THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING

So, we didn't go shopping on Black Friday. Here's what we did do. The boys caught a few fish. Ben caught his first one ever! It was a little guy, but he didn't care!

Will got the biggest catch of the day.

We walked over to the other side of the lake and enjoyed ourself in the hay field.

There were some rolled hay bales at the far side of the field.

Amelia is rarely content to be left out of what the boys are doing.

Running and jumping here was a favorite activity of the day.

Cecily was sick and pretty much looked just like this all day.

I thought her feet looked awfully cute sticking out.

Grandma Betty planned a craft for the grandkids to do. It was a snowman made out of marshmallows.

This craft was just the kind of thing that Calvin is good at and enjoys.

Calvin's snow-guy turned out quite nice!

Everyone finished. The snowmen didn't want to stand up very straight.

Ah! Calvin ate his head!

And last, but not least, the adult ladies made a craft. It was a pinecone mistletoe.

THANKSGIVING DAY

This is the lake next to the cabin where Peter's parents live. Beautiful, hm? This is the cabin. :-)

Peter's dad made this round table from plywood on two saw-horses so there would be space enough for everyone. It worked well and it's charming, don't you think?

Everyone!!

Peter's sister Leslie and her husband, John

Peter's brother, Mitchell and his wife, Tessa and children Ethan and Emma

Peter's sister, Anna and her husband, Walter and children Holden and Webber

Playing in the leaves

We had very moderate weather and got to enjoy a lot of outside playtime!

The kids table for the feast.

All ready to eat.

The adult table.

Playing on the swing set.

Samuel "racing" Uncle Mitch, who is a runner, up the driveway.

Peter has a cousin who has 4 boys also, who came to visit in the late afternoon. There were 9 little boys total and here they are playing some football with the uncles.

Notice that the "woods" in the background are actually bamboo. We love that bamboo forest!

DAY 3

The second day of our trip was spent driving the remaining distance to the home of Peter's parents in Byhalia, Mississippi. We arrived around the middle of the day. In the afternoon Peter and the boys enjoyed being outside and spending time with Peter's dad, Jerry. I went shopping with Peter's mom, Betty, for the last of the Thanksgiving supplies. The third day was Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. I took some pictures of the kids enjoying being at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I spent most of the day baking pies (2 apple and 1 chocolate cream) and sweet potato casserole.

The pictures are a little out of order. They begin with bathtime at the end of the day:

Playing with daddy

tough boxer

Jerry took Peter and the boys to see a miniature version of the Vietnam Memorial that had been erected in Holly Springs, MS.

Amelia loved this little slide. More than anything, she loved that red ball. It stayed right where you see it, ALL day.

Can't let go of the ball!

Ben climbed very high in a tree and was really excited that he was big enough to do it.

Out on the lake with Grandpa Jerry

Peter took the boys out on the lake in shifts.

The only catch of this day was by Peter, but Sam enjoyed holding and looking at it.

A spider that the kids were thrilled with. :-)

DAY 1

The first night of our trip we traveled as far as Nashville, TN (actually just south of Nashville in Spring Hill). Peter's brother Mitchell and his family live there and we spent the night at their house on our way south. They had had a daughter since the last time we saw them so it was wonderful to be able to meet her. This picture is of her with our Cecily. She is Emma Kathleen and she is 10 months old. Peter and his brother enjoyed watching a football game together and we all played with the kids and enjoyed good conversation. It was a very nice evening.

This is my sister-in-law, Tessa with Emma.


Sam is reading to Will and Cal and their cousin Ethan.

Calvin and Ethan are pretty close in age and they shared this little table at the meals.

Millie and Emma :-)

SAM AND CECILY

We finally have a child that's old enough to safely hold the baby. He's enjoying that privilege a lot!!