Thanksgiving 2012

We were not planning on goiung home, but a few weeks before the holiday, I decided to go.  Steve had already exhausted his vacation days for the year, with our beach vacation last month and the time he wants to take off between Christmas and New Years.  So, it was just me and the girls.  I am still on leave from work and Carolyn is not yet confined to a school calendar, so why not?  We went back for 9 days.

I cannot say it is easy to fly with two kids by yourself, but thankfully, both girls were angels and made it pretty tolerable.  By now, Carolyn is pretty self sufficient on a flight: she watches movies and plays games on the I-pad, can get up and go to the bathroom by herself, and knows that her job is to help me all day.  Elizabeth is just a happy baby.  She was a little squirmy, but also loved cuddling and napping while I held her.  She cried, but probably not more than a minute combined during all of our flights. During our layover on the way back home, I let Carolyn pick out a special prize from a toy store in Minneapolis because she was such a big help to me on airport days.  She picked a beautiful pink princess cowboy hat.

The trip to Ohio was fun, relaxing, and full of family.

There were plenty of cuddles and hugs and napping with grandma Lynn and grandpa Mike.

There was lots of time with cousins, Addie and Emerson.  Carolyn especially loved her day out with Grandma Lynn when they went to Chuck E Cheese, the dollar store, and a movie.  She talks about it everytime she pulls out her beautiful new "hair" she got that day.  The living room dance contests were also fun.



We spent an afternoon with my friend, Kristin, and her kids.  I enjoyed the time together, but let's just say that Carolyn and CJ (both about the same age) did not get along well.  Carolyn, dominant and headstrong, was a bit overpowering to CJ.  At the end, when we were saying goodbye, her "double whammy" hug just about sent him over the edge.  She told me in the car, "Mom, I am just not very good with boys." 



Of course, there were the thanksgiving festivities, including the making of noodles the day before, watchign the parade in our jammies, and the feast and mayhem on Thanksgiving day.

There was a pizza party with all of my mom's cousins. 

(no pictures on my camera; post later if I get them from my mom)

There was a bowling date with Katy and family.

There was even a whirlwind trip to Cleveland to see the Altmans.  We enjoyed a breakfast with Scott, Char, Hayley and Travis; and an evening with Grandma Carol and Grandpa Harry.

And before we flew back home to Utah, we helped decorate my parents' Christmas tree.

I am so glad we made the trip.  We missed daddy, but enjoyed our time with family.