We had a great visit with my family. Everyone was there this year. All my sisters, my brother, and their respective spouses and children. We took the opportunity to get a big family shot out by my parents’ pond. Most of the leaves had fallen from the trees but it was a great setting.
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My sister, Helen, and I took the kids to get cousin pictures. As a surprise for my parents we got the kids all John Deere shirts for the pictures [my dad is a BIG John Deere fan!!]. The kids were excited for their new shirts and were happy for the pictures, except for Cami. There is just something being away from Mom and Dad for a few seconds with strangers doing weird voices and hitting walls to try to make you smile – just didn’t cut it for Cami! But, they still turned out cute!
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We spent a lot of time just relaxing and enjoying being with family. The kids loved having time to play with their cousins and seemed to spend a lot of time playing video games (because we won’t let them have any at home). They also played with Uncle Russell’s Army gear (he is being deployed to Iraq in just a couple weeks) and helped Grandpa split wood. Cami surprised us all by warming up to all three dogs (2 pit bulls and 1 German short-haired pointer – HUGE dogs!) before we left.
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We enjoyed being with everyone and doing Nevin traditions for Thanksgiving. One of these traditions is that everyone has a ‘pet’ food that they make to contribute. So we had at least 4 vegetables (because everyone likes something different and won’t eat the others), mashed potatoes, turkey, and Dad’s stuffing. I contributed the rolls. Oh, not to forget the tomato juice – for some reason we always had tomato juice in little glasses next to our other beverage growing up for Thanksgiving and maybe even Christmas (I can’t remember). My mom had gotten rid of the little glasses but my youngest sister was devastated that we weren’t doing something we had always done – so out came the tomato juice put in different glasses next to our other beverages. You can’t say we’re not a family of routine!
Two of my sisters and my sister-in-law ventured out in the middle of the night to stand in lines at different stores for Black Friday. And get this – they were excited to do it!!! Not me. I chose to sleep that night in a warm bed away from crowds and shopping. I’m not a shopper. But, they had fun and two out of three were successful in getting what they went to get.
I like all of your Thanksgiving traditions. WE played a game that was a tradition in Ben’s family. The candy bar game. It was really fun!
Love the pictures!
I loved seeing all of these pictures of your family! Wow! Everyone has changed so much…especially your youngest three siblings! How fun to have everyone there at once. It’s been a long time since my family has been all together! That’s just the best! And what a cute grandkids picture! How fun!
We loved seeing you all, and we miss you even more now that you are gone!! The kids are asking when we get to come visit you, because it should be our turn to drive they say 🙂 We are so glad we all got together. We love you!!!