Thanksgiving Week

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family. We were blessed that our families were willing to make the trek to the north woods during a snow storm to spend the day with us! My mom, Karen, sister Ashley, and her boyfriend Scott came up a few days early and picked up Emily on the way! Then the day of Thanksgiving, Matt's mom, Laurie, sister Laura, and nieces, Shelly & Hope came up to spend some time with us. We had a wonderful time and an outstanding meal prepared for the most part by Scott.

Here are some photos of the eventful week!


William just goofing around waiting for people to arrive.... Unfortunately he was in bed by the time they got to our house.


"Ear!"


Will found a bin full of his old infant toys...


Daddy & Will




The next morning Will woke up to guests!!



Reading books with Grandma Karen and Auntie Ashley



Will likes his kitchen. He prepared and served food to Grandma & Auntie




Will has a hand towel he uses to 'wash' his dishes (and the food). Here you see him facing the camera (the towel is in his left hand), then (not captured) he throws the towel behind him. The second picture shows him turning around to see where it landed. The third photo shows it landed ... on Grandma!


Hanging out with Auntie...



William sees Grandma sleeping and closes his eyes to pretend he's also sleeping (sitting up of course!)


Playing with the stuffed animals with Grandma...




Emily's Dad & Scott decided to come up with a scavenger hunt for Emily. They made up many tasks for Emily to complete in order to get clues to the next task. Emily didn't know what was at the end of this, but she was determined to find out! Here are just a few of the tasks...

Starting the hunt...

Kissing Will isn't actually a 'task'


Shoveling snow...

Jumping Jacks! Will helps... he's just not as coordinated with his jumping jacks...


Snow Angel!

Cleaning off the truck


Getting a little tired...


Changing Will's diaper and putting him in pajama's


Still keeping up her sweet spirit!


Cleaning the cat box!


Had to crawl under the 'soon-to-be' whirlpool tub surround to get a clue...


Playing Ping Pong! Her task was to complete 25 in a row... if she missed she had to start over. They eventually told her she didn't have to finish it - but she did! She's very determined!


The hardest task yet. She's already tired and has a 'love-hate' relationship with Scott anyway - note the 'look'.


The task was her choice. A) Army crawl outside in the snow all the way around the playground and back to the house. -OR- B) write "Scott is the Best" 25 times on the chalkboard and leave it there all night....

She chose the army crawl!!


One SUPER tired kid!! She made it!! She's not only determined and quite strong-willed at times, but she is one tough cookie!


So... FINALLY a clue that gets her some where...


Her Christmas/Birthday gift this year came a bit early....


I guess the challenge of the scavenger hunt is forgotten...


This was Emily the rest of the weekend...



Will wearing a t-shirt he got from Grandpa Gary for his first birthday.



Playing with Scott


Will's new chalk board!




Thanksgiving Day!!


Tried to get some photos of Will, since his outfit was still clean.


However, taking photos quickly became too overwhelming for this toddler....


We tried some shots of him just hanging out with others...


Scott spent most of the morning in the kitchen. It was a great meal! We were spoiled!


and much of the afternoon as well...



Some more 'formal' photos.




The rest of the family arrives!!

Will and Auntie Laura! He loved her curls!


Emily surfaces from her laptop!!


Matt's niece Shelly!


Matt's sister, Laura her daughter Shelly!



Reading books with Auntie Laura and cousin Hope! He had so much fun with them!



Matt talking with his Mama!



Rough housing with Emily


Snuggling with Auntie Laura...



This is one tuckered toddler! It was a very long and busy day for him!


Grandma too...