Happy Thanksgiving!

This post runs backwards and includes a lot of things that I meant to post a long time ago. I got scolded at Thanksgiving for neglecting the blog, so I will try to do better!

Delia celebrated her first Thanksgiving in Yazoo City with Grady's family. It is usually a pretty big event with lots of food, family, and fun!

"Don't eat us Cousin Emily!"

Delia enjoyed her first 4-wheeler ride... I think.

Just your average Thanksgiving Day: turkey, pie, and rides in Uncle Paul's tricked out Ranger. Delia, Emily, Regan, Aubrey, Grandma Amanda, and Wesley are ready to roll!

"Aunt Laurissa, where is the turkey?"

Someone managed to get a bow clipped in Delia's hair!

Nana and Granddaddy stopped in Starkville on their way to celebrate Thanksgiving with my brother Gerald and his wife Sarah in Arkansas. Delia is opening a new toy from Nana.

Delia with her Nana

Delia and her Granddaddy

Tuscaloosa Tailgate

Grady and Bryan at the Alabama game. Grady is directing your attention to the fire in the trash can. So that's how they do it in Alabama.

Our whole crew: Me, Delia, Grady, "Alabama Pants," Bryan, and Christine. It was in the upper 40's that night, but Delia stayed cozy in her "Bundle Me," which is basically like a baby sleeping bag. Delia got in trouble with her Daddy for dancing to the Bama fight song. It's just so catchy!

Delia and Kelsey, one of Grady's former grad students, at the Kentucky game.

And last, but not least, a play date/family reunion. From left to right, this is Buddy, Pedro (Miller's friend), Miller, and Chief (Miller's son and Buddy's brother). Coincidentally, Buddy has 2 black brothers who are both named Chief. This Chief lives in Jackson with Bryan and Christine. He has eaten a $20 bill, as well as some of the siding off their house.

Pitiful Pups

The long battle between Miller and Grady has come to this. Both dogs got neutered last week and are recovering nicely.

It began over a year ago when the neighbor's dog went into heat. Miller would somehow escape our nice big fenced-in yard and cause trouble in the neighborhood. We couldn't figure out how he was doing it, because if we were home, he wouldn't leave. It took me actually leaving the house and Grady staying home on a stake out for us to see how he was getting out. Our yard has a 6-ft wooden fence on all sides except for the back side, which is bordered by a 4-ft chain link fence. Miller was jumping the 4-ft fence and proceeding to pester the neighbors.

So, Grady put up a wire extension to make the back fence about 2 feet taller and we waited. Miller climbed it. He also climbed the 6-ft wooden fence.

So, Grady purchased an electric fence system. He dug a small trench around the perimeter of our yard and and buried the electric fence wire. Then we put the electric fence collar on Miller and waited. When he got 5 feet from the fence, it would give him a warning beep, then if he kept going, he would get a pop. This deterred his efforts and Grady took the fence extension down.

Then along came Buddy, whose registered name is "Grady's Dixon's Buddy for Miller." We were sure that with a new pal, Miller would be content to stay in the yard and play. Little did we know that Buddy was just a pawn in Miller's master plan. Soon Buddy began digging up the electric fence wire. When the circuit was broken, there was no longer any electric charge, allowing Miller to jump over the back fence, no problem.

So, Grady got an electric fence collar for Buddy as well ($35). That kept him from digging up the wires. But Miller had another plan up his doggie sleeve. Buddy began chewing Miller's electric fence collar. Eventually he chewed it entirely off, and Miller was free again. Poor Buddy would bark and bark saying "Wait! Where'd you go??"

So, Grady bought Miller a new electric fence collar ($35). Buddy chewed the battery out of it within minutes. We bought another collar ($35), and Grady put cayenne pepper on Miller's collar with Crisco. Buddy loved it. He licked it off, then cleaned up what happened to drop on the ground. Then chewed the batteries out again.

At this point we were out of ideas, and Miller was leaving a trail of the neighbors' cat food, pet food bowls, soccer balls, and shoes in his wake.

So, Grady loaded the dogs up and took them to the MSU Vet School, where they were happy to do the deed. Now we wait...

Laundry Day

Chores are more fun when Delia helps out.

Delia's First Skybox Game

Last weekend our friends Rebecca and George invited our Sunday school class to their family's skybox for the Kentucky vs MSU game. If you have to watch your team lose miserably, that's the way to do it!

Delia takes it all in.

Klancie and Jack have a lot of little bulldawgs in their family!

Great things about a skybox: you can take a nap whenever you want,

there are big plates of cookies just lying around (discovered by Jack),

and this skybox had a closet full of toys!
Thank you George and Rebecca - it was a great time!

First Halloween

This picture was taken Halloween night at Mike & Karyn's house. They had 46 trick or treaters, but were still able to keep Delia while we went to a play that night.

Delia's day care class going out to "Trunk or Treat." Kind of like tailgating, but with candy.

"Hey there, whatcha got in that bag?"

"I love riding in the Bye Bye Buggy!"
She flapped her arms and kicked the whole time they were riding around.

Trunk or Treat volunteers can decorate their cars if they want. This is the haunted hatchback, with Delia guarding the candy,

inspecting the candy,

trying to eat the candy,

and rolling in the candy.

There were some pretty cute costumes out that morning, including a little lamb,

Top Gun,

And an evil Dalmation.

Then it was back to work, where Darcy had a great Viking costume!

That evening we did some early trick or treating with John, Carmen, and Amelia - adorable!

"I need a candy bag, somebody!"

"I got a ballerina outfit on, and I can't even walk! That's crazy! Now gimme some candy!"

Tutu cute.

A hungry mouse!

Lots of drool = first tooth finally coming in at 9 1/2 months old!