But this year was another story for sure and it was so good to see everyone and to celebrate with them. The girls were a bit.....lets just say.....challenging. Ellia was just too excited about all her cousins and really had a hard time eating, sleeping & listening due to all the excitement. Addie had an ear infection and wasn't too cranky. However, she did knock down the candelabras with burning candles on them and get into just about anything her tiny, little, grubby hands could get a hold of.
All said and done it was a fun time. I may be a bit sleep deprived but I did have a good time! (however, on our way home we did talk about how we will have 3 kids at next years festivities....yikes!)
Addie playing on the upstairs deck after we arrived
Ellia on the deck. The kids love this deck!!
The arrival gifts waiting for the rest of the family to arrive. Aunt Beth has gifts for everyone each year when they arrive. Even the kids.
We arrived at two in the afternoon and the chocolate fountain was going already. This thing runs day & night for 4 days. With re-stocking of things to dip it into several times a day.
The girls meeting Georgia for the first time. They were so enthralled with her. Ellia kept saying "baby Georgy"
Bill ironing the wax off the walls onto paper towels after Addie pushed over the candelabras that had burning candles on them. ( we insisted on cleaning the wax up off walls & floor even though Aunt Beth said to leave it cause her cleaning lady would get it on Monday)
Bill lounging downstairs during the parade Thanksgiving morning
and massaging his legs & feet at the same time
Leave it to Aunt Beth to find something to entertain the kids this year. She created an indoor ball pit made out of a pool. The little cousins all loved playing in it. It entertained them for the entire 3hr parade and before dinner.
Addie loved this thing!!!!
The girls playing while the boys got dressed
Cousin Connie with Nate & Ben in the ball pit
Ellia, Addie, Nate, Caden & Kate - How many kids can you fit in that pool??
Addie climbing the stairs with some balls from the ball pit. These stairs are a bit scary so I was right behind her.
Trying to get the girls to pose for a pre-dinner picture. Not the greatest as you can tell.
Cousin Sarah with her hubby Daren & newest family member Georgia! Isn't she the cutest??
Addies place setting at the table
View of one of the tables.
The tables all set for dinner. We have to use three 8ft tables & 3 highchairs to accommodate everyone. We've outgrown Aunt Beth & Uncle Harolds dinning room so we now use the formal living room for dinner.
Addie enjoying her turkey & fixins!
After dessert & coffee it's time for another tradition = balancing a spoon on your nose.
Cousin Connie here along with her "special" teeth she brought along for the weekend.
Bill - he has certain technique to this, but it works every time!
Cousin Sarah & Caleb - her protege this year. She holds the record for the number of spoons she can balance. Here she is with them on her eyes. Although Caleb did get 4 spoons this year on his eyes, nose and chin & I think beat her record!
Cousins Ryan and Jeff
Addie didn't care for pumpkin pie but she sure did like the cream puffs!!!
Christina was a foreign exchange student from Germany years ago with Bill and his family. She has stayed in contact over the years & made many trips to visit them again. She came for the holiday. Here she is having her 1st EVER bite of pumpkin pie. She liked it!
All the girl cousins (minus a few) dressed up in some of Aunt Beth's costumes, fur coats & old clothes and did a fashion show. I wore someones letter man's jacket from high school.
The annual signing of the "Thankful table cloth" This has been a tradition since 1989, we've had to sew another 2 table cloths onto the original. But it's always fun to see what people say each year, or see how kid's hand prints have changed. This is Bill and Daren signing.
Ahhh, another Thanksgiving in the books. Now the Christmas holidays officially begin!
Ellia on the deck. The kids love this deck!!
The arrival gifts waiting for the rest of the family to arrive. Aunt Beth has gifts for everyone each year when they arrive. Even the kids.
We arrived at two in the afternoon and the chocolate fountain was going already. This thing runs day & night for 4 days. With re-stocking of things to dip it into several times a day.
The girls meeting Georgia for the first time. They were so enthralled with her. Ellia kept saying "baby Georgy"
Bill ironing the wax off the walls onto paper towels after Addie pushed over the candelabras that had burning candles on them. ( we insisted on cleaning the wax up off walls & floor even though Aunt Beth said to leave it cause her cleaning lady would get it on Monday)
Bill lounging downstairs during the parade Thanksgiving morning
and massaging his legs & feet at the same time
Leave it to Aunt Beth to find something to entertain the kids this year. She created an indoor ball pit made out of a pool. The little cousins all loved playing in it. It entertained them for the entire 3hr parade and before dinner.
Addie loved this thing!!!!
The girls playing while the boys got dressed
Cousin Connie with Nate & Ben in the ball pit
Ellia, Addie, Nate, Caden & Kate - How many kids can you fit in that pool??
Aunt Beth always has activities, magazines, games etc for us all to do while we are here. This year the kids got to decorate an ornament. Here is Ellia decorating her snowman ornament.
Addie climbing the stairs with some balls from the ball pit. These stairs are a bit scary so I was right behind her.
Trying to get the girls to pose for a pre-dinner picture. Not the greatest as you can tell.
Cousin Sarah with her hubby Daren & newest family member Georgia! Isn't she the cutest??
Addies place setting at the table
View of one of the tables.
The tables all set for dinner. We have to use three 8ft tables & 3 highchairs to accommodate everyone. We've outgrown Aunt Beth & Uncle Harolds dinning room so we now use the formal living room for dinner.
Addie enjoying her turkey & fixins!
After dessert & coffee it's time for another tradition = balancing a spoon on your nose.
Cousin Connie here along with her "special" teeth she brought along for the weekend.
Bill - he has certain technique to this, but it works every time!
Cousin Sarah & Caleb - her protege this year. She holds the record for the number of spoons she can balance. Here she is with them on her eyes. Although Caleb did get 4 spoons this year on his eyes, nose and chin & I think beat her record!
Cousins Ryan and Jeff
Addie didn't care for pumpkin pie but she sure did like the cream puffs!!!
Christina was a foreign exchange student from Germany years ago with Bill and his family. She has stayed in contact over the years & made many trips to visit them again. She came for the holiday. Here she is having her 1st EVER bite of pumpkin pie. She liked it!
All the girl cousins (minus a few) dressed up in some of Aunt Beth's costumes, fur coats & old clothes and did a fashion show. I wore someones letter man's jacket from high school.
The annual signing of the "Thankful table cloth" This has been a tradition since 1989, we've had to sew another 2 table cloths onto the original. But it's always fun to see what people say each year, or see how kid's hand prints have changed. This is Bill and Daren signing.
Ahhh, another Thanksgiving in the books. Now the Christmas holidays officially begin!
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