Pecan Season

Here we are at the end of October and quite possibly the BEST pecan season we've ever had!  

I have three large pecan trees in my backyard and despite record high temps and a drought this summer, these trees have pumped out 

pounds and pounds of pecans.

And not just regular pecans, 

these babies are full and buttery.  

Literally the best harvest we've ever had!

And every October, me and Abby are in the backyard harvesting these beauties.  Abby has an un-natural love of pecans (or any nut for that matter).  Some years she'd eat the shells and all!  But most days we'd sit together and I'd shell half a dozen or so for her.

But this year is a little different.  

Abby is going on 15 years old, and the poor girl is feeling it.  She still goes outside with me to harvest pecans, and I still feed her as many as I can crack by hand.  

Maybe the trees know, too, that this is Abby's last pecan season.  Maybe that's why they're extra good this year.

And you can be sure that I'll bloody my fingers shelling them to make sure she gets her fill.

Thirty Years

October 23, 1993

Two young kids in love.

October 23, 2023

Two old farts STILL in love!

30 years

360 months

1,560 weeks

10,950 days

and still counting...

Turning 22

I don't know about you, but I'm feelin' 22...

(sing along ala T.Swift!)

Everyone in our family has a birthday buddy.  

Mary Grace and John Paul are a mere 

six days apart by dates.

It's a busy time of year for us!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we couldn't make the drive to go see JP this year.  

But thank goodness for Door Dash!  

This mama sent him a lemon Bundtini to celebrate.

(IYKYK)

He had a quiet evening hanging out with his friends at his apartment.

You know, it's a mother's job to teach her children not to need her anymore.

The hardest part of that job is accepting success.

Even at 22, you'll still always be my sweet little boy!

Turning 12

Our Mary Grace turned 12 and we celebrated 

for three whole days!

When you're the youngest of five and the only girl, sometimes you have to be a little bit EXTRA.

We started off with a trip to the mall for some shopping and getting her ears pierced.  

She was such a trooper and didn't even flinch!  Now she can hardly wait for the six weeks to pass to get some fun and funky earrings to wear.

 

I had taken to FaceBook to ask about fun places to have lunch or dinner to celebrate.  You all gave some great ideas and I was excited to take her out.  When lunch time rolled around, do you know what she wanted?  

Mall pizza and her favorite drink from Starbucks!

The next day, we had a girls night out and went to see the Taylor Swift ERAS TOUR movie.  It was so cute seeing her sing and dance to the music.  She even came prepared with friendship bracelets to trade!

The last day of celebration stole the show!

Our #3 son, and Mary Grace's best buddy-John Paul, came into town to take her to her first concert.  They ventured into downtown Houston for Suki Waterhouse.  And honestly, I have no idea who she is or what she sings!  But Mary loved it and rode that high through the weekend.

Oh, and there was even a solar eclipse in her honor!

Fitting, don't you think?

But I don't know how we'll top THAT next year!