Thanksgiving Weekend Joy!! (2017)

Thankful for my family

We got sick the week of Thanksgiving and it was a doozy..... so our fun filled, action packed weekend didn't turn out quite as I had planned.... it was even better :). Well, except for the sickness part.

I should have known I was getting sick because I didn't have the energy I usually have and the thought of cooking Thanksgiving dinner had me in tears. I have been working 60 hour weeks this month which is totally out of the norm, but my job is a whole other story for another time. New boss, new structure, very unhappy nurses. That about sums it up :(.

Anyway, we loaded up on cold medicine and drove out to Logandale Thanksgiving morning. I was worried that it would be rough, but in fact it was quite the opposite! Every family member lent a helping hand (including the kids) and the job of cooking a massive meal was actually really enjoyable! Nathan deep pitted the turkey and smoked the ham, Josh and Thomas (Briana's boyfriend) set up the tables and chairs outside, while Grandma Porter, my Mom, Briana, and I worked together in the kitchen :). Even Austin wanted to help as he always does when I am in the kitchen. The air was quite warm from that busy oven, but it barely matched the warmth radiating from our happy hearts :). I was thrilled to watch Austin learn from his Grandma how to make Great Grandma Wiegel's famous sweet potato casserole, and it made my heart sing to direct my little girl while she set the table all by herself :). We happily joked around with each other and together we made a wonderful feast! Our group was smaller than usual, but it was just the right amount of people to really get in a good conversation with everyone.

Helping Grandma in the kitchen and learning all the secrets to making the perfect sweet potato casserole!

Evie helped out a bit too....

But she was more interested in setting the table outside :).

Taking a break.....Setting the table is hard work!

At some point Evie didn't have her clothes on anymore. The kids are always off with the dogs and getting dirty at my parent's house so it didn't bother me. As long as they were having fun, I was happy. After the massive clean up effort, and Grandma and Grandpa Porter had gone home, we sat around in the living room talking and laughing. At some point Briana and I even attempted acro-yoga which is a lot harder than it sounds! haha! We headed for home late that night and Evie instantly fell asleep in the car. Meanwhile, Austin serenaded us with all sorts of made up stories from his sweet imagination and I felt so much peace. So much love.

It was a wonderful dinner.

Poor Grandma Porter needs hip surgery and my Mom will be getting her second  back surgery next week. It's so sad to see your loved ones get older....

Nate and Thomas are already buddies, which is really surprising if you know Nathan... He doesn't like many people.

Eating, talking, laughing....

.....and loving :).

The two love birds :). Sadie was working......

I look terrible in this picture but it was one of the few that I was actually in.

We spent the next three days in relaxation mode. We lived off of Thanksgiving leftovers and we rarely left the house, except for our evening walks to the park to let the kids run off all their energy before bed. We spent our days cuddling by the tree, playing games, and enjoying being home together as a family. It seems that we hardly get moments like that anymore because of our opposite work schedules. Time when Mom and Dad are both home together and we don't have errands to run or things to do to prep for the following week. Okay, I did spend one morning alone getting all my Christmas shopping done, but that was only for a couple hours and all Josh wanted to do was watch football anyway. Yay for black Friday!!! :)

Cuddling up with Dad and watching A Christmas Story :).

A scene from our fun sleepover :)

We also made sure to have a date night each night after we put the kids to bed. It was much needed and we didn't even have to leave the house! Our romantic life looks so different now that we have kids, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I think my favorite moment of the whole weekend was our slumber party with the kiddos :). We all slept downstairs together on the floor in front of the Christmas tree and had a Land Before Time Marathon! I can't believe how many of those movies have been made but even more than that, I couldn't believe how enthralled the kids were with those dinosaurs! They barely moved except to grab some more popcorn! Josh and I cuddled and quietly giggled together as we watched them. It was a beautiful reminder of how blessed we are. I left this weekend feeling overwhelmed with love for my family and realizing that Christmas gifts are great, but nothing could beat what we already have. So much love......

My whole world.

I forgot to mention that I took the kids to meet Santa! It was supposed to be a family event, but Josh woke up with stomach issues that Sunday morning and he couldn't leave the house. It is so frustrating to me that this always happens right when we are about to do something really fun as a family.... like the Gilcrease Orchard, or our last cabin stay at Mount Charleston. Sometimes it feels like he is doing it on purpose so he doesn't have to leave the house, but he swears it's legit. All I know is my life became so much lonelier after last December when his hemorrhagic colitis landed him in the hospital :(. But the show must go on! And Santa waits for no man! So I got the kids dressed up and we headed off to the Winter Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop as we have every year. The toys and crafts they have for the kids to play with while waiting for your turn in line is seriously genius and it has saved me every year since I seem to always fly solo on this venture. Evie had a blast building towers with the blocks and Austin was obsessed with shooting ducks with the bow and arrows! I could barely pull them away from their play long enough to meet Santa Clause! We also visited the aquarium and watched the mermaid do flips in the water!

Little Robin Hood

I love that she can quietly play by herself :).

Enjoying the fish!

It's not easy flying solo with these monkeys but I sure do love our adventures together :).

This was a momentous year because NOBODY CRIED!!! Yep, that's right! We actually got through an entire visit with Santa and nobody screamed for Mom or burst into tears! It's a Christmas miracle!! Austin asked Santa for a Darth Vader mask and light saber and Evie asked for a Yoda mask and light saber. It was a little unusual from the typical kid, but they are both obsessed with Star Wars and they cracked Santa up :). We brought home tacos to Dad and after naps we took our walk to the park. It wasn't until Austin fell down and then looked at me and said, "Mom did Santa see that?! I didn't even cry!" That I felt the smug satisfaction that I can really use this Santa thing to my advantage ;).

Walking hand in hand to see Santa Clause. Melt my heart!!!

Our first good picture with no tears!! YESSS!!!