Thanksgiving with some Hansens

I was so happy when Allison told me they were moving to California!  Our kids used to be so close, but we had only seen them one time in the last 3 years!  Very sad.  It was great to reunite, with the promise of seeing each other more frequently.  These 2 had a blast- Caleb and Whitney!  Caleb is turning into a funny teenage boy, And he and Whit enjoyed hanging out.

This was a momentous occasion and a dream come true!  For some amazing reason last fall, Eric decided to do a "couch to 5k" running program!  He would run a couple of mornings a week, and he went from running 5 minutes/walking 5 minutes/repeat....to run 9 minutes walk 1 repeat. He asked me a couple weeks before the trip, if I would want to run a 5k with him that he had been building up to.  I was kind of in shock and said "yess!!" So we left the hotel as soon as it was light and hopped on a trail that led to the beach!  Finishing on the beach was so awesome, I'm so proud of him and it was SO fun to run a whole 3 miles together!  

Then I had to run as fast as reasonably possible the 3 miles back to the hotel, and drive back to pick him up haha. So the kids weren't alone for too long.

It was a great time at the MacKays' new place!  Derek and Raycelan came too, and my parents and Grandmom and Grandad!  Here's Whitney getting to know Adelaide, and Allison, Katelyn, Grammy, Jean, Grandmom and Raycelan playing a question game.

Owen playing with Addie- unfortunately he came down with a fever and didn't get to enjoy all the festivities! But he did play chess with Seth and Grandpa Jamie.

Oh my goodness Emma and Spencer were SUCH adorable buddies!!  So cute to see them get acquainted.

Here were everyone's spots at Thanksgiving dinner- Grammy and Grandpa Jamie got to sit at the teenager table!  With Katelyn and jean, and Caleb and Whitney clowning it up in the background haha

The big kid table outside- Owen, Maris, Jenna, Emma, Spencer and Seth. And the dessert table later, with Grandad, Grandmom, Kate, Raycelan, and Addie.

The adult and baby dinner table, with Derek, Scofield, Addie, Grandad, Grandmom, Me, Eric, Kent, Leah and Allison

Also it was the World Cup!!  So we got to watch a US Men's game with everyone, so fun!!

This was hilarious, on Friday night before we said goodbye, Katelyn taught everyone an improv game to play. "I'm a Tree" was a hit of course-- we were with a bunch of Hansens!

Oh and here's some pictures of everyone serving their Thanksgiving dinner!

Maris tried out Jenna's hoverboard and fell in LOVE with it!  Also she and Emma wore the turkey shirts I made for K & W years ago-- when we also went to Southern CA to the MacKays' house for Thanksgiving!!

Caleb and Whitney trying a "keep the sparkling cider under your tongue for as long as you can" game haha. And Caleb and Owen trying a fun new game with Uncle Derek.

These two became friends over the weekend as well- SO cute!  Spencer and Whitney.  I think he was intrigued by having a teenage girl pay attention to him. And Whitney loves kids younger than Emma haha.

One of the big reasons why I wanted to go to CA for Thanksgiving was THIS--I need to take every opportunity to see my Grandparents!!!! Grandad is not doing well.  His memory is just going.  So while he is still kind of functioning I really wanted to spend some time with them.

On Saturday, we drove to St. George, arriving in time to see the Rudolf play with Grandma, and go for some rides in the Can-Am!

I took this picture of Owen and Emma because they were just so cute!  Sitting in the back together- not on the sides, but right next to each other. They love each other! (we brought the middle middle seat for more options- it turned out good!)

This was Friday morning- Kate, Whit and Caleb got to do baptisms together in the Newport Beach Temple!  Kent and Eric baptized them, and my parents and Grandmom went in to help. It was a great family temple trip!!

It was a pretty temple and grounds!

Here we are with Grandad too- he stayed outside with me and the little kids.

Which was actually SUCH a neat experience!  They got to have a whole hour walking around the temple talking to their Great-Grandpa. No other distractions or other kids or family around. It was so precious!!  He told us stories and made jokes and was like "guess what I have in my pocket??" they didn't guess correctly, so he said "a flashlight!!" and whipped it out and told them all the many uses of it, it was hilarious.  Owen was especially interested in his stories, I think they would have had fun together back when my Grandad remembered how to build all kinds of electronic stuff!  

Such a great trip!!