A Team Week 62: Thanksgiving

This week we spent the first few days at home and then we headed up north to my parents' house to celebrate Thanksgiving.

On Monday, Alex & Tom Dryer watched our boys since Eric and I had to work and our boy's daycare was closed for the day.  From the sounds of it they had a blast playing with Addison and Kennedy for the day...Asher didn't stop talking about all the fun he had the whole drive home and was VERY excited that they had TWO drum sets at their house!

3 Videos: Fun with Daddy

On Tuesday night the boys had fun playing with Daddy while I made dinner and packed for our weekend ahead.  They enjoyed rides around the house in the laundry basket and a trip to the ice cream store on our blanket pontoon boat! :)

The drive up to mom and dad's house went very well.  Avery slept most of the way there and although Asher only slept at the very end, he was very good the entire trip.  When we arrived at the house though, we received an unwelcome surprise: our little man was burning up!  I checked Avery's temperature and it was over 104!  For the third time in less than 2 months Avery was sick! :(  We tried to sleep in our room with him in his crib, but quickly realized that wasn't going to work.  Instead Avery and I "slept" on the mattress in the basement bedroom and Eric slept upstairs so that he would be near Asher.  It was a rough night and morning came too quickly or not quick enough depending on how you look at it.  When we woke that morning though it was Thanksgiving and despite more illness, we have SOOOOO much to be thankful for!

We enjoyed a lazy morning at home and then headed over to Aunt Carol's house for our holiday feast...in costume!  Yes, I said costume!  This year, our thanksgiving dinner was a costume party.  I was told that we needed to dress up in something Thanksgiving related.  What I wasn't told was that basically everyone else at the party was going to be dressed up as either an indian or a pilgrim.  We chose a much less traditional route.  Since our boys already have superhero costumes from previous halloweens, I added some strings to their costumes and they were balloons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Eric and I were their (matching) handlers.

Bath time at Grandma & Papa's.  Grandma said the bath toys were all dirty, so instead she pulled out a bunch of kitchen utensils and containers.  :)

Eric and Avery (our little sicko) snuggling up and watching the Dog Show together.

Poor Little Guy :(

Asher and Grandma at Aunt Carol's (she was a deer)

Eric and Avery in their costumes.

Me flying my adorable little balloon.

This was Avery's first thanksgiving being old enough to take part in the feast.  Unfortunately though his sickness took away his appetite and he mostly just played with his food.

Jackie, Keith, Uncle Joe, Aunt Carol & Cindy all dressed up.

The entire dressed up gang.

After lunch Grandma took Avery to go and take a little nap in the back room.  I think she was enjoying the snuggles!

Avery wasn't real keen on eating any real food for Thanksgiving, but when Eric offered him some ice cream in the evening, he was game!

Mother-Daughter: Aunt Carol & Cindy

I stole this picture from Cindy...too cute not to share...it was posted as "The first Pilgrim Selfie!"  :P

On Friday, we enjoyed another lazy morning at the house and then just before lunch we headed to the local tree farm with Dad to cut down our Christmas Tree for the year.

Me, Asher, Dad, Avery & Emma off to find our tree.

Eric and Asher searching for just the right one!

Avery enjoying his time in the country.

We found it!

Watching Daddy cut down our tree.

Asher gets in on the action!

Video: Asher Cuts the Tree with Daddy

Papa with the boys while Daddy gets the van.

Family photo with our tree.

After we got back home with our tree, we all enjoyed some down time and then headed out to Powers in the evening for dinner with Aunt Bonnie, Rachel, Brandon & Caroline...the new family member to be!

Avery walking in Daddy's shoes.

Bill (aka Dad) & Little Bill

All camoed out in his hat, pants and Papa's boots.

Avery loved sitting in Grandma & Papa's rocking chair, but he had to work super hard to get into it with his books.  He'd put his book on the seat and then crawl up on top.  Then he would have to try to back up on the seat to get the book out from under him without falling off the chair.  It took a while, but he was determined and eventually was successful.

On Saturday it was the BIG GAME.  It was also our last full day in the U.P.  In the late morning, Papa came home from hunting to take Asher on the Gator ride he'd been dying to go on.  Then, shortly after, the Michigan-Ohio State game began and we were joined by my high school BFF and family to catch up and watch it together.  It was so nice to see her and her family and nice to have some company during the game to take a little of the pain from the loss away!

Asher & Papa on the Gator

Val and her crew with Me, Avery & Eric (Asher had gone on a walk with Mom)

We ended our weekend by leaving the boys with Mom and Dad on Saturday night so that Eric and I could go out to a movie.  Then on Sunday after church and lunch in Stephenson it was time for us to head back home...another great family weekend in the books!

Asher & Avery coloring with Grandma

Avery & Asher eating our Sunday night "dinner"...the Culver's we had promised we'd get on our way up Friday night.

Avery checking out the new giant tree in our living room Sunday night.

Avery very excited by the Christmas lights adorning the basement wall1