Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was one filled with family and it was wonderful. Busy, but wonderful. We had 20 people under our roof for almost a week. We, okay it was mostly me, spent the last month preparing and planning for everyone's arrival. Considering all the people, things went rather smoothly, and hopefully everyone there was able to come out of the experience with some great memories.

The week started with the arrival of Sean and his family. It was nice to spend a day with just them. Ethan and Leia seemed to hit it off and spent a good part of the day playing together. Tuesday was the big day when everyone else was suppose to arrive. We had Nana, Papa and Todd with his family come in the evening and then the rest of the Southworth clan came on Wednesday morning. Wednesday was the last day of school for the kiddos where we were able to watch a little Thanksgiving program Ella's class put together and then signed the kids out early so we could get ready for family pictures.

This is the first time in years where all of the Southworths could be in one place, so we took advantage of that, hired a photographer and set out to get some family photos. I was surprised how well the kids hung in there, especially since most of them, and their parents, were pretty sleep deprived. It all worked out in the end (Ryan fed out two youngest Mountain Dew to perk them up) and hopefully we'll get some pretty awesome pictures.

Thursday was an even bigger day where the group would double around 4pm... I think it ended up being 45 people? We combined with the Huntingtons and had one big feast. The back porch was lined with tables, everyone pitched in with food, and set up. I was busy with preparations because I am a bit of a worry wart, but it seemed like everything turned out well. Ryan use to have Thanksgivings with the Huntington group as a child so it was kind of a blast to the past. Gratefully no food fight broke out, but we did have a bunch of muddy kids.

The rest of the week was pretty low key filled with many, many games, some shopping here and there, Wyatt's birthday celebration on Saturday and Audrey getting Whooping Cough. It was fabulous to see everyone and finally get to meet Wyatt and Jayden. Many tears were shed on Sunday when almost everyone left. I must admit the quietness felt incredibly strange.... but my kids made up for it today after school.

With all of the business, I was not able to take any pictures but am waiting for some from family. Funny... especially since we had professional ones taken.

Halloween

The kids were super excited to go trick or treating yesterday. After eating a Mummy dog the kids changed into their costumes and waited for the Huntingtons' arrival so the trick or treating could begin. Once a group picture was taken, they were off. I stayed home to man the house and catch up on some Pinterest. Such a hard job!

Our next door neighbor, the only other house right next to ours, really gets into the holiday. He had a mini haunted house in his garage along with projecting a movie for people to watch. We did decorate but not even close to that level.

The kids had fun and got what they were really after... CANDY!

 Ella as the cheerleader from a Wii dance game.           Jonathan as Jango Fett... Star Wars   

 Leia the dragon slayer but will protect the baby dragon.  Audrey as the baby dragon. She was so cute strutting around with her dragon feet.

 Group pictures of us with some of the Huntingtons... the rest of the group came a little later.