Thanksgiving Day!

After going to bed around 4 a.m., I woke up at 6:45 Thanksgiving morning to make it back over to my mom's house with the new rolls and my camera. I left George and Jude sleeping and hopped in the car arriving at my mom's house to this:

Uh, don't you guys have a race in, like, 30 minutes?

Most everyone was already up and getting ready for our annual 5k/10k Thanksgiving Day race Ashburn hosts. I didn't run it this year (pregnant!) and Jason has a hurt ankle, so we went along to take pictures and cheer everyone on. I was planning on running it a month or so ago, but I've been pretty sick lately and haven't done much running, so I decided to forgo it this year.

Amy pinning the tag/sensor onto Mom.

Mason was showing his spirit as he sprinted around the house. :)

Jason, Chad, Amy, Stephen, Laura, Mom and Glenn ready to go out the door.

Mom, Laura, Stephen and Amy at the starting line, waiting for the race to start. They were all running the 5k. Chad and Glenn were off somewhere warming up.

Before the race. I actually made it into a photo!

There were so many people that even a couple minutes after the starting shot was fired, people were still standing around waiting for room to run.

Jason and I walked to the finish line just down the road and waited for our family to come.

Here comes Chad! He was at the front of the pack (he was probably the 10th or so person to cross the finish line and was first in his age-group)! His time was a little over 19 minutes.

Next was Laura. She snuck past us while I was taking pictures of a family friend, so I didn't get any action shots. She came in 5th in her age group! I think she was 25 minutes, give or take.

I think Glenn crossed the finish line here, too, and probably passed us while we were talking to Laura. Sorry, Glenn!

And then Stephen!

And here comes Mom and Amy who ran together the whole time. Great job, ladies!

A little tired after the race.

Laura doing a make-up action shot. Looking good, Laura!

Stephen and Glenn walking back from the finish line.

Glenn's turn to do a make-up action shot.


After the race, I drove back over to the Glass's house to shower and help with last-minute food prep.

Jude had a good time watching movies and hanging out with Pop Pop.

Brothers busy at work. George whipped up some gravy for the turkey while Nate made his famous loaded mashed potatoes. Probably the best mashed potatoes I've ever had. You can't go wrong with bacon, Gruyere cheese, chives, butter and sour cream.

Family started arriving, so we all caravaned over to Jen and Eric's house for the feast!

George had the very important job of carving the turkeys--which were amazing, by the way! I am NOT a turkey fan, never have been, but this turkey was moist and flavorful and tender. Shows you what a good 3-day brine can do for a bird.

Getting ready...

Some of George's aunts and uncles (plus a family friend on the right side) enjoying some appetizers before the big meal.

Finally digging in! Eric's sister and her husband and their son are on the far end with George's good family friend Billy and his wife on the right (Nate is sandwiched in between).

Jen, Eric and Callie are on the end with Pei, her husband A.J.  and daughter Aliyah on the left. Billy's father is the man on the closest end with of course George's dad on the right.

George's mom is on the left with Bryce and most of her brothers and sisters around the table.

Jude thought the ham was excellent, but was too excited to play with Callie and Bryce's toys to do much eating.

The food was amazing! There was way too much (as usual) so everyone was able to take home lots of leftovers.

Jude and George enjoying some time together after the meal.

And of course it wouldn't be a real meal without some fishy crackers. Jude and Aliyah had a good time playing together.


After letting our food settle a bit, George, Jude and I drove to Potomac, MD to have dessert with my family and my Simmons cousins.

Jude had fallen asleep in the car after missing his nap and was none too pleased to be awake.

I finally got to meet my cousin's finance Jessica. She is very nice and sweet and I think they make a beautiful couple!

Amy and Aunt Linda.

Bethany, Jason and Chad enjoying some pie. We had probably 15 pies/cakes/desserts!

Stephen and Amy.

George trying to keep Jude happy and entertained.

Pie! Amy made this apple one and it turned out delicious!

Poor Milo! Jude followed this kitty around the whole time we were there, loving on him and giving him hugs.

We put on a movie for Jude, but he was much more interested in playing with people like cousin Kailey than watching cartoons.

And eating ice. He loves ice. He played in the cooler for probably 20 minutes eating ice. Whatever keeps him happy, right?

"Ice, Mommy!"

Mason thought he would get in on the ice action, too.

Jude and Uncle Chad hanging out.

I was planning on doing some Black Friday toy shopping at Toys 'R Us that night but before we left, we played some games with the family.

Jude was excited he got to play with the Backgammon set.

The rest of us played Rummikub--a favorite of mine, but the bane of George's existence. He was a good sport and helped me play.

We were all pretty tired, so George drove me and Jude and Chad back to the Glass's house so we could put Jude to bed and Chad and I headed out to do some Black Friday at Toys 'R Us. However, when we pulled up there was a line more than a city block long outside the store. Apparently they were only allowing so many people to be inside the store at a time. I decided it wasn't worth it and we turned around and went home to sleep. (I ended up going on Friday and got almost everything I wanted anyway.)

It was a fun, busy, tiring, fabulous, full, food-filled day. I was sad Lance wasn't there, but glad he got to spend it with people he loves in Salt Lake. I am so grateful for my family and for the love and support they give to me. We are truly blessed to have so many people who love and care about us and we are lucky we get to see them as often as we do.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lance's Thanksgiving in Salt Lake City

After spending a few days with Uncle Pete and Aunt Jessica in Michigan, Lance spent his most of his Thanksgiving break in Utah with his dad. 

First they went to BYU in Provo and toured a lot of Scott's favorite places there.

I'm honestly not too sure where this is--it's obviously on campus but since we graduated they have built several new buildings. It looks like one of the student halls/cafeterias for the dorms. Scott lived in Heleman Halls when he was a freshman.

 

While they were in the Cougar Eat in the WILK, they ran into some people Lance knew! Sarah and Sergio Sanchez with their kids Ethan, Elli and Kate and Catalina Garcia with her newest little boy (we've never met him). They lived here in Family Housing with us in Charlottesville and Lance did Pre-School with Ethan and Catalina's daughter Sara. It's a small world! Apparently they recognized Lance and came over to say Hi.

While at BYU, Lance hiked the 'Y' with his dad. I've probably done this 5 or 6 times and used to LOVE to hike it when I was at BYU.

Scott said Lance hiked the whole thing by himself, minus being carried one switchback on the way down because Scott didn't want to stop and rest. Good job, Lance!

Such a pretty view!

On the 'Y'.

On the path up to the 'Y'.

Lance and Scott at the top!

Scott even took Lance to BYU's huge library to look around. One of my favorite things about this library is that 15 minutes before it closes each night it will play "When the Saints Go Marching In" VERY loud over the speakers (I'm assuming to wake up any students that may have fallen asleep while studying) and a famous song that they play on the "Pork, the other white meat" commercials. I can't remember the name, but it's a great song. Love it!

I think this is on the 5th floor right when you come off the stairs--it's the Science floor.

Lance is sitting at the desk Scott always used to study. I think it's in the Science section because it was quieter up there and this desk was usually available.

On campus. This picture makes me laugh.

Apparently this vehicle broke a speed record this year...

...and on Lance's Birthday! (You can see it on the sign above Lance's head.)

The rest of the week was spent up in Salt Lake City visiting Scott's grandparents.

This is Grandma Ruth, Scott's mom's mom. Scott's mom passed away when he was 17 from a long battle with cancer. Grandma Ruth didn't want her picture taken, so Scott was sneaking and took this one. Lance loved playing with her little chihuahua.

Grandpa Bob and Kari were in Salt Lake as well, so Lance got to spend some good time with them as well. Happy Birthday, Grandpa Bob!

And a trip to Salt Lake would not be complete without visiting Temple Square.

Scott and Lance in front of the Christus at the Visitor's Center.

Outside the Temple.

Lance at the Visitor's Center.

I like this picture a lot.

Temple Square.

One of Lance's favorite things about the trip was staying at a hotel that had a pool! This boy is a fish!

Here is Grandma Joyce, Grandpa Bob's mom. She is sweet and amazing, one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

And here is Lance, Bob and Scott with Grandpa Cal. Can I just tell you how much I really love Grandpa Cal and Grandma Joyce? They are amazing, wonderful people and Lance is very lucky to be able to know them and spend this time with them.

Grandpa Bob with Scott and Lance.

 Yeah, I'm not really sure where this picture was taken or what all the toilets were doing there, but I thought it was funny. Nice face, Lance!

I'm glad Lance got to have a fun Thanksgiving in Utah with some of his family he doesn't get to see as often as he would like. We sure missed him here in Virginia!