Devil Town

Everybody knows that my favorite television show of all time was Friday Night Lights. Every week, I wept with joy at its sheer awesomeness.  It took place in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas where everyone was obsessed with high school football (and probably other sports too, but that's for another program).  It was all about community, family, Texas pride and great barbeque.  The greatest moment of the whole series was the scene at the end of the first season when the Dillon Panthers won state and the town celebrated by having a grand homecoming parade set to the tunes of "Devil Town".  It gave me chills. So, imagine my thrill when my sister Jane moved to Childress, Texas this fall - a town that could actually be Dillon.  It is all ranches, school pride, state pride and small town goodness.  Here is a sampling of what we encountered on our trip to little Sam's baptism this last weekend.

 Amber hanging out with grizzly bears and cacti.  I love living in the southwest.

Amber and Miranda at the Big Texan in Amarillo.  Everything is bigger in Texas, particularly the chairs.  And as a sign in the restaurant said,  "In Texas, it ain't bragging if it's true."

The park in my sister's town is totally decked out for the holidays.  Every civic organization has created some fabulous wire and lights creation and they are put up everywhere.  There must have been a hundred creations just like this one.  It was gorgeous.  Merry Christmas, Ya'll!

This was the entrance to the park.  Grandma was enthralled with the poinsettas.

Miranda, Sam & Amber heating up at our fabulous bbq supper. (Thanks, Uncle Carl!)  Clearly we need to teach these kids some better restaurant manners.

One of the town's oldest homes.  You do not know how much I wanted to ring on their doorbell and ask for a tour of a house.  Notice the small "Bobcat Pride" sign in the corner of the house.  I would say 75% of the houses have these signs out front.  The bobcats are the mascot for the elementary, middle and high school.

I saw these signs on a fence outside the most awesome antique shop ever.  I think this just about says it all, don't you?

And here is a typical Childress home with a better view of the "Bobcat Pride" sign.

Here's Bethany just hanging out in the saloon with her buffalo.  Good times!

Bethany, Miranda and Sam just after his baptism.  The cutest bunch ever.  Sam attends a small branch and it was really an interesting experience attending a branch.  Members come from up to an hour away just to get to church.  They are a close knit fun group though.  The best part of our branch experience was when the primary kids ended the "Hello" welcome song with a resounding "Yeehaw!".  I totally cracked up. I bet the Stingels will have a great time living in "Devil Town"!  Now if only we would run into Tim Riggins next time we visit.

Holidays!

Well, another holiday season is almost over and I have not made a post in over a month.  You know how it is.  Parties, Christmas letters, concerts, weekend trips.  Good times baby!  Above is a sampling of  the Thanksgiving pies.  Yummers!  I made 14 and we ended up throwing out the last leftovers about two weeks after Thanksgiving!  I think we'll do cheesecake for Christmas.

Over Thanksgiving, we dog sat for our friends the Hunts.  Their dog Louie is just as cute as he could be and the kids took him everywhere with them.    He was spoiled rotten.  He must have had a good time because when we went to visit him last week, Louie gave us all kisses galore and whimpered when we left.

All of us girls and Aunt Emily went pinecone hunting in the mountains just after the leaves turned colors. It was gorgeous, I must say.  We usually collect acorns but I think we missed our opportunity this year because they were all gone to some squirell's winter lair by the time we got there.  I made the wreath above.  The ribbon was problematic as you can see.

The first weekend in December, we went up for the Hurst Reunion in Blanding.  The girls stole the camera and took a lot of pictures of cousins and door handles (don't ask me).  Here is cute Kaylee.

Miranda getting ready to load up on grub.  We had ham, scalloped potatoes, cookie monster salad and desserts galore.  Never let it be said that the Hursts do not know how to throw a party.

Visiting between card games and white elephant exchange.  I love my family so much.

Before the lunch, we went to Blanding's Christmas craft fair.  It was so much fun. While we were there, baby Chance had a tete-a-tete with Santa.

Bethy & Nauli being silly.

And here is a picture of Sam, Miranda and me taken in the mirror of Sam's new ipad.  Awesome.  Can you see my swollen cheeks.  I just got a gum graft done last Monday.  Never have this surgery done in December, people.  Never!