FUNNY THING

I haven't written for what seems like forever. I will catch things up soon but wanted to share something.

Alex, I have never heard of this before and I am really old, but. Santa brought Alex exactly what he wanted a Thomas the Train set. He loves it and did not spend one minute on anything else Christmas day. Well, over the weekend Drew and Frances took their tree in their bedroom down and boxed up all the Christmas things from in there. When Alex saw them doing that he went and got his train box and was going to take his train apart and put it back in the box to be put away, because, Christmas was over and Santa had brought the train so it had to be packed up and wait for next Christmas to be brought back out. Funny. Just never heard of a kid that had that train of thought about Santa gifts.

DREW'S B-DAY & WILD TURKEYS

Fake expression but he did like his SPURS calendar and beanie.

Today is my little boy's birthday. Ok, he is 27 but will always be my little boy. I had a horrible flu all week but am all over it except for feeling so exhausted. Clay subbed school today so of course he really liked that.

Found out the Drew's work is sending him back to Dallas again in Feb. but it will only be a 2 day school. So, I get to be a full time Nana for 4 days. Alex is staying here with us and Frances is going with Drew. I am so excited for them. It will be like a little honeymoon. Hey, maybe I should bring up it might be time to work on another little Crawford while they are gone, hehe.

Christmas is coming but just doesn't feel like it. I dream of a Christmas where all my children and grandchildren are together with me. Now that would be a Wonderful Christmas.

Our wild turkey flock that goes through our property every day, was last year just 5 or 6 of them but now there are 10 of them. Getting to be too many. Don't want any wild turkey meat though. Hopefully one of the neighbors with alleviate some of the overcrowding that is happening. Deer season starts again next week and Clay will be trying his luck again then.

FIRST SNOW

Alex loves his Pappy's truck. He loves to sit in it, ride in it, climb from the cab through the sliding window into the bed of the truck. He loves that it is so "big" and high off the ground. What more could a little boy want from a truck.

TURKEY DAY

The finished product. We bought this turkey when he was just a 2 day old chick. Alex weighs 32 pds. and this tom turkey of ours after being dressed out, 31 pds. He was a big, big guy. Usually white meat is too dry for me but this time when you bit into a slice it was actually juicy.

Putting the tree together.

Sometimes little ones need help from their daddy.

Not sure if this is where the lights should go.

LAST OF DALLAS PICS

There is a big BassPro Shop in Springfield that we have as yet to take Alex to, but there was one in Dallas, he really liked it, lots to see and do.

Checking out Santa's house at Mall in Dallas.

Alex saw this and went back to the hotel and wrote his letter to Santa and then mailed it himself.

GREAT WHITE HUNTER

Well this is the year that Clay decided that he wanted to get a deer. It is a really short deer season, 2 different times, about 10 days in Nov. and about 10 days in Dec. He got a permit for one deer killed on our property. He was so excited the first time he was preparing to go. The night before, getting all of his gear together, setting his alarm, he acted like it was Christmas Eve. Well the day finally dawned and he sat out in the woods in the freezing cold for 2 hours. He saw 2 squirrels. His words, "froze my butt off." Then the next time he again set his alarm got up really early and lasted 1 hour. The thrill of going out seems to be gone. But most days he sets his alarm early and then when it goes off he turns it off and goes back to sleep. I know he will keep trying until the season is over. We don't really need the meat but I understand that it is a process of seeing how much of the land we can live off of. He would probably give away most of the meat but he wanted to make venison jerky and venison sausage. It is wonderful having land and not being tied to a neighborhood co-op or a landlord to ask for something or get permission for things. The possibilities seem endless. It is a really nice feeling. Thankfully we have Clay and Frances because if it were up to Drew and I to "live off the land" we would all starve to death. They will do things that we just can't even think of doing.

Our chickens went through a huge molt, they looked like something from a leper colony. But are finally back to their beautiful old selves. The last 3 turkeys will have their days come to an end next week. The tom is HUGE, he is so big that he can't hardly stand. He can only waddle a short distance and then has to rest. He is beautiful though and we are anxious to see how much he will weigh all dressed out. He is really GIGANTIC. We will miss seeing them around but will start over with babies in the spring.

CARRYING ON A CRAWFORD TRADITION

Clay's dad taught all of his children to eat with chopsticks and then Clay our children and now Drew is passing it on to Alex. Drew fixed one end so they were, "beginner chopsticks" This was a "children's plate"

Hotel pool and hot tub.

DALLAS TRIP

Chilling in the backseat on the drive to TX.

The hotel was near the airport so one of Alex's favorite things was to watch the planes taking off and landing.

Alex's "decoration" of the hotel room.

Alex loved the tub, needless to say so did Drew and Frances.

Alex's "bed" for that week.

STARTING THE TRIP TO TEXAS

Helping his daddy get ready for their trip to TX.

A most unique McDonald's, the overpass is actually the restaurant. This is in Oklahoma.

TURKEY #1

This is one of our turkeys. It's dressed out weight was 26 pds. He isn't even our biggest turkey. Clay decided to "can" our first turkey so it will be really good for dumplings, soups and casseroles. It is all skinned and boned so it is just good turkey meat ready to eat.

EEEEEWWWW

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS

I'm not talking about the weather.
It has just been one thing after another. A couple of weeks ago Clay's laptop stopped working and it is his "lifeline" for college. Something about it's power source burnt out. Had to have it fixed. Then in this past week, his truck stopped running and he has been working on it every day to try and get it back on the road. The fridge is barely keeping things cold and seems to be hanging on by a thread. Clay lost his cell phone and it seems it just cannot be found. Sort of afraid to wake up in the mornings, never know what will happen next. Of course all of this has happened since he was laid off from one of his jobs so money is scarce. Oh and he has also lost 2 library books that just can't be found. I guess if I sit here and think about it there would be more but I think it best to just not think about it.

TOO, TOO QUIET

Talk about a quiet week. Drew, Frances and Alex just left for a week in Dallas, TX. Drew's work is sending him there for a special training school. These are pics of their rental car. His work is paying for everything and I'm so excited for them to be able to take a "vacation." The car is a 2009 and evidently it does everything but wipe your butt after you use the bathroom, hehe.

I don't know how it will be with the house so quiet and empty. Everyone keep them in your thoughts and prayers for a safe trip.

MISSING FAMILY

I feel like "the holidays" are Oct., Nov. & Dec.

Families should be together for the holidays.

This is Alex working hard at getting dirty. For a little one it is a full time job.

TURKEYS, TURKEYS, EVERYWHERE

This is what happens if the turkeys are in the front yard and you come inside by the front door. Silly birds.

This one we call "Thanksgiving 2008"

YARD WORK

Getting the flower beds all ready for the winter. Alex has his own garden tools. They are real ones but small, just right for him. He is getting really good at digging as you can see.

Collecting nuts from the front yard.