Thanksgiving

We had such a fun Thanksgiving weekend with family.  I was so excited for the week before that I could hardly sleep.  I love when we get together!

Thanksgiving morning, these two were fighting over who got to sit on Aunt Michelle's lap.  Both were winners!

See, there's plenty of room for both!

Brian went running a couple of times with his brother, Matthew.  Matthew was also in St. George for Thanksgiving with his in-laws, the Peacocks (We set Matthew and Aubrey up several years ago and it stuck!)

This little girl loves her Aunt Michelle- and who doesn't?

Grandpa and Baby William.  

These two cousins (Caleb and Jaron) are a lot alike and have similar interests- mainly animals.  It was so fun to watch them play animals together.

The Chefs

It is so fun to cook alongside my beautiful daughters (I wish Kristen were here, too!)

Hannah hugs

Jus' chillin' in Grandpa's chair

Uncle Brian is pretty fun too.

Michelle's appetizer cheeseball

Eat your age in carrots, then cheeseball and crackers. (PS  I did NOT eat my age in carrots.  I would still be working on that!)

One of the first things the kids did on Thanksgiving morning was make sign-up sheets for clubs.  They covered the hall wall with sign-ups for every kind of club imaginable.  I don't think a club meeting was ever held, but they had fun preparing for them.  I am now an honorary member of a lot of cousin clubs.  I signed up for most of them.

Michelle's appetizer cheese ball.

Grandpa found a fun show on the Internet to entertain the little boys so we could cook.

One by one, the others joined him.

Like moths to a light, Grandpa soon had all the kids gathered around him.

The kids' table outside.  It was a beautiful day!  How many places in Utah can the kids table be outside on Thanksgiving day?  They loved it!

Lily made us all place cards

There's a better picture of the kids

What a feast!

The two little boys stayed inside with us.  This is a good picture of the rolls.  Those rolls Shonna made were so delicious!

Blake and Shonna's Four:  Lily, Gabe, Caleb, and Hannah

Brian and Michelle's Four:  Kenny, Gabby, Jaron, and William

Baby William figured he could get his Thanksgiving dinner later- and Mom did not disappoint.

The "Kens" enjoy a book.

Thanksgiving night, we played games.

On Friday morning, everyone went on a hike.  I love this picture! These kids were great hikers!

In the afternoon, we all went to the All-Abilities Park in St. George.  It was so fun!

We took way too many pictures!  I'll share a few:

Waiting in line to ride the train.

Kenny has the tendency to wander off.  After having a few scares, Michelle and Brian make sure he stays in his bear backpack (the tail is a "leash") so we can keep him near.

We had to wait awhile to ride the train.  The park was very busy that day.

The all-abilities park has a train with a conductor.  It is really fun.

These three felt so grown up as they were tall enough to ride in a seat without an adult.

The toys and apparatus for children there are unique and oh, so, fun!

This swing is fun.  Siblings can swing facing their baby sibling.

This is Hannah, but Kenny loved, loved, loved this slide.  He went on it over and over and over and over until his Daddy had to literally pick him and haul him away screaming so we could go home.  Unfortunately, all of the pictures we took of him were blurry.  I guess he went too fast!  Hannah loved it, too.  

It was such a fun place!  

That evening, after kids were in bed, Shonna, Michelle and I made little nativity sets.  It was fun and they turned out so cute.

They each made one, and I made one for Kristen and another one to send to a friend in Japan.

One of the highlights of the weekend for me was listening to Brian and Kenny sing "I Am a Child of God"  It touched my heart.

We missed the Mackrorys (they were hosting Jared's family in Wisconsin), but it was a perfect Thanksgiving for us!  Thank you for coming! We are so very grateful for all of our blessings- especially our family.