This Joy’s Life

In time for Thanksgiving, I replaced my stolen camera and was excited to try it out on Thanksgiving day over at the in-laws’ house with all the extended family in attendance.

Clara-bell:
Uncle Jim:
His daughter, cousin Traci:
Her hubby, Floyd:
Their son, cousin Ian:
Traci and Clara decided to have some fun playing dress up in Grandma’s old hats:


Hope y’all had as good a Thanksgiving as we did!

The twins came over this afternoon for one last playdate and I was finally able to get some better pictures of Parker. Look at those lashes. Lloyds is going to take out insurance on those things!

Here’s mommy watching over him as he pouts in a corner:

Could you even say “no” to those eyes. It hardly seems fair to Kristin.

This morning we had a little playdate with my cousin Kristin, her husband Scott and “TwinsParker” (or “TwinsPreston”, whichever of their two names Clara says first). I thought Brayden was a mover, but these boys are doulbe the trouble when it comes to capturing them on film!

Parker:

Preston:
Say “cheese!”
Coon hats:

I did manage to have a little photo shoot with Preston for a few minutes when Parker and Clara were off playing Luke Skywalker:

By the end, he was ready to take on the role of photographer. May I present Preston’s first self-portrait. We’ll call it Portrait of a Photographer as a Toddler:

This is how Clara finds Poppa every morning, though usually he’s asleep when she wakes up. She runs into the media room and says, “Poppa sleepin!”

The other day, she was in there watching one of her shows. Poppa wasn’t at home at the time. I hear my mom calling me to, “come here!” As I’m following her to the media room she says to me, “Did you set her up like that?”:

I did not. I guess someone just loves her Poppa and wants to be just like him. Not that you need more proof, but:

She’s a fan of those grandpa types. You should see her with Chad’s dad (“grandpa”). It’s his birthday today, I think we’ll have to give him a call this evening.

But, yes, Clara does like those boys. Here she is with Billy Joe, a grandfather to 10, so his lap is well worn in. Clara likes to find it when he comes over:

And she’s got them all wrapped around her little curls.

Just a couple more family pictures today. The first is my brother with Clara. He took her to a build-a-bear type of place to make herself something to love. She chose a dolphin which we named Sea Squirt after one of her favorite Backyardagains TV shows:

This is my uncle Hugh, husband of my mom’s sister Joanne:

This is Sable, my brother’s dog:

My brother went back to Alabama tonight and took Sable with him. Clara doesn’t quite yet understand what this means for tomorrow morning when she goes looking for Sable outside the kitchen window. They made the most of their time together though.

Went to a block party in my cousin Sheryl’s neighborhood tonight. It was split between the GA fans and the Alabama folks. Here are some pictures of my family at the event:

My padre:
My Mater:
My frère:
Uncle Ross and Sheryl (his daughter):
Deloris (it was her birthday!):
Clara in a self-inflicted timeout:

Took dinner to Granny (one of Clara’s great-grandmothers) tonight. It was a surprise, so Granny was happy to see us. The sunset was a beautiful Southern one and we even got to see the new kittens of the strays that Granny feeds at dinner time. And, as one would hope of any true southern household, guests pop in at any given minute and we were visited by Sam and Janice on their way home.

This is what I’m looking at right now:

While I sip my mint sweet tea on my parents back porch and type up this post.

Earlier, Clara and her Poppa were out here enjoying the afternoon with me, playing in the sun, riding the 4-wheel and eating applesauce.

This is what it’s all about, folks. Now, it’s time for a nap!

We made it to Georgia and it is so nice to be at my parents’ house with my dad NOT in the hospital and able to enjoy every minute with Clara. I’m not sure which one of them is having more fun at this point!