Raising Shepherds: Giving Thanks...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We drove to California and spent a few days with Zach's Grandma Bonnie. Our time there is always enjoyable- we love being with Grandma Bonnie, we relax (as much as we can with four kids), usually get to see the extended family as well (Zach's great aunts and uncles), snack on all our favorite snacks that his Grandma has ready for us when we arrive, and she makes such yummy meals for us (which to me is a huge vacation because I don't have to lift a finger in the kitchen!)It's just nice to go, I don't know how else to explain it.

The drive this time was longer than usual- it should've taken us about five hours, and took us about six. Then on the way home it took about six and a half. Driving with an infant that can't drink a bottle from his carseat is a bummer for roadtrips. And it takes him about thirty minutes to finish a bottle, so it's quite the stop. But it allowed for the kids to get out and stretch their legs (and even get their scooters out and ride a bit for one stop...)

Thanksgiving was awesome- Grandma made the whole thing- and it was delicious. I'm used to very big gatherings for holidays, and this was just us. It was intimate, and I loved it. We sat around her dining room table, ate, laughed, and looked at some books that the kids had made about Thanksgiving at school. Jett came in about half way through. The kids had been napping before it was ready, and we couldn't get him to wake up. Rather than making him come in, we decided it would be best for all involved to wait until he was ready. Otherwise, he would've been quite the bear. The kids loved the cranberry sauce- kids after their Grandma Bonnie's heart. :) Sitting at that dining room table, wow- looking back I can just see everyone's faces. So many things to be thankful for. God is SOOOO good.


Dishing up Thanksgiving Dinner!

The Thanksgiving Dinner Table- all set and ready to go!

This was Jett for the first half of our feast- he was tired and there was no coaxing him to the table... he got up later and ate a little with us. :)

Our Thanksgiving Decorations- courtesy of Teda and Dane

Zach took Teda, Dane, and Jett to the park a few times while I stayed home with Grandma and the baby. They loved the parks, and it was a great thing to do to get their energy out- they were practically bouncing off Grandma's walls before park time. Hence, the trips to the parks...........

This was also the first time Grandma Bonnie got to meet Deklan. She got some great time to hold and cuddle him. :)

Grandma Bonnie meeting Deklan for the first time :)

We got to see Zach's aunt Claudia (Jett calls her Aunt Karate- how cute is that?! And Dane calls her Aunt Claudie- love it...) and Uncle Fred, and also Zach's Aunt Marge (Jett calls her Aunt Margin- too funny huh!) and Uncle Jim. I think Margin comes from him hearing us say Marge and Jim... put it together and you have Margin Jim! Then, whenever Dane is talking about Grandma Bonnie, he tends to call her GrandPa Bonnie. Not sure where that came from....

Meeting Uncle Fred and Aunt Claudia (aka by Jett, Aunt Karate)- hee hee

Zach with Aunt Claudia and Uncle Fred (Aunt Claudia has an amazing garden by the way! And they walk together 4 miles a day- how awesome is that! I want that to be Zach and I when we get older...)

OH, and we got some HUGE avocados from Marge and Elanors (another great aunt) avocado trees! So yummy- it's been avocado toast in the mornings and guacamole at night. Loving it! We hope to plant an avocado tree, a mango tree, and a honeycrisp apple tree in our backyard someday. And a garden too. You know, in all our spare time, that's our plan- HA! But one can dream right? No seriously, someday, we will do this! :)