{Thanksgiving 2012-Part 2}

My family {Chadwicks} gets together every Thanksgiving. Due to various circumstances, we had not been for several years. This year wasn't going to be any different. Having just had Bailey the thought of traveling did not excite me! Who wants to travel 7 hours in a car with a newborn and 2 other crazy little girls?? Then I found out my grandparents were going to be sealed together in the St. George temple the day after Thanksgiving. I felt bad. How could we miss that?

Monday night {yes, just 2 days before the day we would leave} Dean and I got a wild hair and decided we needed/wanted to go! We got all our ducks in a row, but didn't tell anyone we had changed are minds and were coming after all! We hit the road just one hour after my parents but somehow managed to arrive at Grandma and Grandpas just 5 minutes after them. We had fun keeping our little secret, getting info about their location, all while giggling to ourselves, knowing we were just a short distance behind them. At one point, we could have passed them, had traffic been more cooperative! They were so surprised when it was us who walked through the door!

Then the craziness began as all the families began arriving throughout the day. It was fun to see each other and be together with Grandma and Grandpa. Thanksgiving day was filled with lots of food and strategic planning for Black Friday Shopping! I couldn't decide if I wanted to go or not, but Bailey made the decision for me when she decided to cry until midnight! I asked cousins to get me things if they could and headed to bed. The tales and stories the next day were hilarious! I missed out big time! {I am going next year for sure-even if it is just for the entertainment!}

Then Friday I was able to attend the temple and witness my Grandparents sealing to each other and my Aunt Kelly. I am so glad I was able to be there and share this special event with them. There is no greater feeling than knowing your family is eternal.

Someone had the bright idea of giving the kids these punching balloons:




Ok. Maybe it was me who did it. But I wasn't the one who blew them up so big that they popped when they touched anything. They were fun while they lasted!:


Cousin N:




Jason in the dog cage:


Lacie:




The guys did a lot of this:


And this:


Jo making Black Friday plans:


Grandma Beth getting grandkid time:








Lots of Bailey holding:




Grandpa Brad and Bailey:


Grandma Verna and Bailey:




Our spontaneity continued as we decided that ending our trip in St. George on Friday, as originally planned, was not good enough. We decided if we were that far, we might as well go all the way to Richfield to see Grandma and Grandpa Drolc! We secretly verified they would be home and headed north. It as fun to surprise them as well! I am sure we were the last people they thought would walk through their door!

Friday night we had dinner with the Knights as well. The girls had fun playing with their cousins and we loved visiting. The next day Dean helped grandpa with projects around the house and I visited with Grandma. We were totally unprepared for the weather {18 degrees? Really?} and were quite cold, but we had fun and the kids still enjoyed playing outside!

















Sunday we loaded in the car again and took the 8.5 hour journey home. It was a really, really, really long 8.5 hours. For about 20 minutes we got this:


And this:


And this:


It made him:

and me really happy:


Then they woke up! Eventually we made it home safe and sound and surprisingly sane.

It was fun to do something wild and crazy {at least in my book-I normally plan trips for months in advance} and see so much family all in one weekend. I miss them all. I wish we all lived closer or that we could at least visit more often. Until then, we will enjoy and cherish the few and far between visits we are lucky to have!