Thanksgiving in Utah

  I was a little hesitant to get back in the car and drive to Utah for Thanksgiving and my heart desperately wanted to, but our last few trips to Utah were horrible (for the driving part) that I didn't know if I could do it.  Well, fortunately, I learned that things can change.  We had an amazing drive out, it literally took us 7.5  hours.  The babies didn't make a sound and we stopped once for our normal quick bathroom/gas break.  The way home was pretty much just as good, with one longer stop at the mall (Where the boys may or may not have disappeared for 30 minutes, grrr)

Ok, this is one loooong post, with way to many picture and they aren't in order.  I don't have the time or brain space right now to sort, order, and filter them, so I am just putting them all. 

It was so great being with everyone for Thanksgiving.  We enjoyed playing games, outings, and great good.   Here we are playing a charade game.

These two cuties are just about 2 months apart and they loved their grandpa this trip and aunt Ashley bought them matching dresses!

Cool teen table

One of the reasons there are so many pictures is that Madison and Megan took my phone and took a bunch of pictures.

Frosting gingerbread turkeys

Let's be honest 80% of the reason the kids like going to Utah is they get *almost* unregulated screen time.

This is Milo, Ashley's dog.  Noah took Milo on a walk (I sort of made him) and Noah stepped on his foot and broke it!  He isn't supposed to walk on it for a few month.  It is devastating... for everyone.

One of the best things to come out of my trip was a get together with my childhood friends.  My heart had been needing this for years and it turned out to be great therapy.

Me, Megan, Ali Katrina, and Niki.

Here is my facebook post about it: 

Today I got to spend 4 glorious hours with women I spent the greater part of my life with. These women mean the world to me. So much of who I am and so much of my heart belongs to them. I honestly had the best childhood and teenage years becasue of them.

We also played some card games.

We went and visited my grandparents.

ok - so the truth is this vacation wasn't what it was supposed to be.  We had a list of  things we wanted to do and people we wanted to see, i don't think we really did any of them.  Mostly because of this little one (Eve), she was diagnosed with croup a few days before we left and despite having the treatment she stayed sick and coughing the whole time.  We didn't feel comfortable taking her to indoor play places or seeing people.  So our one and only outing (that I did 3 times) was wheeler farm - good thing it is one of my favorite outings.

Noah asked me to take this same photo, apparently it is his favorite. 

Jason took all the kids on a milk shake run to iceberg.

We went bowling

And got new jammies

ok - Dane LOVED "my cousins".  I couldnt bear put him to bed at his bedtime becasue he just loved playing with them.  So he stayed up way to late.

It was a pretty great Thanksgiving.  Traveling with this crew is getting harder and a bigger sacrifice for everyone across the board, but I am grateful to all who make it happen (especially Jason and my mom).