Thanksgiving

I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I just love the feeling of this holiday- especially this year.  I looked forward to it for several months.  It's been a long time since we had family in our home for Thanksgiving, so this was a special year.  It was to be our last hurrah with our family.  Michelle, Brian and their family came from Las Vegas and Shonna, Blake, and their family came from Logan to share the weekend.  It was the perfect celebration of gratitude right before we leave on our mission.  

Shonna and Blake came late on Tuesday night.  We spent the day on Wednesday cooking and preparing for the meal.  We also visited and played Ticket to Ride.  Michelle and Brian arrived later that evening.  Let the party begin!!

Last Thanksgiving, the Princes went to Brian's family in South Jordan.  Gabby lost her first tooth last Thanksgiving Day.  To keep up the tradition, she lost her first top tooth THIS Thanksgiving. Don't think it was the feast what did it, though!  I don't think she took one bite of the Thanksgiving feast- except the pumpkin pie!

Shonna is always in charge of setting the Thanksgiving table when she comes.  She loves to decorate and is very good at it.

Blake carved the turkey this year.  Ken was very glad to turn over the knife!

Lily Kay and Jaron- our four-year-olds

Hannah Rose loved the feast.  She was very hungry so she got a headstart.

Cousins are the best!

Delicious food

The kid's table was out on the deck. I remember sitting at the cousins/kids table when I was a kid.  It makes for good fun.

The babies loved the dinner.  Little Kenny.

Hannah

Oh yeah!  We'd better take a picture before we're done!

After dinner, the Barbies came out.

Later we went to the park.  It was a cold day, but beautiful.  I think it's the first time I've gone out on a Thanksgiving day that I hosted for many years.  I loved it.  

Later Gabby was hungry so feasted on carrots and crackers.  Each to their own, I guess!

On Friday, while others were hitting the Black Friday sales, we went to Zions National Park.  

The picnic was very cold, but the food was good!  Turkey sandwiches, of course, made by Brian and Blake.

Waiting for the shuttle bus.  The kids were so excited to ride.

On the shuttle bus

It was cold with some snow.

It was such a beautiful day!

This sign was not up now, but often is in the summer

We went on a couple of short hikes.  First up The Narrows a ways.

Silly kids

Shonna Kay and Michelle

I thought it might be fun for Gabby and Caleb to take a picture of us.  So first I asked Gabby to take one.  I think she did a pretty good job:

Then I gave the camera/phone to Caleb and asked him to take a picture.  I had to post the entire series of pictures he took.  He just clicked and clicked and clicked and, as you'll see at the end, I had to wrestle the phone from him.  Funny little dude:

At first, all we get are his fingers

Fighting for the phone

He was clicking away right up until I got it from him.

Back on the shuttle

We saw many deer.  I caught this one in a private moment. Oops!

The Three Patriarchs in front of the Three Patriarchs

On Saturday morning, we hired a babysitter and went to the temple.

It was cold and the wind had blown during the night, so the temple parking lot was blanketed with beautiful leaves.

After the session at the St. George temple.

In the afternoon, Michelle and Shonna helped me sort through stuff from our store room.  We then took a trunk full of stuff to DI.

The guys tended the kids while we went to DI, then shopping.  Each of the girls found great deals on boots and shoes and a few other Christmas gifts.  We had such a fun time.  We went to the vinyl store and bought some stuff and came home and mounted it on my bedroom wall.  

Ken and I got this temple picture for each other for Christmas.  Since we won't be around, we put it on our wall last week.

That evening, after kids were in bed, we had a blast playing Boxers or Briefs.  What a fun group!

Everyone left on Sunday morning.  The older kids- Caleb and Gabby- were very sad that Grandma and Grandpa are leaving.  It was hard to say goodbye, but it was so nice to be together.  We sure missed Kristen and Jared and family, though.  We were glad they had a nice Thanksgiving in Wisconsin.  We thought that would be the last we'd see of any of our family for a year and a half, but then Shonna and Blake cooked up a plan.  They are going to come down from Logan and kidnap us from the MTC and spend the weekend with us (We're done with classes on Friday and don't fly out until Monday).  So we'll get to see their family one more time, and that makes me happy.  I guess I'll have to blog about that from Japan!!!  Ahh!  It's almost time.  Pray for us!!

We are most grateful for all of our many blessings- especially family.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!!