thanksgiving

part of how you fit over 30 people in one house

grandpa even had to help with the "shows" the kids put on.

The only shot I have of Casey's family. This as their first trip here. We had them fooled, they thought we were "normal" people. We will see if they ever come back.

thanksgiving chaos

Fenway was worn out.

So was Jason, but then we are used to him sleeping anywhere. Notice the earphones.

Syd's turn to fly.

Our whole gang. Thanks to Casey.

2 kinds of cards being played, rook and cribbage, both family traditions.

Joe tossing Blake in the air, he loves it!

Literally, we climb the walls! or at least doorways.

Andrew didn't like a curl in his hair. We had it cut a few days later.

our home chaos

Scenes from our house for Thanksgiving. This is Doug's brother Dennis, he is almost Matthew's twin. or as Steph says, like Doug and Matthew squished together.

Riley, my cousin Casey's daughter from Sparta, just joined in with the other girls like she'd always been with them.

Planning session for Black Friday.

Sliding down the steps...

Baby girl turns 17!

Stephanie turned 17 on November 20th. AS always our house was busy. Doug's brothers and spouse's came the friday before to visit with us for the holidays, so we waited until Sunday to celebrate her day. The house was full and fun. She decided to try to show everyone who was the strongest. She carried several of us up our steps. Here is one of her with me on her back. She did get cory up on her back but only was able to hop a little...

Junior's birthday

I wanted this post to be seperate from the last one. Joe Stephen Lynn Jr's birthday is also on October 31st. He just turned 12. In the picture are his dad, Joe, my brother, my dad, and my Uncle Bud. He came over early, we had cupcakes, opened presents then we all ate lots of food.

I love having an "open" house on that night. Friends and family bring food and we have a lot of fun seeing everyone.

trunk or treat, dressing up

Trunk or Treat at church this year went well. I decided to set up a photo station and took some pictures, printed them off, and gave them away. It was fun, and a learning experience. Next year have at least 2 cameras and an assistant, and a tripod, and maybe a light! Oh well kids had a great time.

Next on to that day everyone dresses up. Can I say Halloween?
Due to issues with the day, we had a "no scary costume" rule at our house. Our year, and some areas of our lives just demand we look at this day with a different light than before. We recently had a study at church that also made us look at it differently. I stil enjoy dressing up. I like seeing friends. I like candy. So we will still have fun on October 31st, no matter what it is labeled!

Doug and I were the clowns, as if you didn't know that. Blake is the very cute monkey. The foggy picture is what my front yard looked like. The kids, and Uncle Bud, had fun with the fog machines. The very cute baby is Ellen Ola's latest baby to take care of. His name is Rain, I think, (sorry Ellen), and he fell asleep just as I was holding him. Ellen and her husband are taking care of him and his brother for a while.

missing evette

Feel free not to read this. I am writing for therapy for me.
Blake is sleeping in my bed, next to "unke doug", and our dog fenway. He dropped his pacifier down the crack at the head of the bed, then snuggled up next to me. It broke my heart. That moment just made me so aware, even headed toward sleep, that his mom was not here. Not here to see him grow. Not here to hold him at night. Not here to see him tonight in his monkey costume.
Another baby was here tonight. Ellen's newest addition. I was talking to him and he was smiling the smile babies do when they really see you in the beginning. Evette could make all my babies smile faster than anyone else. She would say they liked her big teeth. I think they just liked her voice and her smile. Like most of us, she would pitch her voice higher and just use a different voice with babies. I remember her doing that not long ago with Blake. even though he was 18 months, no longer a little baby. She would talk to him and make him smile all over. She loved all her babies. But watching him respond to her and move toward her so happy to have her there....
It made me remember she isn't here. I have tried hard not to think. Not to remember. When i go down that path I stop my brain and change lanes. I couldn't do that this time, and it hurts so much.
At school today her 2 girls both rec'd awards. I took pictures and didn't think. I hugged and congratulated them, but didn't think. Sydney kept me by her side while giving candy to all those who came, not letting me leave her to greet my guest in my home. I knew she was needy and I knew why, but it didn't make me think and hurt.
Sometimes I miss her for me. I think about something she would do or say or would be doing now. But I stop my head. My heart still hurts.

caught up briefly

Ok so I know I posted a lot tonight. We have been busy! I have had mid-terms. Annette and Olivia had birthdays. Annette didn't get to go ice skating but she got a family reunion for hers. I worked forever on a dvd video for a friends memorial service. I think I know a little about it but the program just wouldn't cooperate. Thanks to Aaron Johnson I was able to get it done. The family reunion was very hard for me to go to. I am always glad to see my cousins. It was just a real reminder of who is missing for us. Sorry David about getting your shirt wet. Nice to have another shoulder.

last tree shot

This was made after the reunion in the same tree the older pictures were made in. The leaves haven't changed color as much yet in Sparta.

Casey's girls. They look so much like she did when she was little.

Aunt Kibby's kids and grandkids.

family reunion

Another group shot, this one is Uncle Dohmer's children and grandkids. I think I spelled it right.

This is Casey and her son. Can you tell they are related?

This is the two Blakes. The big Blake is Blake Lynn. Evette helped take care of him when he was in Vanderbilt Children's hospital when he was very young.

Lynn Family reunion 2008

we wore our shirts from the cattle sale so everyone could identify us belonging to "Bobby Lynn", like they can't look at me and know I AM DEFINITLY A LYNN JUST BY LOOKING! As you see my cousins you will know what i mean!

Dad got excited answering a question!

I think this is all the cousins that were present of this generation, 1st cousins i believe.

the goofy one, in the middle ,was my teacher at one time! So were 2 other ones in that row.

Tree shots

As you can tell, we've been taking shots up in the tree's for several years. I had to dig to find the ones of Evette and Annette from many years ago. The one of Amber and blake was just a few days ago but the leaves are already mostly gone.