A Thanksgiving to always remember...

I thought I would post about this Thanksgiving while i am still in the midst of it before I forget!  I wouldn't exactly describe it as the best, but maybe the most memorable.  We started out by getting to celebrate an early Xmas with the Sadlers and Lanoha's before heading to CA.  Below is an attempted pic of all the kids in their matching outfits that Aunt Kalley so kindly hand picked and bought for each kid... Low and behold, we have the one child who refused to wear the Xmas uniform and would not cooperate in any kind of picture with her cousins.  While I appreciate Ellie's independent sense of style to not follow a crowd, it can be extremely frustrating when it comes to family photos with cousins!  And I can't say this was the first time for this either, I'm jut hoping one day I will appreciate her strong will and stubbornness as part of who she becomes.

The girls and I arrived in CA on Monday and was welcomed by mid 80 degree temperatures.  M and E were so excited to see Papa and Gramma and all their cousins.  

In addition to Ellie's refusal of certain clothing, she will be seen with a bandaid on her forehead in every picture taken in the past 7 days because she refuses to take her bandaid off from bumping into a door, which had absolutely no need for a bandaid.  Also while being in CA, she demanded on wearing her new Summer dress for the entire first 3 days of our visit... I picked my battles wisely because 1) it was hotter weather then I had packed for and 2) it's a pretty cute outfit in my opinion:)

On the 2nd day, I came down with a stomach bug and thankfully had my dad to take care of me, and my mom to take care of the girls.  It was nice to be able to take it easy knowing we were all in good hands.  Meanwhile, back in CO, things were going south and the computer system crashed at the shop, whih resulted in too much work for Braden to leave behind.  So it was our first (and hopefully last) Thankgiving not together for the holiday:(

Over the next couple of days, the bug travelled to Connie, Gavin, Ayla, Zoey, Papa, gramma, and Christa... So far!  back in CO, it travelled through Yaya, Bompa, Pro Yaya, Uncle Steve, and now Braden.   Talk about feeling guilty for passing along a sickness!!!

The fun at the beach before the storm bug took everyone down!

Before it hit my mom, we took M and E to the park I grew up at.  They loved playing at "mommy's park' and seeing the houses I grew up in.  It was a fun day down memory lane!