Nuptials for the Birds

Jay & Robin (a.k.a. the Birds) got hitched in Indiana on Thanksgiving Day, and we were there to witness the blessed event! M. was the best man and the girls served as co-maids of honor.

Liesey is dancing in the Nutcracker again this year, so we didn't have much time off to make this trip, due to her rehearsal schedule. We left Keller, TX, a little after 9 PM on Tuesday night and arrived in Shelburn, IN, a little past noon on Wednesday. It's about 875 miles from point A to point B, so no matter the route we take, or the time of day (or night) that we travel, it takes fourteen+ hours to make this trip. To make the trip there & back, we were in the car for about 30 hours, and we were in Indiana for approximately 40 hours. It was a crazy schedule, but we'd happily do it again.

The photos tell the rest of the story:

"Mr. & Mrs. Bird"

It's hard to get a group this size to all smile at the same time & not blink -- especially when it's a self-timer shot.

The wedding cake was a red velvet cake with lots of cream cheese frosting -- yummy indeed!

The mothers of the bride and groom and the bride all look lovely!

It's official!!!!!

Cheers!

Ahh, fall...

I just had to share a couple of this year's favorite autumn decorations. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, all of the lovely fall things will soon be packed away and replaced with Christmas items.

The fall foliage is just beginning to get colorful here in North TX -- we have been patiently waiting. I'm not ready for Christmas colors just yet. I need a few more days of orange and yellow.

I love this turkey kit that I found at our local Ace Hardware. Ace is the place... The pumpkins keep rotting where the turkey parts poke into the pumpkin, so this is about the third turkey body. The funniest pose was one my son did with the turkey standing up on his feet. It is too hard to get the bird to balance, so sitting is easier.


A decoration that is in my kitchen is made of several ears of Indian corn tied with twine to the outside of a glass hurricane. It was inexpensive and easy! I used a gift certificate to Pier1 to pay for the candle and the glass holder, so the only out-of-pocket cost was for the ears of corn. I think it turned out really nice.

Any suggestions of how I can use the candle and the glass hurricane for Christmas decorating? Perhaps giant gingerbread men strapped to the side? Snowballs? (Fake ones, of course.) Mini Christmas trees? Or freshly cut boughs? Candy canes? The options are limitless. :-)

Home Improvement

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We took one barren yard, added lots of oversized evergreens, and... Voilà! We now have our own instant Christmas tree farm. Our favorite wholesale tree guy, Mike, delivered eleven Arizona Cypress and one adorable Teddy Bear Magnolia. This total gets added to the fourteen trees that Mike delivered a month ago, and the trees that our builder thoughtfully planted, to make a grand total of thirty trees. Things around the Smith Haus are filling in, but we still have more to add to the landscape.

It's a good thing that "Dig-Dug" Smith is pretty adept with a shovel. He does have some teenaged helpers, so don't feel too sorry for him. The biggest challenge with this tree planting project is getting rid of unwanted lawn materials. Thankfully there is a vacant lot next to ours that "needs" fill dirt and discarded sod.

My job is to water the trees every day until they are out of their 65 gallon containers. The watering job takes nearly two hours, so I will be happy when these trees get put in the ground. I am usually out watering trees in the dark. I need more daylight hours in my day, and a nice rain shower would be welcomed.

This Teddy Bear Magnolia is a dwarf tree that should only reach 15 feet when mature. It is a beautiful tree with nice fuzzy & brown undersides of the leaves. It is loaded with buds, so we should be seeing some blossoms soon.

It's always good to have multiple projects going on at the same time, so we are also taking on the expansion of the patio at the same time as the "tree farm" venture.

It took 15 yards of concrete and lots of skilled workmen to get this patio poured. We now have an additional 1,100 sq. ft. of outdoor living space. Too bad that we don't have any patio furniture to put on it. Looks like we will have to do some shopping sometime soon.

Rolando and Manuel pounded salt into the freshly poured 'crete to create a very nice finish. These guys have been finishing concrete for 14 years, so it was fun to watch them do what they do.

Millie Girl looks sort of lost in that sea of gray. Stepping on the rock salt barefooted hurt her feet, but she wanted to be the first to walk on the new surface.

Hoosier Wanderings

A road trip to Indiana (to help my parents celebrate their wedding anniversary) rounded out the month of October. Spending 14+ hours trapped inside the car together is great for family bonding. I think! ;-)

Now that four out of five Smiths can operate a motor vehicle, there is no shortage of willing drivers. Since we only "need" to change drivers &/or fuel up once or twice along the route, not everybody gets a turn behind the wheel. Who says that making the recommended ten minute break every two hours is a necessity?! Making frequent stops (to stretch and regain feeling in the extremities) along an 850 mile route is certainly overrated. Our goal is to get to our destination safely and post a favorable time -- and to have fun along the way. It is always good to reach the end of the road, even if we are too stiff & sore to climb out of the car. Then the unspoken "race" to the bathroom is on.

A not so happy meal..

On the trip to the Hoosier state, we were forced to eat breakfast at McDonald's, somewhere in rural Oklahoma. There were ABSOLUTELY no other dining options, & we were all hungry. Yes, hungry enough to eat a McBreakfast. It had been at least twelve years since I had eaten any food at a "Big M," and now I remember why I shy away from going there. Stopping for a potty break at McD's is fine, but I will never, ever, ever, ever again order food. 'Nuf said.

Along the way, we read, slept, sang, and discussed many "deep & philosophical" topics. I love talking to my kids about "stuff!" I also enjoy taking in the views -- small towns, large cities, interesting signs, other motorists -- it's all good! I was hoping for enjoying the scenic autumn countryside, but the fall color was a tad past its peak. We did spot a colorful tree here & there throughout MO, IL, and IN.

Sometimes seeing one brightly colored tree (or individual leaf) amidst washed out or dull colors is prettier than an entire "forest" of orange, red, and yellow. Seeing the fall foliage on this trip caused me to be reminded of God's creativity -- even as the leaves whither & die there is an amazing display of color and beauty. When I reach the autumn of my life I want there to be vivid colors displayed of the things God has done through me. He gets the glory. I'm just a branch. (John 15:5) But I want to have color -- and fruit!

More fall color...

Melts in your mouth, not in your hand!

This road trip was made so that we could honor my parents as they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Sixty years is a long time! We "Thompson kids" hosted an open house/party at my parents' church. We counted about 150 people in attendance -- probably an equal "relative to friend ratio."

Take a look at some of the beautiful smiling faces I got to see:

We rounded up 5/9 of the grandkids for a photo op. with the grandparents. If I had amazing photoshop skills, I could add the missing four into the picture.

Dwight & AFMMT

Do these two look related?!

Hooray for cousins!

I was thankful that several friends from high school attended my parents' bash. It was wonderful to catch up with these gals. I promised this trio that I would not post any photos of them on Facebook, but I think it's okay to share this image on my blog. I hope so, any way.

Vroom! Vroom!

We also got to visit with my cousin and his family as they were en route to a weekend of drag racing in Tennessee. Their sons took the time to get one of their jr. dragsters out of the trailer to demonstrate just how loud & fast these little cars are. Earplugs are optional.

This is my cousin Gary, his wife, and three sons. Even with the sun grins, they are a handsome fam!

Up on the rooftop reindeer pause...

(Wait! Those aren't reindeer. But it looks like rain, dear.)

While in the Hoosier state, Mr. Smith & Mr. Smith Jr. got to reroof one of my dad's garages and install a new toilet. (Sorry, no pot shots.) My guys love having chores to do.

"Grandpa" had to help, too! None of the womenfolk wanted to climb on the roof, but we happily took photos to document the progress.

On the road again...

We left at 4:45 a.m. EST on the 31st so we could get back to TX in time for Millie to meet up with her friend Katie. These two girlies had plans for dressing up & hitting the neighborhood in search of refined sugary goodness -- the more chocolate, the better. :-0

We opted for coming home through Memphis, so the change of scenery made for a more interesting journey. No matter the route, it still takes fourteen hours to make the trip. I am sure that there is a shortcut somewhere. (Perhaps through the DFW airport?)

Feelin' Groovy!

Millie decided to dress up as a "hippie," but I think that she looks a lot like I did when I was about her age. I was definitely not a hippie -- just a 1970-ish all-American girl. :-)

Katie described her costume as a "deceased fairy." Not so groovy?

Some of our new neighbors treated us by stopping by.

Too cute!

So there you have it. We have reached the end of the road, and the end of this entry.

Our bags are unpacked and the laundry is washed, folded, & mostly put away. We are back to our "normal" daily routine, but we'll keep the suitcases handy. You simply never know when the urge to go road trippin' will strike.