Thanksgiving in Georgia

It was wonderful to spend Thanksgiving in Georgia with my family this past year. I hadn't been home for Thanksgiving since 2003! A miraculous deal on plane tickets saved us from our original plan, which was to drive all the way there. We had a great time and enjoyed spending time with family, meeting a new cousin, and exploring Gramps and Grammie's new house and woods. It was my family's first time meeting Emmie, too, and it was fun to show her off to everyone.

Dad, Mom, Kaylyn, and Ryan

Checking out the creek and tire swing.

There's a pond right by the house, and Addison became friends with the ducks.

Asa saved Gramps from falling into the pond while he grabbed some trash.

It's worth mentioning that Asa is really into drains right now. The pond had a big drain, and Asa and I spent the better part of an hour one day sitting there staring at it, watching the algae go down it. Mesmerizing. I think Asa could've spent an entire morning there watching it and been happy.

Gramps and Grammie's dog, Nell, was a big hit. Almost they convinceth us to get a dog. Almost . . .

We got to stay in the grandkid room, which has four beds built into the walls, and one big one in the middle of the room. There are swings hanging from the ceiling, a closet full of toys, and a forest that has an owl for each of the grandkids. Hog heaven.

Hanging out with Ryan and Kaylyn was one of the best things about the trip. They are both way cooler than I ever was at their age. They're both hilarious, fun to be around, and so patient and kind with all their nieces and nephews.

And the cousin time! These guys didn't waste any time. They ran all over in the woods, played board games, and climbed trees.

Ryan taught Addison and Jackson how to play Risk.

Emmie and Alex. She's two months older.

Juliann and Bryn

Shauna and Doug hosted us all for Thanksgiving. We hung out at their house and played tag on the leaf trails just like when I was a kid.

Bryn got to help with the chocolate pie.

The kids.

The grownups.

Poor Leah threw up all over Shauna's living room floor right before Thanksgiving dinner. She spent the next several days feeling like crud.

Several days later, Leah was feeling like herself again and finally got to have her Thanksgiving dinner!

We took a day trip up to Helen with Mom and Dad, Kaylyn, and the Jennas. It was cold, but really pretty! My favorite part was a little mountain hike to Anna Ruby Falls. The kids loved panning for gems and visiting the rock shop.

We had a Christmas recital at Gramps and Grammie's house. Here are Mom and Dad playing "Heart and Soul."

We went to lunch at Chick fil a with Shauna and Russell and their families. This is Tyson's "I like ice cream" face.

My grandma, GG to our kids, lives with my parents now. It was fun to see her here and there and to introduce her to Emmeline.

We also got to go visit my other Grandma, who is a delight. Bryn was learning about the art of storytelling at school at the time, and I'd told her what a great storyteller Grandma was. But while we were there the kids got to hear her tell the story of the time she ran over someone's hog in her car, and experience her storytelling skills firsthand. What a treat.

We had some time to kill at the airport on the way home. A nice worker sent us to visit the moving sidewalk between two terminals. It looked and sounded like a rain forest!

It was a great trip home and a really nice way to kick off the holiday season.