Thanksgiving Break

 We needed to decide if we were going to visit California during our Thanksgiving break or our Christmas break.  Thanks partly to Maggie and partly to weather we decided to go during Thanksgiving.  I'm exhausted just looking at these pictures.  I'm actually uploading these pictures a few months later and it was so much fun to go back to that trip.  We packed a lot in during our week there.  We wished that we could have spent some time in Yuba City with friends there, but it just wasn't meant to be this trip.  We are so grateful to everyone who is willing to let us sleep on their floors and drop in on a dime.

  It was so much fun to finally meet our new nephew Tanner Retherford.  He was so sweet and at that perfect "I just want to gobble you up" stage.  Cambree was enjoying reading to Carter one morning.  She is such a good little helper and LOVES to read.

Go back to Sunrise park always brings back so many memories for me.  I spent so much time there growing up.  This is the park that is right next to my parents house.  In one of the pictures you can see a tree full of beautiful leaves across from the park, that is where my bestfriend lived.  We were so lucky to live so close to eachother.  Someday I need to write down all of our memories, and I would love to get Ang and Julies versions as-well.

This little doll, grew way too much.  So glad she is so social and was willing to play with us.  Bryan and I couldn't get enough of her.  Her and our other nephew Lucas have changed the most.  I didn't get any pictures of Lucas, which stinks.  

 We realized on this trip that this would probably be our last time for awhile to visit Monterey.  This has become of our favorite places to visit.  Ang and Jeremy will probably be off in Maryland this time next year.  So sad for all of us that they have to be so far away.

 

 I can't remember the last time we had Thanksgiving with my whole family.  I think it was way back in Yuba City sometime.  We had a great time, despite Stacey getting lost, me burning the yams, and Ang forgetting to take the Ambrosia salad out for dinner.  It's so fun that we can laugh with eachother about all of our mistakes.

 We were able to help Grandpa set up his Christmas decorations.....including his tarheel ornaments ;)  It got us all excited to go home and get our decorations out too.  Although it made us a little sad remembering how different this Christmas was going to be for our little family.  I tried to help update some of grandmas pictures of her grandchildren.  Again, we were missing Lucas.....where was he?  Just kidding, holidays are tough to see everyone.

 Chrystina and Craig were brave enough to host a cousin sleepover at their house.  Landry was actually the first to fall asleep.  I slept over with Jeannette and had a fun time staying up late visiting and eating ice cream. Craig brought his bow and arrow over to the Collins house for the kids to have a fun competition.  Excellent idea and no one even got hurt.....awesome!! It was a great vacation, complete with a healthy trip back home ;)  No sickies in the car equals a happy mommy.