our thanksgiving, finally

Hello, friends. Sorry for my three (or four depending on how you're counting) day absence. Actually, I'm not super sorry because I've been tired, unpacking and (unsuccessfully) trying to get Jonah back on some sort of schedule. And frankly, I've needed the break. Thanksgiving away from home was GREAT, and I enjoyed having a few days out of our normal routine and with many open arms eager for some Jonah squeezes. He loved all the attention, and I loved getting to read the first half of a book (The Shack). Who knows when I'll get to read the second half, but it was relaxing while it lasted.

Here we are at Granny and Grandaddy's (Matt's parents) in Florence, SC.



There were a TON of people at Gerry and Debbie's, something like 30, so things were crazy, crowded, and wonderful. There were lots of decorations and even more food. There were 13 children with the oldest at the whopping age of EIGHT. I think we would have all lost our minds if Matt's parents hadn't had the ingenious idea of a bouncy castle, complete with tunnel and slide. Seriously, best idea ever. The kids played outside most of the day and had a blast. My guess is they slept very well Thursday night (except for Jonah, of course, because, well, he just doesn't do that). They had to be completely worn out.


Cousin Will (Matt's sister's youngest) enjoyed sliding...

... but was most fond of the dismount (sorry, no picture) in which he jumped off the landing platform onto the entrance platform, ricocheted off back into the landing platform, and then fell face first on the ground. Katherine posted a picture of it, but really, we should have gotten it on video. It was so funny. You know, funny since he didn't break his face or anything.

Cousin Grant (Kim's oldest) preferred the front somersault from the landing platform to the entrance. Safety Police, stop reading now. This is not a post for you.

This photo only gives the appearance of landing on his head. But I'm pretty sure that only happened once or twice.

And this is Cousin Abby. I don't really have anything to say about this photo except that she's so cute I can barely stand it. (Hey, Abby Lu Lu!).

Here are Nathaniel and Nicholas (Katherine's oldest two) with Grant and Abby. This may look like a nice, peaceful picture, but it really took a while to get them to hold still enough to snap this. Another favorite game was leaning forward on this retaining wall, making it topple over, and falling on your face.

Matt and Jonah mostly observed from a safe distance up on the deck.

But, eventually, true to my kind and gentle nature (cough) I kicked off all the little hoodlums and took Jonah in his very first bouncy castle.

We didn't do much bouncing, so much as we just hung on for dear life and tried not to fall over.

He wasn't so sure about it.

Then Daddy took him on the slide.

Dad had a blast.

Jonah - not so much.

And finally, we all went inside for our Thanksgiving lunch. Here are seven of the thirteen. Only three are girls. We are a boy-having family.

And what you've all been waiting for - what I had for lunch.

Sweet Caroline. Carbs topped with meat gravy. Does it get any better? And for dessert: cupcakes for the kids, apple pie, pumpkin pie, German chocolate cake, carrot cake, coconut pie, and pecan pie. There may have been more, but it's hard to see when you are in a food-induced coma. Our turkey was Cajun fried, and it is now a holiday tradition (three years running). So tasty.

And an equally appetizing picture for your viewing pleasure - Deac's lunch.

I know what you're thinking. "Patrice, did he throw up?"

Yes, friends, he did. Right on Granny's carpet. Our bad.

After lunch, Jonah got even more snuggles, this time from Aunt Katherine.

On Saturday (I think) we went for a walk in the neighborhood. Sweet South Carolina sunshine. Notice my jacket hanging on the stroller.

A palm tree or a palmetto tree or something. Some kind of tree we don't see much in NC. Thrilling, I know.

Then it was back to Granny and Grandaddy's for some reading time with Aunt Kim.

Matt's dad's family came on Saturday, and we had another ridiculously huge meal. This time dessert was Magic Cookie Bars and Sopapilla Cheesecake. Once we all recovered from eating way too much, we went outside for a family photo.

There were many other fun things packed into our four day holiday, including a Black Friday super-fun trip to Target, lots of football watching (not by me - don't be silly), and a Dirty Santa ornament exchange.

I loved, loved, loved spending time with family, being out of the house, and celebrating Jonah's first Thanksgiving.

We have MUCH to be thankful for, and meat-gravied carbs definitely make the list.