Birthday WEEK

Having the majority of the family birthdays within 7 days of each other can be really efficient, but at the same time, the kids can feel kind of lost.  I promised that they'll have a "friend party" eventually, after Thanksgiving.  It's just a busy time of year.  

For Bevan, we went out to dinner with Beverly and Lloyd and came back for ice cream cake and presents.  Simple.  

For the boys, we did a combined birthday at the children's museum at Thanksgiving Point.  We spent all day there!  We left for lunch time (also with Beverly and Lloyd) and then went BACK.  I just couldn't pull them out of there.  I was thinking they were getting too old for it, but I was very wrong.  I found myself searching for a "comfortable" seat to spend an hour or two, but found nothing.  I guess to keep people focused on supervising their kids, they make it hard on the parents.  "Hard" as in rigid and uncomfortable!  We finally left after dark.  Anna spent the night at Beverly and Lloyd's for her present and they had a wonderful time shoe shopping and eating Panda Express.  I guess everyone got what they wanted!  I love all my birthday kiddos.

Thanksgiving x 2

What would be better than having thanksgiving dinner with your family?  Having 2 thanksgiving dinners with your family!  Sharon was coming into town and organized a family dinner on Sunday before thanksgiving.  We had almost everybody (we missed you, Monica)!  It was such a great meal with everything thanksgiving should have, but tasting 10x better.  Thanks, John, for hosting all of us.  

So, what did we do for actual thanksgiving?  Barbecue brisket at the cabin!  We had a few families who were also on their "off year" and had a great meal.  Brisket, mac'n cheese, fried green beans, rolls, coleslaw, and birthday cake.  There wasn't any snow for sledding, but a couple of hikes did us all good.  We really south's do this every year!