HEY!!

Hey people! Just wanted to post some of the photos from my birthday party and the snow day on "THE HILL"! Thanks, again, to all of you who participated and attended my party! You are too sweet! Sorry I haven't posted any pics from Hood Progressive Dinner, I can't seem to find the memory card.......hmmmmmmm!!!! Love you all!

Hood-giving

The annual Hood-giving was hosted by the Haymes family. And, let me tell you.......I LOVED it! We cleared out that living room, brought in drop clothes for the carpet (because Keli is anal about shoes on the carpet, sorry!) tables and chairs and began the process of decorating! The table was beautiful with all the different foods, drinks, and decorations! What was the best?..................sharing good times and memories with good friends! I know some of you may not know this but our "Hood family" truly is a wonderful blessing. Some of us have strained relationships or miles between us and family. There is an enormously overwhelming comfort in knowing we have 'family' right near us! How blessed we are in this season of Thanksgiving and blessing to know that we have wonderful people to share our home/food/time with. I sat there many times that evening looking at one person or another thinking about all the wonderful things they bring to my life! I want to share some of those things you bless me with!
Cindy: not present but my heart was heavy for you had to be away at a funeral! However, I thought of you often missing your contagious smile! You have a beautiful face that brightens the room with your laughter! Your spunk makes me belly laugh! Yor quiet ornryness is fun to watch peek outof your normally 'kept in line' self! And, I know you love my children!
Jimmy: other than the obvious of being the Hood computer guru...lol! We are so blessed with your whitty humor! And stories of your extended family! And lest we not forget how you have impressed upon us RAUL, the pool boy!
Bethey: we have not enough room my friend to list your amazing qualities! However, thank you for blessing me with the fact that you love each one of us in every way....even our unattractive qualities. I love your spirit of rising to the top of EVERY occasion and having good intentions for using the "High Road" everytime (it's still under construction and closed baby!) even when it is not deserved! You have 'rubbed off' on me in more than one way and I love you for it!
Blain-o: I really wish I could type montone! So as you all read this just think one tone! ;) Your never ending straight line makes me laugh! I cannot begin to comprehend how you do not get riled up about ANYTHING! However, your daddy says if I put a keyboard on my.......... lol ;)! Your cooking is superb! I am excited to see where your life is going to take you, handsome boy!
Joshie: you are so 13 right now but I still love ya........most of the time! ;) I adore the relationship you have with my girls. I find comfort in seeing you come up the street in something Davy Crockett or camo! That twinkle in your smile and dimple in your cheeks will obviously win you favors because, "It's obvious SOMEBODY loves their children around here!"
Andy: also absent due to the icky stomach flu; make me belly laugh why don't ya! You seem to always have something funny to come out with but on the occasion when life strikes a serious note (Larry) you rose right to the top my friend! You made all our chests swell with pride as you honored our friend and loved one. And.............you have DIONNE!!!!
Dionne: you, my lady, are a class act! Always positive and caring. It is so abundantly clear that your heart IS the size of Texas! I love hearing the story of your meeting (yeah, Andy we ALL know you salivated all over yourself and FOR ONCE was at a loss for words!) You care about people and truly LISTEN when people speak! You and Andy are a joy to be around being newlyweds and all! The culture you bring into our circle is fascinating as well!
Stan: there are no words for the humor! I love the fact that you all are so FUN! I forget that our age difference is what it is because you act so young. I love to see the zest for life you have. The comfort you have in yourself is admirable! My favorite thing: your Speedo! No joke! I wish some of your self confidence could rub off on me! I love that you find no value in what other people may think! In fact we were all wondering if you could wear that to the Progressive Dinner? ;)
Regina: I have to reitterate some of Stan-sorry! Thank you so much for making me belly laugh when I want to cry! Your matter of fact to the point sarcasm with a twist makes me hysterical! By far, the dancing is a treasured memory of mine! I crack up at how ornry you really are behind that accent! And, like Stan, your comfort in who you are! I mean WHO answers the door and steps out on the porch or works in the yard in their under clothes as well as you two!? I love you two!
Rick: calm before the storm (Rhonda)! You have special jewels in heaven for putting up with her after she has been poisioned by us! ;) Your calm nature brings a peace over me when we are together. I love that you can keep up with our craziness and you just laugh us thru it! And, who is not to love a man that brings Honey Turkey when called upon? Or was that something else...........who would remember!? LOL!
Roda: you are a light in a dark sky with your fun personality. Always a bright thing to say about things, always looking for something good in everyone. Even those who don't deserve it! And, how you attend to your family! Your diligence in caring for their every need! The nucleus of the party..........always!!!
Thelma: we have forced you to be a part of The Hood, wheather you wanted to be or not and now....you are OURS!!!! I love your zest for life and always looking to the bright side of things! You are an inspiration to be followed! And, you are an absolute HOOT!!
We have other "honorary" members that come and go but no one will ever take our places. We are a team, we have a bond, we are 'family'! Thank you all for having me in your life because, believe me, I am thank ful to have each of you! Blessings!

LEGS

"We got legs......and we know how to eat 'em!". LOL! ;) So, the Hood frequents the big town of Hurley about once a month. this particular trip included 16 of us with some guests! Jimmy brought along some very nice people from his work, Mark and Diane. We enjoyed their company and hope we didn't scare them away from hangning with The Hood as we can be a bit overbearing....I know, hard to imagine! Mom and Pop Caenepeel also joined us for the food and fun! I laughed especially hard at Mr. Caenepeel and his antics about the crablegs. I am so glad they joined us for some food and LAUGHTER! Bethey, you are so lucky to have such great folks! And, thanks for sharing them with me! HOWEVER, the biggest roar of the evening came at the expense of Dionne! There we were, having an in depth discussion when out of NO WHERE Dionne's butter bowl jumped off her plate and spilled all over her! I mean EVERYWHERE people! The whole table went silent-only for a sec-then errupted in laughter. Her dear hubby helped her out by drawing everyones attention in the place to it! Dionne was such a trooper about the whole thing by laughing with us and then grabbing a crableg for a goofy picture. I don't know about those folks in Hurley but Iimagine they think we are crazy city-folk invadin' their nice restrent! I so enjoy these times of sharing with such good friends. Making new ones, inviting family along to share....just existing in this crazy old world! Who knew when we moved to SPARTA that we would find such wonderful relationships! I have to crack up everytime we all land in Hurley! We walk in the door and people stare at us with that bewildered look like, "Why didn't I think of having our family reunion here! Gonna tell momma as soon as I get home!". And, the pie............OMG!!! I mean they have every pie known to man there! Stan and Regina cheated especially bad this particular trip as they went straight to the pie bar and told the waitress like before we even got our drinks what pie they wanted! CHEATERS!! All in all, the Friday night escapade to Hurley was wonderful....once again!

Hood-O-Ween

The annual Hood-O-Ween is hosted by the Cantrells. Bethey always does a famous job decorating the Cantrell home (inside and out) with all the decorations a Hood-O-Ween deserves! We had a grand time as everyone arrived revealing their costume of choice. I MUST admit, the One Night Stan-D stole the show in my opinion. Stanley, you are quite inventive! We enjoyed much laughter, food, and a bit of mischeviousness...maybe! How bout those pictures we took! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this Hood and I love these times we share!

The HOOD goes to VEGAS

Ok people! Check this out! The HOOD, well some of us, went to Vegas! Man did we have an amazing time! We stayed in a really nice posh place where we had our very own kitchen to store our 'stuff' that we needed between visits to the Strip! We arrived in Vegas during the daylight hours so we were not blinded by the lights, so to speak. After an interesting cab ride to our residence we got settled in for a nice stay. To the strip we went! The rest is all....well you have heard what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! HAHAHAHA!!! How about that new card game we brought home! Ask Justin to teach it to you!