Happy Thanksgiving 2009!!!

This Thanksgiving was unlike any we've ever had before, this was the first time that we ate out at a RESTAURANT instead of cooking the big meal! I thought this would be heaven on earth, but I have to admit I missed cooking all the Thanksgiving dishes! Actually I missed cooking WITH someone :) We had such a great time at Hilton Head, SC. Tyler and Anna and their family drove and met us too. We figured out that it is almost exactly the middle point between us because we each drove 5 hours to get there. What a BEAUTIFUL place! The island doesn't let businesses have their signs above the tree line and so it just looks like mostly trees and then tucked behind them are all the restaurants, stores, etc. And everything is so beautifully maintained. The beach was gorgeous, and the funnest part is that everyone rides bikes around the island and there are bike paths all over.

We got a call months ago from a time share company trying to sell us on a condo and they said they would give us a great deal for 3 nights and 4 days. I never try those things because I know that with the great deal you have to listen to a 90 minute presentation on their property and as Matt would put it, "that is as fun as getting kicked in the mouth." :) But we did it anyway and went to the presentation and were able to tell the no. In fact we ended up going to 2 presentations, a Marriott Vacation Club representative saw us at one of the touristy areas and gave us a deal that if we listened to their presentation then we could have $100 dining gift certificate, or free golf, or 10,000 Marriott reward points. Matt wasn't thrilled but he was gracious enough to humor me and go to the presentation. Let me tell you...the Marriott timeshares are NICE!!!! If we had a ton more money I would have been sold! :) Luckily reality kicked in and again we were able to say no after the presentation. It was fun to tour their property AND they had a play area for the kids to do crafts, play video games, etc. So the kids didn't mind that one :)

Thanksgiving dinner we ate at Red Fish. It was a very nice restaurant and very good food. Then we went back to the hotel and played games. The next day we took a fun bike ride around the island and stopped at the beach and then stopped at a fun cafe for lunch. And then of course we had to hit the fudge shop and get our sugar kick. We also went to see the light house on the island and the kids had a blast playing on their playground that had a very cool tree house. It was so fun to just hang out at the room later and let the kids play games and use their funny little imaginations together, and then we ordered pizza. Saturday the boys went golfing and the girls went to lunch and then swam at their indoor pool. That night we ate at a VERY nice restaurant thanks to the Marriott :) It was hard to see the weekend end and say our goodbyes. Our kids are at the perfect ages to play together, and they couldn't get enough of cute little Brayden. (As you can tell by the pictures where they would take turns passing the poor boy around :)

I love Thanksgiving and to hear all the kids think of to be thankful for....I had the kids each hold up 10 fingers and name something they are thankful for on each finger.
Here's Luke's list:

1. Mom
2. Dad
3. Brother and sister
4. playhouse
5. our house
6. our 3 pets (fish)
7. our family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins)
8. the beach
9. DS
10. Playstation

Here is Emma's list:

1. mom
2. dad
3. brothers
4. Jesus
5. food
6. my heart
7. my legs
8. gymnastics
9. friends
10. cousins

And I am thankful for so many things that this post could turn into it's own novel...here is my condensed list:

1. My husband
2. my kids
3. my parents and the way they raised me
4. my brothers and sisters
5. my wonderful in-laws
6. the Gospel
7. Jesus Christ
8. my ward
9. my home
10. Matt's job
11. that I can stay home with my kids
12. my health
13. exercise
14. sleep
15. food
16. food that I don't have to make
17. a clean house
18. when my kids help clean the house
19. Christmas lights
20. my kids teachers
21. Florida weather
22. my bed
23. my new shower head
24. the playhouse in our backyard
25. legos
26. when my kids say I love you without prompting :)
27. technology
28. cell phones
29. my calling in Young Womens
30. the leaders I work with in Young Womens
31. the Young Women in my ward!
32. vacations
33. blogs
34. phone calls with my mom
35. lounging in my pj's
36. Christmas
37. weekends
38. hot shower
39. the beach
40. my friends
41. the scriptures
42. naps
43. clean sheets
44. a clean car
45. family home evening
46. chocolate
47. my kids Halloween candy :)
48. airplanes
49. board games
50. when my kids are laughing and playing together and getting along!

THANKSGIVING DINNER....

Thanks Grandma for our Thanksgiving treat :)

It was cracking me up everytime Matt would turn and Emma would hang on for her dear life :) Of course she is very dramatic and made it look worse then it actually was :)

Gavin did a face plant right in the sand....it was too funny not to take a picture :) As he is crying I asked "Can I take a picture" and through his tears he says "Ya".

Ella wanted to make a human stack for a picture...it took us a few times and a few crashing towers but what a cute picture :)

We hate goodbyes!