live in Jones County, Texas. The wedding cake topper shown in this picture was on their wedding cake 70 years ago. It has also topped the wedding cake of almost every one of us who have married since then. What a wonderfully blessed legacy!

Ab and Bertha, as they are known to their friends, had five children. Two girls, a boy, another girl (my mother) and one more boy. No parent should outlive their children. Sadly, that is the case with their eldest son, Tommy. Shown below are Margaret (my mother), Jimmy, Dolores and Nancy.

Those five children gave Ab and Bertha sixteen grandchildren and changed their identity to Grandaddy and Grandmommie. At the reunion we wore shirts that represented the family unit we were a part of. It really helped to identify which family everyone belonged to. All sixteen grandchildren were present:

We married:

Put it all together, and whatta ya got? Five children, sixteen grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. (I could be wrong, that is a quick count). Of the entire family, we were missing five of the great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, plus the spouses of two great-grandchildren. Only eight people.

I Love My Kids

Yesterday I couldn't find my portable phone. I decided to call myself to find it. The floor vase in my entryway started ringing.

Today, Talon put on ankle socks (new Star Wars socks from MeMe). He told me, "Look, Mom, these socks don't have sleeves."

Experiment #6

Talon's 6th birthday party was a Mad Scientist party. He had five friends over to celebrate with him. We exploded soda, made goop, watched fireworks in a jar, ate cake and swam. It was a great time.

Here are a couple of videos of the cake. We used dry ice in pvc pipe for the effect.

To help celebrate, Talon's friends, William, Bryant, Anderson, Hannah and Andrew came as visiting doctors to the science lab. Talon received some wonderful gifts, but, mostly enjoyed playing with his friends.

Thanks to some information from Becki, we displayed an alien egg and salt crystals. She also sent us the fireworks in a jar idea. Thanks to Megan for coming over and watching Terrin so Shanon and I cold focus on the party! During our visit to Texas, my parents helped with making lab coats and cutting the pvc pipe. Thanks, MeMe and Pappa! The idea for the party came from Family Fun magazine.

It's a Moth!

Our caterpillar is now a moth. It must have come out of it's cocoon today while we were out running errands:

You can still see some of the silk on the side of the vase, and the cocoon underneath the moth.

Next we are raising tadpoles!

I had to share this shot. I discovered Talon teaching his brother how to brush his hair:

Strength, Ambition and Success

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. ~Hellen Keller

This quote was posted on Facebook by my friend who has a 4 week old baby born with Trisomy 18*, it is a miracle she has lived this long. Susan also has 4 boys to keep her busy. As I read the quote, I thought of my friends, the Connel's. Robert was in a motorcycle accident almost a year ago, and has not been able to work since. He has had numerous surgeries, and has still not been released from the doctor’s care. The court settlement is sometime in the future (I can’t say much about that in a public setting). Becki is working day and night trying to keep them going and trying to keep life as normal as possible for their two kids. These people all know the meaning of suffering.

So, if you are bored, or feeling like you’re having a bad day. Just stop and count your blessings! If you have a moment, pray for these families and their futures -- and for these moms to have some rest!

*Trisomy 18 - a medical diagnosis involving trisomy of chromosome 18, which causes severe deformity and mental retardation and is characterized by prominent occiput, overlapping of index finger over third finger, frequent facial abnormalities, straight nose coming off sharply from the forehead, low-set ears, and cleft palate and lip.

NOAH BUILT AN ARK

Talon's school had their end of the year program last week. The Noah's Ark theme was very fitting due to all of the rain we have been blessed with (10 inches in the last month!). They sent notices home with the kids about 2 months before the program to tell us which animal they would be and who their partner was (the animals went 2 x 2). Talon was an alligator.

I had a big plan of making him this great costume. Then, some communication fell through with the other mom, and suddenly I realized that the program was one week away. I got online to order the stuff, and realized that it was going to cost me over $70 for the costume and shipping. So, I decided to go another route. I scoured through the attic and my sewing stuff -- and this is what I created. It isn't much, but the entire thing cost me less than $5!

Here is Talon's side of the stage, he is in the upper right:

And, the other side:

I had to stand with Terrin so that he could see. He cheered and clapped for his "Bubba".

A few days before the program, just after I had done the grocery shopping, I found Terrin in the pantry. He found a package of Girl Scout cookies. He has two in his hands. And, if you look close, you can see 3 on the floor, stool and Mt. Dew. He really keeps me busy!