Thanksgiving Weekend Party

This year we hosted Thanksgiving again but with the Stuart side of the family.  Charlie, JaNay and their children drove up from Texas.  Grandma, Grandpa, Tyler, the Hansens, and the Simkins drove down from Utah.  We were missing the Allred family, Jason, and Grandpa Hillam.  It was a full house with 8 adults and 17 children.  

Half of the family arrived on Wednesday so everyone just settled in before the rest of the crew came in on Thursday.  We spent Thursday morning preparing food, setting tables, watching the parade, and playing outside.  Unfortunately the weather happened to get really cold this week so our fun plans of swimming were cancelled.

We had our meal around 2:00 p.m. after almost starting the house and Grandma on fire.  Luckily everything turned out all right, Grandma's hair was only singed partly, and the food was delicious--rolls, tossed salad, raspberry salad, veggies and dip, mashed potatoes and gravy, turkey, deviled eggs, fresh cranberry sauce, apple pie, pumpkin pie, banana cream pie, chocolate cream pie, and pumpkin cheesecake.  (And I didn't even get any pictures of the tables or the food so you'll just have to take my word for it.)

One of the "Kid Tables"--Mathew, John, Sarah, Katelyn, McKell, Amelia, Zach, Clark

 That evening, we went to the movies.  The girls and moms saw "Tangled" and the boys and dads saw "Megamind."  Then it was off to bed for a fun Friday!  The kids slept everywhere and nobody stayed in the same place.  We had kids in beds, on the lovesac, on couches, on air mattresses, and on the floor.  I loved taking pictures of the kids all over the house. 

Joseph and Jake in the entryway hallway

Clark, Mathew, John, Tyler, and Zach in the living room

Amelia, Sarah, Katelyn and Joseph was here this night

Owen, Grandma, and Carlee asleep one night while we were at Harry Potter 7

 On Friday, we packed a lunch and headed out to Red Rock Canyon for some hiking and playing.  It was really cold but we had a great time.  It was my first time out there so I loved watching the kids hike the rocks and take off down the trails.

Clark, Zach, McKell, Sarah, Amelia, Katelyn, Jake, Joseph

John, Mathew, Tyler, Uncle Charlie, Tommy

Cute cousins

 After hiking, we headed to SoBe Ice Arena for some skating.  My kids haven't been ice skating since a weekend in Dallas over a year ago so they were pretty excited to go again.  There were some bleachers above so Grandma, Grandpa, and the little ones watched and laughed as we tumbled all over the ice and raced around the arena.  We all had a great time.

Jake, getting a little help from Tommy

Katelyn, getting a little help from Uncle Chuck

Plotting and planning a game of "Tag" and "Steal the Cap"

When we got home, we were talking about heating the pool for swimming the next day and mentioned that we had a sock stuck in the filter in the bottom of the pool in the deep end.  Marci asked how much we would give her if she dove down and got it out.  We settled on $20 and she entered the Polar Bear Swim.  She is crazy!  The water temperature was 51 degrees and the air temperature was in the 40's.  She dove down and couldn't get it so she swam back up, hyperventilating and taking another breath, and then dove back down.  This time she was successful and $20 richer.  Then she streaked for the house and a hot shower. 

Tyler is following suit while we all laughed at freezing Marci

 On Saturday we got up and played 2 games of laser tag.  It was so much fun and the kids loved playing against each other.  We then heated up the hot tub and grilled for our afternoon meal.  

Carlee and Megan

 

 

Sarah's feet were freezing on the pavement so she wore pop boxes for shoes

We are so thankful to everyone for driving down to spend Thanksgiving with us.  We had a great weekend and were sad that the time came to an end.  We are especially grateful this year for our extended family and that we live so close to them now.  I love that my children have cousins that are the same age.  It is so fun to watch them disappear for hours and just play together.  We are grateful for the gospel and the wonderful blessing of eternal families.  Happy Thanksgiving!