Our November....

...was full of a variety of activities. 

SOUL 2 SOLE 5K Kicked off the month:

Jenny began this 5K fundraiser 5 years ago. The proceeds have gone to many projects. This year most of it went to  Freedom Youth Project 

This is about child sex trafficking and a project that has been a strong pull on Jenny's heart as well as my heart. I just need to put that pull into action. 

I was so proud of my precious daughter. I stayed with her for two nights before the race. I wanted to help her and just being with her is such a joy for a mom to see. 

Jessica ran like a champ...

always a smile on that sweet face. Gosh I love my daughters!

Ryan also helped as well as raced in the obstacle course.

Look at this champ giving it his all. 

Presenting...

Jessica and Ryan Tootle... WINNERS.

We had many birthdays this month

Malyn celebrated her 6th birthday. She is so precious so energetic and beautiful. You bring such joy into my life sweet girl. Malyn loves soccer and is very good at it. She has come up with some toys that she wants Santa to make. ( They don't sell them in stores because the elves make the ones she has described. OK SANTA hope you were listening.

Sammy celebrated his 3rd birthday. Sammy loves watching his mom cook and so what better way to make the theme of his party a cooking one. I can't begin to tell you how precious the party that Jessica came up with. The kids rolled out their pizza crust and put the toppings on then decorated their cupcakes. After some games and fruit Kbobs the kids ate their pizza that had been cooking. They all went home with aprons with their names on them.

Sammy is also energetic fun loving and keeps us all on our toes. What a heart throb he is.

Stacy's celebrated her 35th birthday. I am going through some very tough mom guilt as I didn't call her first thing in the morning. I love you Stacy. You are definitely the sunshine in our lives. 

Those boots she's walking in are our gift to our birthday daughter and sister. 

This sweet little donkey was born two weeks before this picture. Don't know anything else about him/her. She was born on the ranch that Jenny lives on. This little donkey will be part of our christmas this year. Looking forward to spending time this Christmas out there. 

Hummm How do I say this. Birthday of the addition of our tomato cage. Chesley has worked so hard making this just the way he wants it. Good job honey! No one can imagine how hard you have worked on this. But I do and I'll love the tomatoes you grow and think about seeing you working so hard out there. Those tomatoes are going to LOVE growing in there.

Our actor in the family Boo Arnold will be on the TV series "Nashville". We are so excited and so proud of you Boo. He took Mattie Sue with him the second time he went and they had so much fun. Mattie Sue will never ever ever, never forget those few days spend with her dad. :)

Mattie Sue stole Haden's heart. And vise versa. 

Mattie Sue has my heart completely. 

Take 1.. My dad the best...

Jenny's new picture for the holidays.
Love it Jenny. Your tree looks like it's lit. How do you do that?
I'm ready to come back out for an over night. :) 

I went to Ohio to visit my dad and help my brother get someone in to help him out. He is such a gracious and loving dad. I enjoyed our visit and look forward to going back in January.

This is the view at sunset this time of the year. Still beautiful in all the seasons.

Here he is, Moses. :) My dad has such quick wit and can make you laugh in an instant. I love you Dad. Thanks for a fun 17 days. Home away from home is how I felt there. 

Looked out the window and saw this heart rock. I love hearts! FYI.

This is one of the only Fall trees left on Cawtaba Island. I wanted Ryan to see what fall really was. Since he looked out the window on the first day of fall, expecting all the leaves to be colors and falling. When he noticed nothing changed he asked when is it going to fall? :(

I sent this picture to him hoping he would sort of understand. He's response was, "Cool".

Thanksgiving was first one in years that I didn't cook a turkey. Since I was in Ohio, my brother, sister in law, dad and I went to the club. There was someone at the table carving our turkey and they had all the sides. Ahhhh!!! Pro: No cooking, no cleaning up. Just family time and good food. Con: no smell first thing in the morning. and the rest of my family wasn't there but really it was a perfect day for me. 

Topped off with pumpkin pie and that is my dad's mini ice cream sunday. A club must every time he goes.

When we were walking out of the club we noticed a Christmas tree in the other room. So decide to take a family picture. Missed Chesley. Photo shoot someone. ???

Don and Bev taking a walk to get some fresh air and a nice fall walk by the lake. 

I asked my dad is he could arrange to have it snow while I was there. He said he would try. 

It happened! Not much but the white stuff fell. 

Neighbors all around started putting out the Christmas decorations. 

Ryan was back in San Antonio doing the same. 

Great tree Ryan. Mimi is so cool. Just like you said. She has the best ideas. 

I like your Texas Tech shirt. 

Then we had the death of the Hostess Co. I love "Donettes" Love them much to much yet I still hate to see them go. I bought Walmart's last two packages. 

Back home and putting away all my Fall decorations and hoping to get the Christmas out and ready for the CA group to come for the holidays.
Good bye November!

Future home of some very lucky tomatoes.

Chesley decided that he needed more room for more tomatoes and himself to tend to them. Such a big heart my man has. He wants to make sure there are enough tomatoes for everyone. Chesley has worked hard and long hours. I think he could build a house! 

Making room for the new addition to the tomato cage. 

 First Chesley took off the side of the original cage. He moved the sprinklers and dug holes for the new posts. 

SURPRISE a huge rock! But no hill for a climber, he dug it out to make room for one of the posts.

After lining up the posts Chesley mixed up and poured cement into the holes.

He is not only lengthening it he is also making it higher.

Below you can see what's new by the new wood.

A lot of the work was done in the garage. 

I should have taken notes on the hours he has spend on the famous tomato cage. Those are going to be some happy tomatoes when the time comes.

 A view of the whole cage. 

 Reminds me of Angry Birds set up. :)

More to come...

GRANDCHILDREN

Ryan became a handsome hunter a couple weeks ago. :)

Hunting with his Dad.

Ryan is also a Chicago Bear and plays T-ball once a week. 

This was the first game we saw. Ryan was so excited about us being there. Ryan never missed a chance to wave to us from the outfield then would hit his hand into his glove and focus back on the game. 

So proud and happy to be a baseball player. He even invited God to go see him play in his prayers.

Hudson and Ryan are on the same team. 

These guys are good buddies.

Sammy is a good sport watching Ryan play ball. He's waiting for his snow cone.

Sammy is at Nama Dotty's to say good bye before her trip to Ohio.

He investigated all he could in her apartment with her magnifying glass. Ahhh he found chocolate, pencils, paper, and many more things. It was a fun treasured day.

Sisters.
 Little brother behind Malyn digging in the dirt or picking flowers. 

Thumbs up girls. You are the cutest girls in the world. :) 

Guess who doesn't want to be Elmo for Halloween?! But he loves Elmo, just at a distance.

TOOTH FAIRY TIME

Soupy Sales lost two teeth. Still prettiest little girl around.

 Here is Malyn playing Soccer.

She's a pretty good player from what I've seen on the video so far.

Last but not least

Eli !

Such a happy little guy. Loving life!

I love my grandchildren!