Hummingbirds Are Alot Like Grandchildren

...beautiful to look at and hard to capture in the camera lens! There were seven or eight hummingbirds buzzing around this feeder at once and about that many more at the one at the back door. Yet, the most I could capture with my camera were these three at the feeder and, if you look real closely, you will see the tail feathers of two more. (One to the left edge of the picture and one just below the curtain.)

That is about the luck I had at Easter trying to capture a good picture of the grandchildren!

Kelli corralled squirming munchkins.

Davin pouted just as the picture snapped.

I will not even go into how hard it was to get all eleven of us in one frame!

And yet, when we told them to go play and tried to take other pictures...

they seemed to magically appear...needing to empty a sandal of sand...

...or to take a breather on the step! (Why couldn't he 'cheese' like that when we were trying to get his picture?)

Oh well, we never claimed to be the perfect family...or even the most photogenic. We are just the Goode's. Welcome to our world!

If I Knew I Could, I Would...

If I knew that I could write a Women's Bible study, I would. I have had an idea for the encouragement of women and the building up of community floating around in my head since I taught Sunday School five years ago...but I can't bring myself to actually do it. Fear of rejection is the biggest part of my reluctance. Yet lately, the Lord has been bringing that question to my mind again and again.

Maybe it is due to being asked to facilitate a small group again. Maybe it is my dear friend who keeps making the comment that I should write something to be published. Maybe it is time to step out on the limb of faith.

If I knew I could, I would...but I keep doubting whether it is from Him or from me...so, I don't. That is a pretty scary statement to record on the written page for all the world to know!

Joining Lisa-Jo over at The Gypsy Mama for






It is easy to join in, just read the prompt, set a timer for 5 minutes, write and hit publish. Okay, well to be totally honest, hitting publish is the hardest part!

Two Week Countdown To...

Impalas...

(image courtesy Joachim Huber via Wikipedia)

and Blue Wildebeest...

(image courtesy of Muahmmad Mahdi Karim via Wikipedia)



and Kudu...

(image courtesy of KlausF via Wikipedia)

...all in beautiful South Africa with My Hero!!!

Our "Thirtieth Anniversary/Second Honeymoon/Trip Of A Lifetime"

official countdown has begun!

Davin

This boy loves anything with a motor!

Especially his four wheeler.


He loves driving Brooke around. It make him feel all grown up like Uncle Duck-Duck (Will).



Focused

Davin had things to do and people to see...always on the go!

Picking flowers for his mother.

Needless to say, all three grand children usually have to take a bath before they can load them up to head home. That's why rain boots or Crocs are the shoe of choice out in the country!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as I enjoyed sharing them!

These three really are GRAND!

Brooke

Have I ever mentioned that our little princess tends to be a drama queen?

I mean really, just look at that pitiful face! You would think she had lost her best friend.


I love this ensemble...pink and black tutu with pink on pink polka dot rain boots!


So cute!


Miss Thang!

Twirling in the back yard.

She is "Fabulous"!

This was taken about the time her Momma said it was time to go home.

Her response? "I never want to leave. I want to stay here FOREVER."

Love it!!!

Maddux

Here are the pictures I promised yesterday of Maddux.
He found a feather on the back deck.




He played on Pappaw's tractor...and no, he did not climb up there by himself and he was being supervised...so please don't call CPS on us.




Look at that face!


Sweet, goofy smile...covered in sweet iced tea!



Maddux chasing Blue off the porch.


Playing in Nonna's Polaris while Brooke pretends to drive.


As I have already said, we had a great day together.
Pictures of the other grandchildren to follow.

Cousins

"A cousin is a ready-made friend for life." Anonymous


"Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to become forever friends." Anonymous

"Cousins by blood, best friends since birth." Anonymous

"Cousin to cousin we'll always be,

Special friends from the same family tree."

Unknown



I couldn't help but share with y'all the sweetness that is these two cousins born three months apart. They are truly the best of friends when they get together. I love the pictures of them on Davin's four-wheeler. Brooke doesn't even attempt to drive it, she grabs on tight to him and rides. And that tutu? P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S! I'll be back soon with a page of each grand child...beginning with Maddux since he didn't make this post. Boy, do I have some sweet ones of him too! But I'm not biased or anything, right?

Some Days Just Don't Go As You Had Planned

Case in point: I mentioned back in March that I had some pictures to share with you from our "Family Crawfish-Turned-Shrimp Boil". It was a beautiful Saturday that we had been planning for two weeks. We had juggled Meagan/Derrick's, Kelli/Matt's and Bri/Josh's schedules to get everyone together at once (alas, Matt wasn't able to make it after all). Once we agreed upon a day and time that everyone was available, I texted Brian to put in on his calendar TWO WEEKS EARLY. (Plenty of time for a college student.) Jim and I gathered all the supplies on Friday afternoon, ready for the whole Hey-Hira delegation to arrive.

Saturday morning, I sent Bri and Brian to the office to pick up more chairs while I went to pick up the crawfish. It was just family and we only needed one bag. No need to order early, right? WRONG! It is the first time in nearly ten years that we were unable to get crawfish in the springtime. Don't know what was going on, but you couldn't even find anyone selling them on the side of the road. And just the day before, both Brianne and Josh had driven through South Louisiana! I am sure they could have picked them up anywhere!!!

On to Plan B: Shrimp Boil instead. The food was still delicious and we had a great afternoon. I have so many pictures that it will take a few days to share them. Here are a few of the family.

William chilling around the boiling pot.

Brian...keeping his dad company while waiting for the pot to boil.

Derrick kept up the vigilance as well.

My Hero: our master chef.

Josh held down the fort with the rest of the guys.

This was the only picture I have of Meagan and Kelli from the day. Bri took most of the pictures so there is not a single one I can share of her. (Well, there is one, but she is making a face and she would kill me if I posted it!)

This Brian after we ate. I rarely get pictures of him, so I am posting both of them just because I can!

Josh had to try out the bulldozer that Jim had out there to work on the pond.

Brooke with a mouth full of homemade Rice Krispy Treats.

I had forgotten how much the kids love those things.

Two dishes totally wiped out!

Davin licking his fingers from melted marshmallow.

And just in case you thought they were just for the little ones...

here is my 'not so little' one with a mouth full too!

The temperatures began to drop as the sun set. Maddux curled up in his Pappaw's lap wrapped in his favorite blanket. It wasn't long before we were all heading inside.

Like I said, it was a beautiful day...with or without the crawfish!

Custom's Crawfish Boil: 2011

Last Saturday was Custom Fire Protection's annual Crawfish Boil. We invited our employees and families, along with a few friends of the company, to join us for a day of fellowship, food and fun. The cooks start early...10 AM for a 2 PM meal time. (Jim and Porter handle most of the cooking while Alison does the food prep. Wesley was kept around for his muscle.)

There were kids playing everywhere...the bounce house, on push toys and ride-ons and even with the water hose. (Peyton got Jim pretty good once or twice! And that is Ethan with his zebra in the background.)

The food...it is delicious, y'all! Jim and Porter cooked 5 sacks this year. That is around 150 - 180 pounds of mud bugs! And that doesn't include the corn, potatoes, onions, artichokes or mushrooms.

Thank goodness this year we did NOT have a lot of crawfish left over. In fact, there was probably more corn than anything else left in the coolers. It was perfect!!!

After lunch it is time for the Official Washers Tournament. Double elimination brackets are set up and the fun begins. (Jack and Grady were warming up with a game against Derrick and Scott.)

And the 2011 Champions were...

Billy and Joseph. Their names will be added to the plaque before the end of the month.


Here is part of the crew sitting around watching the finals.

We had a great time. It is just our way of saying 'Thank You' to the best employees and teammates in the fire sprinkler business.

But this little guy had the absolute BEST TIME on Saturday when Mr. Ken pulled up in this custom truck. We were all telling Davin not to touch it...but Mr. Ken invited him to go sit in it.

That totally made his day!!!!