Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving this year was at Grammy and GrampC's (my parents)...

Don't they look great? LOL

Dave and I get a couple shot.

And another wonderful couple - my brother Matt and Sister-in-law Rana.

Here's the happy family!

Then I made the mistake of leaving my camera where Matt could get a hold of it.  That's dangerous because you never know what kind of pictures you'll find on the camera later....

Yes that would be his fungus feet.  Paybacks Matt... told you I'd post it for everyone to see!

And here's a much more pleasant picture... Matt and my niece Avery.

And their family - minus Adrina who was with her Dad.

So much to be thankful for... including GG's health.  She missed Thanksgiving because she was held over at the hospital.

We Are Thankful

Every year we alternate where we spend Thanksgiving and Christmas - this year Thanksgiving was with Dave's Family (which means his family has Christmas next year).  So we headed to Los Angeles to spend it with Tata and Abuela. 

While we were expecting not to make the 6-7 hour (non-holiday weekend) drive at about 3am Thanksgiving morning - we managed to get an early start on Wednesday since we both got off work early and I found a killer hotel deal in Bakersfield.  It was nice to break up our trip - even if we were driving with the crazies.

So we pulled in to Tata and Abuela's on Thanksgiving afternoon and we were able to help out setting up and preparing everything. It was a smaller gathering this year. 

That would be our little Jedi  - we brought his "light saber" to LA with us (just the cardboard wrapping tube) but when we got to the hotel and he whacked it against a light post, the light saber came apart.  Tata fixed it with some red duct tape.  Drew is a happy Jedi.

Or is he an Angry Bird Star Wars nut?

I didn't get many pictures expecting to see all the family again on Friday, so the only other Thanksgiving picture I got was Drew with his cousins.

L-R: Drew, Summer, Henry

The kids played so hard together and all had a great time!  I think this was the first year everyone played together as well as they did.  Here's to many years to come!

Dessert anyone?

On Saturday just before we left, we managed to meet up with Tata at the park to get some of Drew's wiggles out.
L-R: Tata, Daddy, Drew

Abuela went to visit family in Mexico after Thanksgiving dinner.  I wish I'd have gotten more pictures, but I guess I was too busy being Thankful for the family we were surrounded by.

So Much to Be Thankful For...

We have so much to be thankful for this year.... and our Thanksgiving festivities started early this year, with a lunchtime feast put on by Drew's preschool.

I love handprint artwork!  This one says...

This isn't just a turkey,

as you can plainly see.

I made it with my own two hands

which are part of me.

It's made with lots of love especially to say,

I hope you have a very 

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

After school we took Drew out for a special afternoon and evening - which I'll save for later blogs this week - and then on Thursday we went to my Mom and Dad's new house for Thanksgiving Dinner.

My niece Kady and I - she was having fun with Drew's Mobigo.  My sister Lisa was home sick.

The Family - L-R: Uncle Doug, Grandma, Dave, Kent (Rana's Dad), Matt

And we were blessed to spend the holiday with my cousin Jodi!

Family shot

The Newlyweds freshly returned from their honeymoon

GG and her Great-Grandchildren, Kady and Drew

Drew and Adrina posing for the camera

And guess who likes black olive fingertips?  Kady!

It was a great night and it was wonderful to spend it with the family. 

We were even insane enough to go Black Friday shopping - but we skipped the midnight sales, and ventured out at 4:30am and were wrapped up by 8:30 for breakfast (with an extra stop for a present for Daddy and Drew).

VIDEO: Get Your Gobble On

Here's a little song from Drew to help you get your gobble on tomorrow...



And here's an encore... of another song...



I love the songs he comes home singing from school!

Highs and Lows in SoCal

We managed to have a really good time in Southern California despite a few tummy ailments.  For those that aren't my "friends" on Facebook, Drew had a blow-out on the drive down to LA (followed by my trying to clean his clothes/car seat in the hotel bathroom, only to find that the sink was clogged and maintenance needed to be called).  Then the tummy troubles spread to me, and now Dave picked it up.

But like I said, we did find some rays of sunshine on an otherwise troubling trip.  On Black Friday we did walk around the mall (I wanted to use an awesome coupon I had for a book), and Drew managed to meet with Santa.  There was no line.  And I mean NO line - we walked right up to Santa and took a few bootlegged photos.

We also met up with Tata and Abuela (Dave's Dad and step-Mom) for some lunch and afternoon fun.  Drew played with is cousins for a long time and we helped decorate Tata and Abuela's front yard.

L-R: Drew, Tata, Henry

Joanna and Drew

That evening we went back to the hotel and had some drinks at the Managers Reception at the Embassy Suites (one of the best things about staying there!).  Although I think someone had too much juice cocktails....

The next morning after breakfast we stopped by Tata and Abuelas again, to say hello and drive over to Griffith Park, where we've tried to go for the past three visits to SoCal, but never make it due to time, weather or other excuse.

It was awesome!  We enjoyed the train and a picnic, while Drew wrestled with Tata and wore himself out (Tata too I'm sure).

Then it was time for the L.O.N.G. drive home.  There was a big accident at the Harris Ranch exit on I5, although we experienced dead stopped traffic MUCH further back (just north of the 58 all the way to 198).  And we had a milestone.  Because I5 was a parking lot, and Drew had to go, but was remembered our frustration with his blowout on the way down - he was reluctant to go in the pull-up we did have on him this time around.

Instead he peed in a cup!  Yes a proud moment for this Mom & Pop, whose kid won't pee in anything that isn't porcelain - yes we're raising a potty snob.  We'd have opened the door and let him out on the center divide to go, except it was pouring rain.  We finally made it home around 9:30pm and happily went to bed.

Turkey Day in LA

This year it was Thanksgiving with Dave's family (we alternate each year which family gets Thanksgiving or Christmas, and this year it was Thanksgiving with his side).  So we made the drive to Los Angeles with everyone and their mother on Wednesday after Drew's preschool lunch.  Finally making it to the hotel around 8pm, we settled in for the night.

On Thanksgiving Day, we weren't due at his Dad's house until 4pm, so we hit a few stores in during the day and got some early Christmas shopping done, as well as a nap for Mommy and Drew - who were both hit with a stomach bug.  But we did make it to Thanksgiving dinner and enjoyed a great time with the family.  Drew really enjoyed playing with his cousins - on Yolanda's side.

Drew was pretty excited to play catch with Daddy.

L-R: Drew, Dani (a neighbor girl of one of Drew's cousins), Jasmine & Henry

The big fun of the night, blowing up balloons just to pop them.  L-R: Jasmine, Drew, Dani & Abuela (Yolanda)

And here's a video to show how into it they were



Drew was quite proud of himself right after that video... you know for actually popping a balloon.

25 Reasons To Be Thankful

Since today is Thanksgiving, I thought it would be appropriate to explain why we are thankful this year.  To make things interesting I will give you 25 reasons - one for every day so far this month.  I will note who is thankful for what.

1. For my room - Drew
2. My family and friends near and far - Brenda
3. Good Health - Dave
4. For rabbits when they're scary - Drew
5. Having employment in an economy like this - Brenda & Dave
6. For when I'm eating chicken and french fries - Drew
7. Feeling financially ok and not too stressed - Brenda
8. Being on good softball teams - Dave
9. For seeing Adrina, Kady, Uncle Matt, seeing a mailbox and Blues Clues (get all that?) - Drew
10. All the traveling I get to do around the country and the friends I'm able to meet up with while away - Brenda
11. My wife still cooking me food - Dave
12. Staying here and eating apples, pizza with sauce and pepperonis - Drew
13. For the internet.  What would I really do with out it? - Brenda
14. Cars that take us from Point A to Point B - Dave
15. For spinners - Drew
16. Coffee! - Brenda
17. Playing with my toys and putting them away - Drew
18. My iPhone - Dave
19. That Drew is so smart, healthy and happy - Brenda
20. For Thanksgiving and closing the blinds and opening them - Drew
21. That my boy is growing up well - Dave
22. The roof over our heads - Brenda
23. Wiggles at Grammy and GrampC's - Drew
24. We found a great preschool for Drew (and that he's not beating kids up as much) - Brenda
25. We were able to travel and see family and friends - Dave

Here are a few pictures of Drew as a "turkey".  He created his little tail feathers the other day when he was home sick.

Thankful

Last week Drew's teacher mentioned she had the kids talk about what they are Thankful for. Drew's response: Disneyland.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thanksgiving Leftovers

We hope everyone had their fill of turkey family and friends. I know our Thanksgiving was extra special this year. Not only did we celebrate with family at my Aunt Connie and Uncle Doug's house, but it was extra special because Uncle Doug was here to share it with us. (He was recently hospitalized in critical condition).

This year Thanksgiving was with my family - Aunt Connie, and Uncle Doug, my Grandma (GG) and Charles, my Parents (Grammy & GrampC), my Sister & her daughter and boyfriend (Auntie Lisa, Kady & Jimmy), and my brother (Uncle Matt).

I started the day by baking my Great-Grandma Myrt's famous cinnamon rolls. While they weren't "hers" they weren't bad for my first first try. I think I may attempt them for Christmas.

Afterward we headed over to Grammy & GrampC's for a little visiting before heading over for our dinner - scheduled to be served at 4pm.

Here are some shots of our family - of course we really tried to get the pictures of the cousins.

GrampC & Drew playing football

Drew & Kady - for the couch shot

3 Generations - Grandma, Mom, & Me


Family Shot

Thankful this Thanksgiving

We are thankful for things year round, but today marks a day to stop and take note of it. Today the three of us want to recognize the things we are thankful for:

Brenda

• Dave and I both have great jobs and are doing well
• Drew is a healthy, happy and thriving little boy
  
• We have food on the table, and a roof over our heads
• I have been able to spend time with friends both near and far
  
• We have an awesome family - immediate and extended, and they're always there when we need something, even if it's just a hug or words of encouragement
• We live in a safe neighborhood
• I have my health, and I'm back to running again
• For Dave, and reminding me to enjoy the fun things in life
  

Dave

• Brenda, Drew and I are happy and healthy
• For my son on making me feel like a kid again and realizing that fatherhood is the best feeling on earth
  
• Having a very supportive family and wonderful friends that are always there for us
  
• Brenda and I still having our jobs
• We have a roof over our heads, food on the table and vehicles that get us to our destinations
  
• The opportunities we had to get away as a family and make memories
• For my wife on supporting me in everything I do and being an incredible mommy
  

Drew

• I have good friends at day care
• Ms. Stephanie loves me
• My Grammy & GrampC, Grandma & Grandpa, Tata & Abuela, and GG & Charles
• My Mommy doesn't yell at me too much
• My Daddy plays with me a lot
• Getting out of Time Out
  
• I get to see Red Hands when we go in the car (the don't walk signs at stoplights)
• Every once in a while you can still see purple flowers
• Snacks