Thanksgiving!!

It is funny how smells and sounds of Thanksgiving can take you back. I love those moments. When your brain takes you to a place and time in your past as vividly as if you were really there. I loved Thanksgiving as a kid. I am like my good friend Trey in that Thanksgiving marks the time for Christmas Prep. We have a tradition here at my house that on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we start decorating the house for Christmas. My kids love it. Here are some of the things that I am thankful for this Thanksgiving: (in no particular order)

1. My mom has moved to Childress
2. My healthy kids
3. Tonya graduates from dental school
4. My Bride
5. This life that God has granted me
6. Great friends
7. My new nephew
8. Darlene's cooking
9. Time with family
10. Sleeping in
11. Watching a movie with my family
12. Shooting quail
13. Filming fatboy outdoors
14. Visiting with family I haven't seen in a while
15. This great country
16. Our soldiers
17. Our President
I am thankful for so much. We absolutely live in an awesome country. I have an awesome family. I have an awesome life. I realize being thankful is a state of mind. But, it helps when I have all these great things to go with me along the way.
I hope everyone has a great Big Bird Turkey Day!!!

Eight Things

I was humbled to see that I was tagged by Stephanie Tucker on this deal. So, here it goes.

8 FAVORITE T.V. SHOWS
1. Dirty Jobs
2. Entourage
3. Wheel of Fortune
4. SpongeBob Squarepants
5. Sportscenter
6. The (early) Cosby Show
7. Murder She Wrote
8. Fat Boy Outdoors

8 FAVORITE EATS
1. Abuelos
2. On the Border
3. Buffalo Wild Wings
4. Sullivans
5. Taco Bell
6. Whataburger
7. Steak World
8. Steak House

8 THINGS I DID TODAY
1. Woke my kids up and fed them breakfast
2. Went to work
3. Stopped global warming
4. Administered a peace treaty between two warring nations
5. Repeatedly watched the Fat Boys blog to see how many people were watching
6. Actually danced in front of Shelia just to make her laugh
7. Try to convince myself that this was not a dream and that I was really awake
8. Came home to my amazing wife and kids!

8 THINGS LOOKING FORWARD TO
1. Raising my babies the way God wants me to
2. Being the husband Amanda needs
3. Getting my Sup cert.
4. My mom moving here
5. Becoming wildly entertaining with Fat Boys or anything else.
6. To learn to not bring work home
7. Running a 4.5 40 yard dash
8. Learning how to dance with the stars

8 WISHES
1. Have 3 healthy beautiful wonderfully awesome Children
2. Marry a beautiful woman
3. Own a big maroon 4x4 truck
4. Own a big house
5. Have my mom close to me
6. My sister becoming a Dr.
7. Have great friends and family
8. To make more goals that I can reach.

My kids

Like Amanda I will attempt to list just 10 things that I love about our children. Impossible to list all, but here is just 10. (in no particular order)

1. I love the way they still think I am the strongest man in the world.
2. I love the fact that they think I am the smartest man in the world.
3. I love the way they smell.
4. I love to hear them laugh, sleep, talk, and breathe.
5. I love how I can get them to wrestle with me at a moments notice. All it takes is for me to lay down in the floor and before long all three of us are in a tangled mess, and Amanda is yelling at us to stop.-love that.
6. I love that they are well behaved (most of the time) in public.
7. I love the fact that they love their mother.
8. I love how they love each other.
9. I love it when they pray to God.
10. I love to hear them sing
11. I love to hold them and watch t.v.
12. I love to brag on them
13. I love how when they were younger and got off the bus they ran to me at school. (David still does it) I don't know how long that will last, but I will never forget the image of them running towards me.
14. I love when I come home from work and I am greeted with hugs and kisses.

Sorry ,couldn't stop at 10. Could go on and on but I don't want to bore you.

New Dad

Guess many of you know now, that my B.I.L. is a new Dad. He is the proud father of a very handsome looking little boy named Koen Reid. I am very proud to be an Uncle for the first time.
John and I have been friends a long time. We first met in 1993. Amanda introduced us at Jarrett Hall. I was playing volleyball in the court yard with a bunch of guys and Amanda showed up with this tall, good-looking guy, and I remember thinking, "what the....." but, thankfully it was her brother.
1993...that's 15 years. Long time. Over the years John has always given me advice. (whether I wanted it or not.) He is quite possibly one of the most intelligent men I know. But, finally the tables are turning. Thanks to Koen Reid and John's inexperience, I get to sit back and let him come to me for some advice for a new Dad....yeah right, he won't ask me. He'll figure something out and get by without asking my opinion or what he needs to do...Dang it!
No, seriously here are some tips my friend:
1. Enjoy the diaper changing now, while the poop is little, just remember it is fixing to get bigger and smell a lot worse.
2. Sleep every chance you get. I told you, from this point on, You will NEVER sleep the same again.
3. Tell your wife how beautiful she is often. Women weird out some for about 2-3 months after they get home from the hospital. Keep encouraging her by telling her mushy stuff. And just listen and try not to fix anything when she freaking out about socks or something stupid like that.
4. I can specifically remember people telling me that I needed to soak it all in because it goes way to fast. Used to frustrate the crap out of me...BUT, soak it all in my friend because it goes way to fast.
5. Lastly, don't worry if you are going to be a good dad or not. I have full confidence that you will. You will bring him up in a house where he is loved, where he knows God, where he knows the difference between good and bad, and where he will be held accountable. And for the rest of his life, he will call you Dad and love you forever.
Good Job John.

whatever....

Am I being a baby? I don't know... Maybe my posts are not that good. Maybe no one wants to respond. Maybe some folks read them but just don't leave comments. I have a lot of blogs that I read and each of their posts carry numerous responses. Maybe I am being a baby. I just need to suck it up and keep writing. Who cares who reads my stuff or responds...right? Why doesn't anyone respond...For those that have, I appreciate it. I read your responses over and over. Sorry to vent...I am just being a baby. Have a great day!
You realize I am just joking? Please don't respond out of pity...well, .....maybe you should. No, nevermind. I don't want your sympathy. But, if you want to, feel free... Later