Thanksgiving 2013

Our Thanksgiving week was a little crazy this year but lots of fun. Cory & Tiffany were coming down to Texas for the holiday and we were so excited. They ended up having to leave a day early to beat the storm and it is a good thing they did because it was a pretty good winter storm that came through. On Thursday the weather was in the high 70's and on Friday temperatures plummeted to the low 30's with freezing rain and snow. It stayed cold the whole time they were here which meant we had to change our plans a little. I felt bad they didn't get to enjoy our warm Texas weather while they were here.
  Justin had a big test on Monday so he spent the weekend locked in studying. Saturday Cory went to campus with him to do some work and Tiff and I did a few errands and then met the boys at school for lunch. That afternoon while the kids slept we went to a cute little craft boutique my friends put on. On Sunday church was canceled due to the weather so it was a long day at home. But the kids LOVED playing in the snow and we ventured out and drove over to the temple. Matthew was so happy that he didn't have to wait all the way until Christmas for snow.

Koyle LOVES snow. He especially liked wearing his boots and driving in the snow. He would go out and play for quite a while. 

We had to get a little creative but we managed to find enough stuff to bundle all the kids up sufficient for some fun playing in the snow.

Who could have guess we would be playing in snow at Thanksgiving while in Texas?

Koyle LOVED the snowman. It was his new little friend for the day.

We made another snow slide in the backyard and the kids loved playing on it. Brings back fun childhood memories of my own of making a big snow fort/slide with the Reads and playing on it all day.

Koyle's snow pants were a little on the short side : ) 

Never underestimate the power of a grocery sack!

Matthew liked to skate or surf down the slide. 

All the kids together

Emily and the snowman

Monday morning we went to the Science Spectrum and Justin took his test. That night we went out for some BBQ at Rudy's and then dessert at Sheridans. Tuesday morning was preschool and then Cory & Tiff took off for Dallas early. We went and picked Jamie up from the airport (she was supposed to fly in on Saturday but they cancelled flights into Lubbock due to weather so she didn't make it until Tuesday). Then it was on to pie baking, bag packing, etc. before yoga that night. Wednesday morning, after a very long night because Koyle didn't sleep, we headed off for Dallas to join with Tiffany's family.

We were so grateful to the Leemasters for once again welcoming us into their family. Koyle had a cold already and Matthew decided to get croup which is never a good thing. He also had a pretty good fever which didn't go away until Sunday night. So despite being quite sleep deprived we had a lot of fun. Thanksgiving dinner was delicious-take my word for it because I didn't take any pictures. 

Friday we took the boys to downtown Dallas to ride the trolley and play in the park. The boys thought it was great fun.

Matthew loved that our trolley's name was the Green Dragon.

The best part was we rode the trolley to the end of the line and got to ride on the roundabout. Can you see it in the picture? It was a real roundabout. So cool.

The park has this fun little treehouse thing to climb up. While we were there we had to get some more of those yummy lime tater tots from the food truck Justin and I ate while we were there a few weeks ago.

It also had a giant Christmas tree so we took the chance to snap some pictures.

Matthew wasn't in the picture taking mood.

After playing at the park we hopped back on the trolley and headed home. We met up with everyone else at a park close to their home and then that night the adults went out for dinner and ice cream. Jamie was a champ and helped watch the kids even though she was catching the boys' cold and not feeling so well herself. Saturday morning Jamie headed home and we headed back to Lubbock. I also got the cold and it was good to be back home and sleep in my own room so I didn't have to listen to Matthew hack his lungs out all night. Poor guy he was really sick for a few days and I felt bad. Sunday morning the Jones' headed for home and we went about our usual business: I went to church, Justin stayed home with the sick kids (an annoying trend for us lately) and then we put up all our Christmas decorations. Such a wonderful start to the holiday season. Thanks again to all the kindness and love shown to our family!