A Thanksgiving Novel

What would a trip to visit me be with out going to the alligator park? I love this park. There is a big pond that you can walk around for some exercise, baby alligators you can hold, and lots of play stuff to play on! This is a sign that is hanging in the alligator house.

Then we all walked over to the playground. It looks like I have a lot of kids!! I wish I could have four. While walking we encountered this..........

Those are fire ants. This is a small ant mound. If you look closely you can see them all running around. This pile is small. There are some that are about 12 inches tall. Then we finally made it over to the playground. I just love this playground. I love playgrounds. I could stay there all day long. But we weren't there long when this happened................Poor kido fell in a mud puddle under a swing. He was so upset. I said, "Quick take his picture." He first walked into the puddle then tried to get on the swing and noticed his feet were wet then he tried to turn around and he fell. Good thing is was like 85 degrees outside. Then Little Cowpoke and I went for a swing. Actually I stole his swing and tried to get him to come on it with me but he didn't want to. So, I picked him up and we went all crazy!! I just love to swing. It is so much fun. I haven't done it in a long time. It brings back some great childhood memories. While growing up we would swing really high and then jump off the swing and see who could jump the farthest. 1.....2.....3............I still don't jump very far. But it is so much fun. You all should try it sometime. There is this bumble bee at the park that is way fun!! I love it and wish I actually fit in it. The front of the bee is so much more fun than the back. I got my sister to climb on too!!! Little Cowpoke didn't want to share the bumble bee. Two year olds are so stingy sometimes. I love this picture. Poor baby fell down and got hurt and a little hug from mommy made it all better. What is it about mommies that make things all better? Then after getting completely dirty and sweaty at the park the kids all got cleaned up in the big bath tub. Mr. Cowboy tried turning on the jets and they flung water all love the place. I guess we didn't have the water level high enough. The kids all screamed!! But to keep the fun rolling and this post a novel I will include Thanksgiving too. Remember those leaves that I watched my sister make? Well here is what she did with them.

Oh such sweetness!! These are so very yummy. This cake was really yummy. Lydia sat next to us and I think she got a bit bored with all the cooking. "I think that leaf should go a little to the left....."Here is the finished White Almond cake with Raspberry filling. My sister let me be the first one to cut into the cake!! Let me tell you this was sooooooo goooood!! I ate a huge piece. It was very moist and sweet. But enough about cake, let me tell you about our Thanksgiving meal, if I haven't lost you all yet. This is our meal. I made the mashed potatoes. That is what I did. Now my sister made everything else. She is a good cook. I love food!! Here we all are sitting at the table ready to eat. Mr. Cowboy doesn't look to happy. Now for Thanksgiving number two. We ate at the in-laws house. They had two turkeys, one oven cooked and one fried, and a ham. Then she cooked three different types of sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing, green bean casserole, rolls, and cranberry sauce. I am sure there was more and I am just forgetting it. Here is the ham. I guess we can all learn from this photo. Never use colored toothpicks because the coloring will bleed into the pineapples. I don't really ever eat pork or ham or anything that comes off of a pig, but oh my goodness, this was the bestest most moistest ham ever. If those are even words?? So good. I can't believe we let these two in the kitchen. This is Paw Paw and Mr. Cowboy. They fried the turkey. They both have crazy hair and even crazier personalities. I was so patient waiting for the food to be done. I didn't sneak any turkey I promise!! Oh Mr. Cowboy you soo need a hair cut. I refuse to cut it, I am so bad at cutting hair. Come on look at mine and I get it professionally done. Then what else do you do after a big Thanksgiving meal, but to go bowling!!!Wow look at those skills!! Mr. Cowboy is a really good bowler. And yes, we did have bumpers. Can he do it, can he get a spare? He did. Mr. Cowboy came in second. What better way to end the day than dancing in the dark in the kitchen. I just love Thanksgiving. I am so glad to have had family in town to visit. I am so grateful for family.