We didn't waste one minute while visiting and were able to do SO MANY fun things with family and friends. Here are a few of the things we documented with pictures along the way:
The first night I was lucky enough to attend Breaking Dawn with my sisters.
It was a perfect start to our trip for me!
The Boise Wilsons were able to come down for the week of Thanksgiving also, so we were able to spend time together as a whole family.
We headed to Classic Skating Family Fun Center and the kids had a BLAST climbing in the jungle, riding scooters, playing arcade games and jumping in and on the bounce houses.
With us living on the east coast, these opportunities are rare, and it was one of the many things we were thankful for during this trip.
Dinner with the Madsens is always a must, and this time was just as wonderful as any.
Sadie and Thad played like old times while the adults chatted to our hearts' content. I should have taken more pictures, but I am mostly ticked that I didn't get any pictures - not even one - of the newest addition to the Madsen family. Baby Josie is to die for and I couldn't get enough of her sweet spirit each time we were with them. She made me all the more excited for our little guy to get here.
THANKSGIVING
Kicking off the holiday with the annual Thanksgiving Eve dinner with the Whitehouses!
We headed to Kanosh for the big day, and we were so thankful to be with all of the Christensens on that day. It was good food and even better company!
And, as you can see, it was a beautiful day!
The kids enjoyed the brisk weather by spending quite a bit of time on the trampoline.
The kids enjoyed the brisk weather by spending quite a bit of time on the trampoline.
A few nights later, we were able to have a feast with the Wilson fam. It's so much fun when we can all be together!
Ledoux.Kache.Caden.Cole.Rett.Laney.Avery.Carter.Macie.Tyson
Aleesia.Leah.Thad
What cute grandkids you have, Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Kent!
Wilson Women
After dinner, we started some hardcore dodge ball.
Brian and Birtley were the captains. They picked great teams and the game got pretty heated!
To settle the night down, and satisfy the children that could hardly participate in the heated dodge ball game, we played a nice, calm, good old fashioned game of Duck, Duck, Goose.
This is what things turn in to after spending an entire night together!
Things definitely did not slow down after the holiday ended!
Grandma Teresa and Grandpa Russ treated all of us to the Utes game.
We were thankful Ben could join us for the big event.
After Dad headed back to Connecticut, we had a few more things on our agenda.
Hogle Zoo with cousins and friends.
Thad and Leah were terrified of this huge elephant, so they wouldn't get in the picture with the kids...Brig and I had to join.
The kiddos in the rhino cave.
Sisters and a giraffe.
We wanted to spend lots of time with the Madsen girls...
So we decided to head to Classic once again.
They loved it!
Is Sadie a hottie or what?
I don't think I would mind if Thad took a major interest in this little gal a few years down the road. ;-)
Two gals separated by too many miles!
Thad wishing Aunt Kayci good luck before opening night of her Dance Company concert.
Awesome job, Aunt Kayci!
Haley joined me for the performance and we reminisced about how cool we were in high school.
To say Thad is obsessed with Kelli and Merit is an understatement.
This picture is a good depiction of why he loves them so much: They spoiled him with entertainment and attention every time we were with them!
Whenever I told him we were heading to Grandma Teresa's he ALWAYS asked if Kelli and Merit would be there. It was darling.
The Thad Burrito.
The walking Thad Burrito.
If we are in Utah, there is no way we can pass up a trip to Logan!
Lunch with Amy and Niki is always a must!
(picture was sadly taken post Niki)
The bulk of our time was spent with this awesome birthday girl and her mommy.
Bre threw a darling party for her darling two-year-old and Thad and I loved helping her out with the preparation. It doesn't matter what we do with these two, just as long as we're with them.
Brielle had some potty troubles and without underwear and tights on, there just wasn't enough bulk to hold her skirt up any longer...so yes, she is bare bum in the snow! What a funny girl, it didn't even phase her!
Cache Valley is such a gorgeous place!
Random Fun
We were so thankful to be able to stay with Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Kent!
Thad spent many moments at this counter and asked for toast hundreds of times. Grandma Cindy must have passed that gene to him. ;-)
Angie and Vess became parents!
Angie and Vess became parents!
This beautiful girl is Baby Harper and I just couldn't get enough of her!
She was already a pro at sucking the passifier and just as content as could be.
It made me all the more excited to have a bundle of my own so soon!
Girl's night!
Girl's night!
Red Robin is always fun and we were able to chat a lot about something (mom and family stuff) and nothing (TV shows, high school days, etc) all night. That is the perfect conversation in my eyes!
Fun with Grandma Teresa!
Fun with Grandma Teresa!
She always spoils us when we visit and Thad loved every time we got to be with her.
She took him to his first movie, and it was success...mostly because nobody else was in the theater and it didn't matter that he was roaming around for most of it!
Thad also had a sleep over with Grandma Teresa.
Seeing Christmas lights and checking out Santa's reindeer were the highlights of the night.
Seeing Christmas lights and checking out Santa's reindeer were the highlights of the night.
Girl's night of all girl's nights!
We spoiled ourselves and headed to Market Street for a fancy dinner.
We also exchanged our "Favorite Things" and it was such a fun thing to do together...I think we'll make it a tradition!
I love these gals so much and am so glad I got to spend so much time with each one of them.
Each of our relationships is different and awesome at the same time. I'm so thankful for sisters!
We are so thankful we could spend some of the holidays with the people we love most! These pictures only documented some of the wonderful times we had. A lot of leisure time was spent, which is a must on vaction. Renewing relationships and friendships is so refreshing.
It was a wonderful way to start our holiday season and spend time as a family before things change majorly in the next few weeks with the addition of another baby boy.
