Thanksgiving 2007

We had plans to stay in California for Thanksgiving this year and then sort of last minute, Joseph told me he thought it would be great for me to fly home to be with my family since I hadn't spent Thanksgiving with them for the last 4 years. Isn't he a great husband! I was very hesitant to go because I wanted to spend the holiday with him ( I felt like a bad wife leaving), but we purchased tickets and I flew out with the kids very early on Thanksgiving morning. We tried to work it out for Joe to fly in for a couple of days, but we couldn't quite get the timing figured to work, so he stayed and had Thanksgiving with the Ellis Family.

My dad picked us up from the airport in their new Pilot. It was a fun ride, and made me wish we had chosen a Pilot...for a few minutes, but then my practical self kicked in and I remembered how much cargo space the Odyssey has....but I am happy they have such a cute and sporty car to drive around.

One of my favorite parts was the way my kids went running to my dad the moment they saw him in SLC. It made my heart melt! Aaron ran to him and buried his head in my dad's shoulder for about 5 minutes. It was so cute! I know it made my dad so happy! He was grinning from ear to ear!

Because we arrive in SLC at 8:30 a.m. most of the meal was already prepared by the time we arrived in Spanish Fork. I made a salad and enjoyed catching up with all of my siblings and their spouses and children....and of course the little ones played and played and played!
After the meal I went to check out the after Thanksgiving ads and Aaron climbed on my back for a post meal cuddlle. He loves to nustle right up! He's my little bear cub! When he's not busy running here and there, he loves to be held and so I spend a good part of my day holding him. I don't mind, children are only babies for a brief moment, I love to enjoy every minute of it! Aaron was fascinated with my parent's shutters. There were many times during the week that he would walk over and open and shut them over and over. I think he loved seeing that he could manipulate something and see the cause and effect all because of his efforts.

Here's my bear cub again, taking a little rest on Grandpa's belly.The night of Thanksgiving was crazy! We had a full house. I think we figured that we had 16 people sleeping in the house. I slept with Aaron and Emily. Aaron had a very rough night! Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a deep sleeper. I need my sleep, I don't function well without it. Joseph functions very well on little sleep and so he is the one who gets up with our children when they wake in the middle of the night. None of them have ever taken a bottle, so when they were nursing he would bring them to me and I would feed them, but I think I even did that in my sleep. So, Aaron was having a rough night and I think everyone in the house knew it before me and I was sleeping right next to him. I tucked him under my arm and let him cry and went back to sleep. Emily couldn't stand the screaming so she picked him up and took him to the other room, only to have him scream hysterically and throw himself to the floor over and over again. I started feeling bad so I went and took him to the family room for a few minutes. He still kept screaming and wouldn't settle down. Emily, being the President of the Utah Student Nurses Association that she is :), went to Macey's at 3 a.m. to get some Infant Ibuprofen. They were closed and she still talked them into letting her in to buy it. Now don't you wish you could have a personal nurse like that. But, here's the catch, when she arrived home, I had tucked Aaron under my arm and let him cry it out until he fell asleep. I really can sleep through alot! Sorry Emily! My mom woke us up at 8:00 a.m. with "Wake up! We're going shopping in 15 minutes!" We both groaned and rolled out of bed.

We went to a Christmas store first and then to University Mall. I headed straight to Gymboree to get my early bird discount and to use my 20% off mailer. It was a mad house in there. The line was sooooo long because their computers went down. There were some really mad women. I dropped my 20% off coupon somewhere in the store but the clerk gave me the discount anyway so I ended up getting about 70% off the original price for the items. That's what I LOVE about Gymboree - eventually most things make it to sale price and you can get some great quality stuff for a reasonable price. Gymboree is one of those places where I would consider you CRAZY if you pay full price for anything. We didn't last too long shopping and headed to Zupas in Provo after for some lunch. I definitely recommed it, it was yummy! Thanks for treating us Mom!

While I did minimal shopping in Utah, Joe was in California going to town. My husband is a shopper! He will tell you himself. He LOVES a good deal and so of course he LOVES to shop on black Friday. When Aaron was crying at 6 a.m. I decided to call him even though it was 5 a.m. in California because I knew he would be at some early bird sale. Sure enough he was in Vacaville at the Nike Outlet among other stores. He did get some great deals. I am glad he is willing to brave the storm. Because I love my sleep, I have never gone to an early bird sale and I probably never will. When I called him later in the evening he was on his way to Roseville to do some more shopping at the Galleria. He was on a roll!

On Saturday part of the family went to the BYU vs. Utah game (and yes all is right in the world now) and part of us took the kids to the movie "Enchanted." It was a cute movie. The girls loved it, but we all agreed that the Susan Serandon was a little over the top as the witch and the dragon at the end. Abby has been up for 4 nights this week having nightmares about it. Why do they have to make the evil villain that evil, I mean, really it doesn't take that much! Now she is afraid of every witch and last night even started talking about being scared of Elpheba.

We ended the evening together again with dinner at Bajio. YUM! Green Chile Chicken Salad with Mango Salsa is divine!



After the movie, we stopped at the park near Mom and Dad's house for the kids to play.

My brother Scott always walks to church. Whenever we have stayed with them in St. George or whenever he visits he always walks to church. Abby LOVES my brother Scott. Last year when we stayed at the Pine Valley cabin Abby and Scott were walking to church and we tried to pick them up so they would be on time. Abby refused! They eventually got there. So whenever we are with them, this is a common sight you will see, Scott walking to church with the kids. On her way out the door Abby fell and tore a hole in her tights, so we had to go put socks on and drive her in tears to where Scott was so she could walk with him. She was determined to walk with Scott and when she reached him all was well!
On Sunday we went to Grandma Shawny's house to spend some time with the Lee family. Everyone was there except for Eliza and Casey and Melissa and Joseph of course. I think there were 44 people there that night. Grandma has 3 playrooms and many areas around the house dedicated to toys and games so there is always room for playing and fun. The girls had lots of fun playing with their cousins.

Thanks to Shawny for hosting everyone. It's quite the task when we all get together and she always provides the most delicious food and has such a welcome spirit in her home. We never want to leave. I know it takes alot or work to put all the pieces back together throughout the whole house when we do leave, so we appreciate it so much!

On Monday we got things ready to go home and Chad and Jenn came over for Family Home Evening. They taught the lesson and then after we all piled illegally (oops!) into the Pilot and went to see the Festival of Lights. I love experiencing the sights and sounds of Christmas with my children, I feel like a child again and it brings back so many wonderful memories!

On Saturday we did the Nativity at Mom and Dad's since we won't be together with everyone for Christmas. We decided to dress Aaron as a sheep and he loved it! This is the bunny costume that mom bought at Gap when Brynn was a baby. It makes for a great sheep costume when the ears are pinned up. On Tuesday morning Dad drove us to the airport to fly home. Joe was out of town in Calistoga for a work retreat, so we were sad to miss him when we arrived home, but we had fun reconnecting the next day when he arrived home! I love visiting with family. We feel really blessed to get to see them so much this month. Mom is going to stay with our kids while Joe and I go to Laguna Beach next week, and then Mom and Dad and Emily are coming to spend Christmas with us! Hooray for family!