Gobble-Gobble

Thanksgiving this year was memorable:

Went to California!

Took Ben to California for the first time!

Slept under the stars in the desert!

Celebrated Liz's Birthday!

Explored old haunts and talked about old hauntings!

Uncovered old photos and memories!

Got pneumonia!

Made new photos and memories!

So, one does not typically plan on being ill over a vacation period. I do always joke that I don't have time to get really sick...yeah, it's not as funny anymore. However, in spite of the obvious downfall of feeling like crap and having to make accommodations for my physical well-being, it may actually have been a good thing. Normally, my trips home are sprinkled generously with outings and friends and the people I am anticipating visiting with and reconnecting to. This time, I was unable to see most of the people on my list (okay, like 2 out of 10 got seen...). I didn't even see my Aunt Susan. Weird. Anyway, this created the opportunity for Ben and I and the kids to spend a lot more time than we likely would have at my parent's house. My traditional visits home are not actually spent much at the old homestead. Really, I think this was a good thing in the long run because with this being Ben's first visit, he didn't have to get too overwhelmed by the experience of "and this is my friend ______, and we used to ________, and we still like to _______, and she/he/they feel ________ about ________". Punctuated throughout by giggle filled memories. Oh, do NOT get me wrong :). This is an experience that will be had! I have just felt that perhaps this slower pace (that was thrust upon me by the likes of pneumonia), was actually more of an upper than a downer.

So, here are some of the pix we did get in our time in Cali:

Kaia plays dress-up at World Market with me & Lorna & Elise

The oranges Ben & I got from some of the groves in Riverside.

And...welcome to the Stout's. Can you help us push a car?

Tyler's car needed to be moved into my parents garage until it can be fixed. So, after eating our Thanksgiving abundance, Ben and Adam got ready to go. And, our little Elise was right on board with helping. After the car got going a bit too fast for her, she stopped and wiped her hands proudly (as if she had done all the work herself :).

Brennan sharing the list that he created before Thanksgiving dinner. He went through and asked everything what they are thankful for. He wrote down everyone's and then read the list during dinner. It was all his idea. Then, Ben and Kaia opted to eat on the patio since the table was pretty full. Brennan set up the table and was their waiter :).

I love family food pictures :). In the first pic, you can see Brennan going out to "wait" on Ben & Kaia. I love that in the second pic, Liz and Grandma are waiting patiently (-ish), while Adam and Tyler dig in :).

Elise waited at the table for us to serve Thanksgiving dinner for a good hour before we actually ate. It was hilarious (well, to me!). She kept saying "I ready! I ready! I ready, Mom! I ready, Gandma! I ready, Lorna!"

Me (with (as Jen noted) my plastered on "i'm not really this sick" smile) with Jason & his girlfriend Lisa when they came by the house to visit. It was pretty sweet because I got to know Lisa quite a bit better. And, I liked what I learned :)!

Ben and I went to lunch at Chili's (I know, you are all shocked!) with my good friend, Lorrie. What I love about Lorrie...you know, I love this about all my friends!...is that we can not see each other and we can still hang out when possible and not run out of things to say :). Bonus points with Lorrie: As an adult, our friendship is actually developing more now. If I seem surprised (can you feel surprise via typing?), it's because I think that I have often gotten stuck in the thinking that the friends I had growing up are my friends. And, they are. I am super, super, SUPER lucky with those that surround me. I am also discovering that I can make new friends and that those relationships can be just as valid and can reach me in different ways. Isn't that exciting?! I love thinking about all of the possibilities with new friends and old friends and in-betweener friends :). How fun!!!

On the way back, Ben did a good chunk of driving and we tried to set up the car to be more comfy for me and Elise. Thankfully, Adam & Liz graciously took Brennan and Kaia back up with them. This ended up being quite the effective birth control method for them :)...