Climbing up to the Bromide Overlook

On our way back home to Ada after a Fort Worth Thanksgiving, we stopped at the Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge where we hiked up to Bromide Hill for the first time. We also enjoyed the fall colors.

Pablo and Granddaddy Do Frank Stella

When Granddaddy and Pablo visited the Frank Stella exhibit at Fort Worth's Modern Art Museum on my birthday, they began hatching an art plan, which they nourished during Pablo's visit later in the summer. The plan formally hatched to many admiriing oohs and aahs during half-time of the Cowboys game on Thanksgiving.

Giving Thanks

First, there was food.

Then, there were games.

On the Trinity Trail

When we got to Fort Worth for Thanksgiving, our first stop was the Trinity Trail in Benbrook, where we met up with Aunt Carolyn, Grandmom, John, Mary Ann, and her Spanish exchange student, Jorge (that's him, chauffering Grandmom). It's hard to believe we haven't taken a walk in this park before!

Time flies

Santa Stroll in Wintersmith Park

We kicked off the holiday season tonight with a 1.5 mile Santa Stroll" through the Trail of Lights at Wintersmith Park, at the end of which we watched the lighting of the 30-foot Christmas tree in front of Wintersmith Lodge, Ada's newest attraction.
After our walk, we ordered Lemonades and patatine fritte from the Italian food truck, "That's Amore," and while we were waiting, we talked to Bill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation.

Retrato familiar con abuela

Nina eyes

Nina scores, la abuela cheers

Nina had a fever and stayed home from school with la abuela on Friday, but she was good enough on Saturday to join her U-10 team for their season finale in Ardmore.

Nina's eighth goal of the season is para la abuela.

Pablo's season finale

We lost one game this season when Oscar was unable to play. We had all of our players on hand for the season finale, but we lost a shocker to the Lions, 3-1. How did that happen? I don't know. We were down 0-1 at halftime. Mari and Maria Rosa watched the whole game, but I missed the second half because Emilio has a basketball tip-off at 11:30. I wish we could play them again.

Nietos

Pablo at sunset

Sunday in the Myriad Botanical Gardens

After Saturday supper at The Golden Corral in Shawnee, we continued the birthday celebrations by checking in to the Hampton Inn and Suites in Bricktown for an evening of swimming in the indoor pool. The women had a room to themselves, as did the men. Sunday morning, the swimming continued and we dropped by the playground at the Myriad Botanical Gardens before rushing back to Ada for soccer games.

Pablo and Nina's 18th

Nine plus nine today.

For Pablo's ninth, we bought him tickets to see "Phantom of the Opera" at the Bass with me and Grandmother and Granddaddy. On his birthday, we gave him the "Phantom" soundtrack and a Would You Rather book for kids.

For Nina's ninth, we got her tickets to see the last night of Dolly Parton's "Pure and Simple" tour at the Winstar Casino with me. On her birthday, we gave her the "Pure and Simple" CD, the Coat of Many Colors DVD, and the Who is Michelle Obama? book she's been asking for.

Mom and Dad bought them Kindles, and we bought Kindle books to go on them: Who is Joan of Arc? and Who was Pablo Picasso? for Nina, and for Pablo: Romans Ruled: Fun poems for kids about Ancient Rome, and History for Kids: The Illustrated Lives of Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus. We had dinner at Chili's (la abuela's treat) and then I took the twins and Emilio to see Trolls. We dug it. Afterwards, we picked up the soundtrack CD and the neighborhood Mart.

Llegó la abuela

Y las cariocas han comenzado.

Dieciocho meses despues que la vimos por última vez, la abuela ha venido a visitarnos. El ambiente pólitico en el pais es horrendo ahora, debido a unas elecciónes catastróficas, pero estamos haciendo un esfuerzo todos para que no nos arruine esta oportunidad que tenemos de estar juntos. Nos ha ayudado que las escuelas públicas han estado cerradas en Ada por dos dias porque han declarado que el agua del pueblo no es saludable para el consumo humano (que irónico que eso pase en el mismo día que el pueblo de este pais ha elegido a un gobierno que tampoco es saludable para el ser humano).
Pero . . . tenemos familia con quien podemos compartir todo.

Pabi at large in the CNRA

On the drive back from the big game in Ardmore, Pabi and I rolled the windows down and took a detour through the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, where we saw lots of deer, made a couple of stops to throw rocks, sticks, and gravel in the water, and took a short hike over a hill to Pavillion Springs and the Lincoln Bridge.