Pettus Family Reunion

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the tradition for the annual Pettus family reunion. This is my Dad's side of the family and we've been attending this event since I was a child and definitely as long as I can remember. My grandmother (Marcy Virginia Pettus Lemmond) had 4 sisters and 2 brothers (is that right Dad?) and it was a great time to get all their respective families together. This is my favorite time of year and I love getting to see everyone! In years past after lunch the adults and kids enjoyed a fun game of tag football. The "kids" are all "old" now with their own kids so we haven't started the football game tradition again yet. Maybe next year the first crop of young'uns will be old enough to get things going.

Several years ago we started taking a family group picture. I'm so glad we did! I've missed the reunion the past two years so I was under strict orders to be there this year! :) Here's our latest and a few from the past.

2008:

2005:

2004 (taken with my first digital point and shoot):

This was taken in 2004 and is many of the original "crew" that started the reunions. The "sisters" are seated in the front with their children (and spouses) standing.

Thanksgiving Day

We spent Thanksgiving day at Aunt Kaye & Uncle GG's house where we go every year. We have a tradition of frying a turkey which is always a little exciting. I offered to buy Bart one of those new infrared oil-less fryers this year but I think he enjoys the challenge!

As usual the food was wonderful and plentiful.

The fried turkey was a hit! :)

We really enjoyed spending time with the family. We missed a few famiy members this year but maybe we can be all together again at Christmas Eve. I was a little lazy this year and just shot the family group with my point and shoot with a little help from my nephew Cameron and a little Photoshop work. Not the greatest but oh well, maybe next time!

Parent/Teacher Conference

Our first Parent/Teacher Conference was Monday, November 24th. I, personally, was SO NERVOUS! I just didn't know what to expect! Our sweet princess is very capable of being an absolute terror so there was no telling exactly what we were about to hear. Last year she spent a fair amount of time in "time out" and while this year I ask her regularly "Did you have to go to time out today?" she says she was good that day.

Mrs. Bamberg is a wonderful teacher and we are so pleased with the FBC CDC! We are constantly amazed at what Katelyn is learning these days! She is so close to reading it is scary! She regular sees a sign and starts calling out the letters and sometimes can sound out short common words. Mrs. Bamberg said Katelyn was doing very well. She knows her letters and their sounds and even helps others when needed. The only problem she has at times is her not wanting to sit still and pay attention. At times she gives her a mousepad with a kitten on it and tells her to "cover up the kitten" with her hiney. She does not want to see the kitten! :) She says it works and Katelyn then sits still her seat. WHEW! We were relieved! It was a glowing report!


This picture was taken the first day of school with Mrs. Bamberg and her assistant, Mrs. Edwards.

ADT's Cinderella

When I heard that the Alabama Dance Theater was performing Cinderella I knew this was the perfect time to take Katelyn! Cinderella is currently her absolutely favorite story and now that she is taking dance it was a perfect combination. Everyone else was either out of town or had to work so it was just KK and me. DaLee graciously accepted to keep Owen for me (Thanks D!!).

Katelyn was so excited to go! Being her first ballet performance I was a little nervous if it would keep her attention the entire time. It was wonderful! The lights, the sounds, and the costumes were spectacular! She enjoyed seeing the other children performing as well. When the prince made his first appearance she said "Mommy, he's wearing tights! That's funny!" and boy was he! Heehee! (Sorry couldn't resist!)

Since I couldn't take any pictures during the performance I had to borrow a few of Mickey Welsh's just for the blog!

It was a lovely afternoon with my girl!

FBC Thanksgiving Feast and Turkey Trot

Katelyn's last day of school before the Thanksgiving break was Friday, November 21st. They enjoyed a wonderful day of Thanksgiving activities with their class. Katelyn was the cutest little pilgrim I ever saw! She wouldn't wear her hat long but it was just precious! They went to assembly to hear a Thanksgiving story by Mrs. Mary and then got to sit on the floor "indian style" for a true feast!

The CDC hosted a new event this year called a Turkey Trot. The kids got to participate in their very first "road race". They got race t-shirts with numbers on their shirts, got an official start at the starting line, and "raced" across the bridge and through Wetumpka's Gold Star Park to the finish line. The police were on hand to close the road temporarily. Teachers were stationed throughout the route as cheerleaders. There was even a drink station where they could get drink of Gatorade and throw the cup on the ground. They had a hard time grasping that they really got to throw the cup on the ground! It was too funny! For the most part we walked but there was a run zone in the park where they got to run as fast as they could. The finish line was a balloon arch where teachers greeted them with official race medals. Their "prize" was to get to ride the bus back which of course was the most exciting part for them! It was a wonderful event!

There are lots more pictures in the gallery if you want to see more. Click HERE or paste the follwing link into your browser...

http://picasaweb.google.com/lorimercer1/FBCTurkeyTrot02?authkey=03Zsywr_UIU#

This post was created using MCP Actions "Magic Blog-it Boards" found at www.mcpactions.com. Check it out!!

Thanksgiving at Nana & Pop's House

On November 16th the kids and I went to Alex City for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with my parents. Bart had to work on Christmas trees (not ours) so he wasn't able to join us. Mom had everything looking so nice and had prepared a truly scrumptious dinner. Yummy!

I couldn't resist documenting the occasion with a few family shots.

The boys loved seeing each other. Owen was caught giving Thomas kisses. Here he is enjoying his Thanksgiving meal all laid out on Nana's lap. What a life!

I brought our Wii for some afternoon entertainment. What fun! I can't believe I didn't get a picture of my brother and sister-in-law acting like goof balls. We laughed until it hurt. I think they even hurt the next day from bowling! My Dad loves to bowl and he got in on the action too. We will definitely have to bring this out again at Christmas!

AAAHHHH!!!!

Owen has found his voice and now finds great enjoyment in SCREAMING!! Yes, he likes to just sit and scream. Not just a little aaahhhh! but a full on shrilly scream! The funny bad thing about is that when you look at him to tell him to stop he just laughs at you. How do you make a 6 month old stop doing something? I've been told to just ignore it but WOW! that's definitely not possible. Just to give you a small sampling here is a clip from when he first learned to do this. Believe me he has perfected this greatly since then and it is louder, longer and more intense now! His sister just encourages him on so that doesn't help one bit! They are both SO BAD!!