So Thankful!

We have so much to be thankful for in the Rankin Household!  

The boys had a week off from school and we enjoyed every minute of it!  

This year we made the turkey!  Dan found a good recipe and took care of preparing it and cooking it!  He also made the giblet  gravy!  He is such a helpmate and I am thankful for him!!! ♥

 This is Mylee, our new great niece!  She was born on Sept. 1st and she slept so sweetly through our dinner!   Her momma was thankful for those quiet moments to eat in peace!  ♥

 Tia hosted this years Thanksgiving dinner at her beautiful home!  Thank you Tia! ♥

 I got a lot of "loving on Mylee" time!

 Dan's Aunt Ellen and Uncle Forrest came to visit.  Ellen just had a HEART TRANSPLANT (4 months ago) so she wears a mask to keep germs away since she is on a lot of immune suppressing medicine right now.  We are sooooo thankful the Lord has taken care of Ellen by providing her a heart VERY quickly and for a fast recovery.

 Dan helped Ryon pick up a pile of cards! ♥

 We are thankful for a BIG chair that we could all relax on and watch the Cowboys play!

 We are thankful for relaxing days with family playing Mexican Train!  (which Zach won!)  Yay Zach!

 Dan even got some Mylee time!  ♥

 We also had time to build forts in the living room, have sleep overs,

 put up and decorate our Christmas tree

 and keep warm by the fire on a very cold, windy, dusty day.

 As you can tell, we do have a LOT to be thankful for around the Rankin House!

~♥♥♥♥~

Lower Cave ~ Carlsbad Caverns

October 10, 2011 was Columbus Day and a holiday for the boys.  NO SCHOOL!!  Granddad has been wanting to take the boys on the Lower Cave tour in Carlsbad Caverns since they were born. ☺ BUT, you had to be at least 12 years old to go on this tour.  So, now that Drew is 12 - They found the first holiday (that wasn't booked) to go!

You have to go d o w n ....

 to see beautiful cave creations!

 Walk on narrow walkways....

 through tight spaces.....

 and even crawl!!

 But you noticed the smiles never left their faces!

Once the tour was over, you had to come back U P....

This holiday was the first days off since school had started and they were looking forward it.  I was a little nervous they would be upset having to get up early and head out....but from the moment they woke up, to the walk back into the house that evening, they had a smiles on their faces.  They both had a GREAT time touring Lower cave.  Thank you Granddad for wanting to take the boys on this wonderful adventure!!  ♥♥♥

Dove Hunt

The boys get a lot of shooting time some weekends.  They go up to the "ranch" (as we lovingly call it) and shoot clays for target practice.

 Once Dove season came around, Dan took them up to try and shoot some.  There weren't many that flew in, but they each got one a piece.  They were thrilled!

 I love this picture of Drew being a little brother!  ha!  (below)

I did not go on this Dove hunting adventure.  And boy, was I glad too.  When the boys got home they said there was a lot of baby frogs all over the place!  Eek!!  I don't love frogs, but I love these boys!! ♥♥♥

Too Much Fun!!!

One Saturday, when Drew had his friend over, Drew asked to put dish soap in the hot tub to make bubbles...well, being the nice mom that I am...I said "yes!" ♥

Oh, it was sooooo fun being in all those bubbles!!

They even spilled over the side!

Fun times for sure!!!  ☺ 

HaPpY HaLLOwEeN aNd OtHeR HaPpeNniNgS!

I substituted these 1960's cuties on Friday before Halloween! These little cuties are a kindergarten class at Drew's school. It was FuN DaY and the theme was 1960's. I fell in love ♥ with the lil' Jackie Kennedy's!!

Scary Drew!!
Zach went out with his friend Charles and met up with other friends... his costume was last minute...
Drew was this scary ghoul.

We went to see my niece and her cuties on Halloween night! They were so adorable!

Then on Nov. 2nd, mom came to visit! We celebrated her birthday with this festive cake!!!
And here is mom relaxing going through Toys R Us catalogs to find the best gifts for Christmas for the boys!! ☺
Hope your Halloween was great too!!