Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving week with much to be thankful for. Grant and I had a fun kickoff to Thanksgiving week seeing John Crist, a comedian I really like, in Tyler on Saturday night. Grant gave me tickets for my birthday - so thoughtful! It was so nice to have a date night with G at the farm. 

I headed back to Dallas on Sunday so that Cadie and I could do a college visit at DBU on Monday. Our first college visit! They did a wonderful tour and it was fun to also learn more about the college that has meant so much to DD over the years. Cadie liked the upperclassmen dorms and the campus, but isn't sure they have a major that matches what she is interested in. We had a nice afternoon together exploring DBU!

Then we all headed to the farm to host family Thanksgiving. A big new difference this year was DD and Big John / Ace and Susie's new house. DD and Big John, Ace and Susie, Whitney and Daniel and their boys all stayed at the new house. It was done just in time!

We had a great group that included my parents, Ron and Nicki; Jerry, Susan, Lauren and Lauren's boyfriend Zach; Susan's brother John; DD and Big John; Monty Hamm; Daniel, Whitney, Wesbrooke and Whitaker; Ace and Susie; Preston and Parker; Jess; Myles Hamm and his girlfriend Erin; and of course the 5 of us. The weather was gorgeous, the food bountiful, and the games flowing (Dixie was a hit). Our Thanksgiving celebrations included:

• Wednesday evening party at the garden with a baked potato bar, "Semi-annual Semi-Talented Show", and campfire. Talents included songs (Papa sang "There's a hole in the bottom of the sea"), drawings (Zach drew SpongeBob Square Pants in under 60 seconds), Thanksgiving jokes by DD, a flea circus by Big John, craft time with Susie (adorable fire starters), and comedy with Erin. A silly and fun evening!
• Thursday Hamm Football game that was fun, until it got a bit heated and ended early.
• Thanksgiving Feast
• Games and Football

We headed back to Dallas on Saturday and had a great time wrapping up the week with the Snider Plaza tree lighting on Sunday afternoon. It was a super chilly day and due to the Snider Plaza remodeling the tree over the fountain wasn't there which was disappointed. But we all saw friends and had a nice time and I convinced Cadie and Colton to get a pic with Santa with me. JR was not willing.

Disney for Colton's 12th Birthday

By Colton Walsh, "Disney was so much fun and I would love to go again. This trip was my birthday present this year. I got picked up early from school on Halloween and we went to the airport. Cadie and Ranger did not want to miss Halloween so they came on Saturday. We got to Orlando at around 8 Pm there time and we met Christy Rome at the airport then we drove to our hotel called Saratoga springs. We had a 2-bedroom, 2 bathroom condo with a bed for everyone. In the morning we left for Holly wood studios. My top 3 rides there were Rise, Tower of Terror, and Rock'n Roller Coaster. Mom and Dad left early to pick up Cadie and Ranger from the air port while Christy and I headed to magic kingdom. We left magic kingdom at 10-ish then went to the hotel. In the morning we went to Epcot with the whole family this time. My top 3 rides there were Guardians of the Galaxy, Ratittuie, and Test Track. We headed back to the hotel but Cadie and Ranger went to Studios, then to Kingdom. In the morning we went to The Magic Kingdom. My top 3 rides there were Tron, Pirates, and Space mountain. I also got Baymax Micky ears. For the first time we all went to the hotel together. On the morning of our last day we packed up then went to the Animal Kingdom. My favorite rides there were Everest, Navi river adventure, and Kilimanjaro safaris (Honorable Mention: Banshee Flying). Then we headed to the air port and said goodbye to Disney also dad did a magic trick for the security guards. We got home at 11 and I went straight to bed. And that concludes our Disney trip. THE END."

The weather was perfect, the hotel was so nice and roomy, and Christy made sure we had fast passes and reservations for all the best rides! It was an amazing trip to Disney while we still have all our babies still in the nest. Probably our last one and it was a great one!