I know this Thanksgiving post is a month late, but i was overwhelmed with the job of downsizing the number of pictures to put on the blog. Well I finally figured out how to put a slide show together, so hopefully this will work. I still only put a few of the pictures taken on the slide show but hopefully this represents the trip. Here is the summary for Thanksgiving.
I hate for it to sound cliché, but Thanksgiving 2014 was the best Thanksgiving to date. Why was this particular Thanksgiving the best? Lots of reasons. Both boys sleep through the night AND in a bed so we don't have to lug a pack and play, special blankets, music makers, etc for bedtime. Traveling is easier because both boys watch and stay entertained with movies in the truck. Everyone eats and enjoys treats from the gas station and fast food on the road which means no bags of bottles, baby food, special snacks. But these glorious reasons are not why Thanksgiving 2014 was the best. Thanksgiving 2014 was the best because of family. This was the first year we saw ALL our family on BOTH sides.
I hate for it to sound cliché, but Thanksgiving 2014 was the best Thanksgiving to date. Why was this particular Thanksgiving the best? Lots of reasons. Both boys sleep through the night AND in a bed so we don't have to lug a pack and play, special blankets, music makers, etc for bedtime. Traveling is easier because both boys watch and stay entertained with movies in the truck. Everyone eats and enjoys treats from the gas station and fast food on the road which means no bags of bottles, baby food, special snacks. But these glorious reasons are not why Thanksgiving 2014 was the best. Thanksgiving 2014 was the best because of family. This was the first year we saw ALL our family on BOTH sides.
Not only did we see everyone, but all of our families are in a good place in life at the same time. My brother has a new view on life along with a new job and girlfriend. It was wonderful to see him with Jenny
sitting together on the couch stealing kisses every now and again. As always, the boys can't get enough of Uncle Jason. He lets them play games on his phone, throws the football, wrestles at their every demand and listens to each story the boys tell no matter how long it takes to share. He never tells 'them in a minute' or 'later'. He doesn't even mind when someone sits on his head. When Uncle Jason is around they have his full attention and the boys love every second.
My Uncle Ron and Linda, his girlfriend of 20+ years, joined us for dinner. My Uncle has wit and humor like no other. When he talks to me in person he typically has an ornery up to no good half smile on his face which always makes me smile back. Uncle Ron is a great historian with a wonderful memory and I love listening to his stories about how much a movie cost when he was 9 and the name of the ice cream store they bought chocolate covered cones from growing up. We don't get to see him very often so having Uncle Ron and Linda join us for Thanksgiving was an extra sweet treat.
John Panzie made an appearance after dinner. If anyone holds a father spot in my heart growing up in younger years it is John. John was my fathers friend who continued to help and take care of the family after my father passed away. John went on family vacations with us, gave me driving lessons in the elementary school parking lot, stood by the door and tried to look intimidating (for about 30 seconds) when I went to my first prom, cut up and sewed little pieces of his own sock on one of my Christmas formals when the sequences were rubbing my armpits and then sewed me into my wedding dress when several buttons fell off right before the wedding. John was a mailman by day and professional clown/magician by night. Growing up John performed magic at our birthday parities and made balloon animals for our friends. Later when I was old enough, I joined him in the world of magic as his magicians assistant. Together during my high school years we traveled with a road show on the weekends where he levitated me, cut me in 3 pieces and tied me up in a bad, chained me in a box and then we switched places. John is the life of the party, with a loud full of life genuine laugh and always has his balloon bag close by in case the occasion calls for balloon animals. And seriously, what occasion doesn't call for balloon animals? He ended up twisting balloons during my wedding reception and on Thanksgiving this year he twisted animals for my kids. It was a very special special moment for me. My family was complete.
Mom of course was there making all of these memories able to happen and just perfect. She set out the china, rearranged furniture, made sure our large group was able to sit and eat Thanksgiving dinner together at one table. She stocks up and plans meals especially for the boys according to their taste and preferences. She records their favorite tv shows for their visit and mans the WII fit controller as the boys skii, jump and flap their arms and much more. She sat at the kitchen table and helped Case put together one of the most complicated 5-7year leggo set known to man.
We spent a Christmas themed evening with Gma and Bpa as well. We used to spend Christmas Eve's at Gma's (Fran, Frick or Muck's) house growing up. Their house was full of Christmas themed music boxes, snow globes and dancing stuffed animals that sing when you push a button or walk in front of them. If you clapped loud enough, their entire house came to life. So when Cody and I saw a life sized dancing and singing Santa at Walmart, we couldn't resist. I know they have no room or purpose for that giant santa in their home, but in my mind, that enormous Santa totally embodied the kind of memories and fun we had at their house growing up and I wanted to get it for them. Renny helped put the the 5 foot something mechanical man together and mom, Renny and Cole were able to dance around with huge Santa before he was loaded up in the back of Cody's truck so we could sneak him on their front porch and surprise their at the door with song.
Cody's family set aside feuds and differences and came from all over Oklahoma and Arizona to have Thanksgiving dinner with Grandam Frankie who turns 90 this month. Cody grew up going to school, playing and sharing life with lots of cousins right around the corner. Life pulled them apart and his was the first time everyone has been together in the same room since….??? before Cody and I were together, which is 11 years. I never grew up with cousins so I don't understand the depth of a cousins bond, but i do know what a fun atmosphere it was at Grandma Frankies house that afternoon with at least a dozen children under 9 years old running around, playing chase, football, collecting sticks and just having fun together. The boys may not get to share a light hearted, free spirited experience with his cousins like that again, but I am glad they had an afternoon together.
Finally, the boys were able to spend the afternoon and have dinner with Nana. This was the first time we have been to Nana's house so every experience was new. Nana has bowls of overflowing candy everywhere and "Nana's house, Nana's rules" allow grandkids to eat as much candy as they like while visiting. The boys took full advantage of this sweet rule. Cole must have had at least 10 different candy bars, packets of m&m and other sweet treats. Nana home has an open door and while we were visiting, family, friends and neighbors stopped by to visit in the kitchen while the kids played. Case and Cole were also able to meet 2 more cousins at Nana's house. Nana lead the group of kids in a game of Simon says and helped construct a child pyramid. Case and his cousins were rolling all over the floors, chasing each other all around the house and jumping 100 times off her stairs into the sunken in living room, and finally went all out in a WWE wrestling style match up. This was the first time Case has ever wrestled like that and it was hilarious to see. Both kids locked arms around the other, head to head, spinning in circles and occasionally trying to clip a leg for a take down. The living room was a crazy wrestling ring filled with so much cheering, shouts and laughter the noise even drove the visiting adults out of the kitchen to root from the doorways. The boys opened up their Christmas presents with Nana and I haven't seen thier faces since because both boys are nose down in their new kindle and little scholar tablet gaming away all day every day. I am glad the boys were able to have this extended period of time with their Nana and look forward to more visits in the future.
Thanksgiving 2014 was a wonderfully complete family filled week that I am so grateful to have experienced.
My Uncle Ron and Linda, his girlfriend of 20+ years, joined us for dinner. My Uncle has wit and humor like no other. When he talks to me in person he typically has an ornery up to no good half smile on his face which always makes me smile back. Uncle Ron is a great historian with a wonderful memory and I love listening to his stories about how much a movie cost when he was 9 and the name of the ice cream store they bought chocolate covered cones from growing up. We don't get to see him very often so having Uncle Ron and Linda join us for Thanksgiving was an extra sweet treat.
John Panzie made an appearance after dinner. If anyone holds a father spot in my heart growing up in younger years it is John. John was my fathers friend who continued to help and take care of the family after my father passed away. John went on family vacations with us, gave me driving lessons in the elementary school parking lot, stood by the door and tried to look intimidating (for about 30 seconds) when I went to my first prom, cut up and sewed little pieces of his own sock on one of my Christmas formals when the sequences were rubbing my armpits and then sewed me into my wedding dress when several buttons fell off right before the wedding. John was a mailman by day and professional clown/magician by night. Growing up John performed magic at our birthday parities and made balloon animals for our friends. Later when I was old enough, I joined him in the world of magic as his magicians assistant. Together during my high school years we traveled with a road show on the weekends where he levitated me, cut me in 3 pieces and tied me up in a bad, chained me in a box and then we switched places. John is the life of the party, with a loud full of life genuine laugh and always has his balloon bag close by in case the occasion calls for balloon animals. And seriously, what occasion doesn't call for balloon animals? He ended up twisting balloons during my wedding reception and on Thanksgiving this year he twisted animals for my kids. It was a very special special moment for me. My family was complete.
Mom of course was there making all of these memories able to happen and just perfect. She set out the china, rearranged furniture, made sure our large group was able to sit and eat Thanksgiving dinner together at one table. She stocks up and plans meals especially for the boys according to their taste and preferences. She records their favorite tv shows for their visit and mans the WII fit controller as the boys skii, jump and flap their arms and much more. She sat at the kitchen table and helped Case put together one of the most complicated 5-7year leggo set known to man.
We spent a Christmas themed evening with Gma and Bpa as well. We used to spend Christmas Eve's at Gma's (Fran, Frick or Muck's) house growing up. Their house was full of Christmas themed music boxes, snow globes and dancing stuffed animals that sing when you push a button or walk in front of them. If you clapped loud enough, their entire house came to life. So when Cody and I saw a life sized dancing and singing Santa at Walmart, we couldn't resist. I know they have no room or purpose for that giant santa in their home, but in my mind, that enormous Santa totally embodied the kind of memories and fun we had at their house growing up and I wanted to get it for them. Renny helped put the the 5 foot something mechanical man together and mom, Renny and Cole were able to dance around with huge Santa before he was loaded up in the back of Cody's truck so we could sneak him on their front porch and surprise their at the door with song.
Cody's family set aside feuds and differences and came from all over Oklahoma and Arizona to have Thanksgiving dinner with Grandam Frankie who turns 90 this month. Cody grew up going to school, playing and sharing life with lots of cousins right around the corner. Life pulled them apart and his was the first time everyone has been together in the same room since….??? before Cody and I were together, which is 11 years. I never grew up with cousins so I don't understand the depth of a cousins bond, but i do know what a fun atmosphere it was at Grandma Frankies house that afternoon with at least a dozen children under 9 years old running around, playing chase, football, collecting sticks and just having fun together. The boys may not get to share a light hearted, free spirited experience with his cousins like that again, but I am glad they had an afternoon together.
Finally, the boys were able to spend the afternoon and have dinner with Nana. This was the first time we have been to Nana's house so every experience was new. Nana has bowls of overflowing candy everywhere and "Nana's house, Nana's rules" allow grandkids to eat as much candy as they like while visiting. The boys took full advantage of this sweet rule. Cole must have had at least 10 different candy bars, packets of m&m and other sweet treats. Nana home has an open door and while we were visiting, family, friends and neighbors stopped by to visit in the kitchen while the kids played. Case and Cole were also able to meet 2 more cousins at Nana's house. Nana lead the group of kids in a game of Simon says and helped construct a child pyramid. Case and his cousins were rolling all over the floors, chasing each other all around the house and jumping 100 times off her stairs into the sunken in living room, and finally went all out in a WWE wrestling style match up. This was the first time Case has ever wrestled like that and it was hilarious to see. Both kids locked arms around the other, head to head, spinning in circles and occasionally trying to clip a leg for a take down. The living room was a crazy wrestling ring filled with so much cheering, shouts and laughter the noise even drove the visiting adults out of the kitchen to root from the doorways. The boys opened up their Christmas presents with Nana and I haven't seen thier faces since because both boys are nose down in their new kindle and little scholar tablet gaming away all day every day. I am glad the boys were able to have this extended period of time with their Nana and look forward to more visits in the future.
Thanksgiving 2014 was a wonderfully complete family filled week that I am so grateful to have experienced.
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| Photo slideshow created with Smilebox |
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