Thanksgiving was a little unconventional this year as we left the comforts of home for the comforts of meeting Kelli and her family in St. George. We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather-of which we took great advantage.
Brittney and her Aunt Jodi
These girls adore their father. They love his goofy-ness and use it as ammo to tease him constantly.
They also use his penchant for "sitting" to snuggle up to him on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, the warm(er) weather was not enough to put any real sort of color in our faces. We all look like we're from the artic-or Northern Utah- with our sickly, pale faces.
This is a constant scene. Jordan regularly becomes my 5th child. Christian's younger brother. They poke and trip and twist and attempt to injure each other constantly. And someone usually ends up crying. Someone I happen to be married to.
The "fake engagements" starring Jodi's gorgeous wedding ring. I am only too aware that someday there will be nothing "fake" about these girls posing for engagemtent pictures.
How does anyone make it through life without a sister? Whose clothes would you borrow (steal)?
Caleb, Miles, and Gabe itching for a turn.
Maddi entertained herself for most of the weekend with the headphones and a playlist created especially for her by Jodi. I love how the position of her headphones allow her to be "partially present in both worlds."
Moving that mass takes some effort..
None required to move this...
Time for our Thanksgiving feast...At mom and dad's St. George getaway place. Christian and Maddie catch up over text. At least they have parents that can unplug.
Jodi and Miles
See..there really was food. And dang good food too. Costco does a fine job.
Second year as college roommates. And they're still not sick of each other.
Erick found a lovely little youtube video that involved popping a giant cyst. Not the best "after dinner mint." Erick's sadistically entertained, however.
They did all the dishes. They are lovely.
Nothing like Psyche to bring cousins together.
I love watching how families "gather." How comfortable they are with each other. How they melt into each other and how their faces become a picture of warmth, contentment and amusement.
It makes me think of a quote by Elder Marlin K. Jensen: "Sometimes after an enjoyable family home evening, during a fervent family prayer, or when our entire family is at the dinner table on Sunday evening eating waffles and engaging in a session of lively, good-natured conversation, I quietly say to myself, “If heaven is nothing more than this, it will be good enough for me!”Amen.
