Thanksgiving 2016

Normally we celebrate Thanksgiving with Sean's side of the family but this year we reversed the holidays and are spending Christmas with Sean's side of the family and Thanksgiving with my side of the family in Corvallis.  This was after some deliberation between my sisters and I on our holiday schedule this year as it can be quite complicated now that we are all married and have our spouses' families to consider as well.  It is important that we coordinate so we can see each other at least for Thanksgiving or for Christmas.  We ended up going down to Corvallis for Thanksgiving.  I left with the kids on Tuesday afternoon after Brandon got out of school and then Sean came down Wednesday afternoon after he worked half a day.  We spent the first evening eating dinner and getting acquainted with the family.  My sister brought down a really fun game called Code Names that we played for several nights.  I got a fun game for the Wii called Mario Party that Brandon quickly became obsessed with.

Pumpkin Selfie 

Sweet Olivia

The next day it was kind of rainy but we all wanted to get some exercise so most of us went on a hike in the Bald Hill area of Corvallis.  Brandon ended up coming with us (he basically wanted to go wherever his BFF Auntie Rachel went and baby Jasper) but Olivia stayed behind with Uncle Carl and my mom who was making pies.  We had a lot of fun hiking.  We spent the rest of the day just hanging out at the house.  Brandon loved hanging out with his cousin Baby Jasper who has the sweetest and happiest disposition.  Brandon loved entertaining him and keeping an eye on him.  We also had some fun playing Mario Party and some more fun with Code Names.

Hiking McDonald forest

We forgot Brandon's coat so he borrowed Auntie Rachel's 

Brandon was quite the hiker

Wednesday night dinner enjoying the chicken Sean made 

Jasper loved eating with everyone

Daddy and Liv fun!

On Thanksgiving, the kids got to open up their Christmas presents from Rachel and Tory since we were not celebrating Christmas with them.  Rachel, Tory, and Tom and Patrick and Sean and I all exchanged gifts as well and Rachel and Tory gave my parents their Christmas presents.  We all hung out and did a bit of pre-Black Friday shopping.  I did a pilates workout to stay in shape through my U-tube video.  Auntie Tory helped the kids make a Turkey Gingerbread decoration.  Then we had Thanksgiving dinner which was super yummy.  I made roasted garlic mashed potatoes which ended up being a hit!  We also had turkey, homemade cranberry sauce and gravy, crescent rolls, and a salad.  Then there were two kinds of pies for dessert-Wild blackberry and pumpkin pie.  The kids went to bed and we ended up watching some stand up comedy and then all went to bed as well nice and full.

Brandon and his BFF Auntie Rachel and his cousin Jasper

Jasper enjoying the wrapping paper

Present time!

Livie watching Jasper open up his present

Brandon and his Bud Jasper

Working on the turkey

Thanksgiving dinner 2016

Jasper's first Thanksgiving

Brandon did a good job trying everything

Liv and Daddy on Thanskgiving

Pie time!

Family shots Thanksgiving 2016

We got Pumpkin in here! 

Jasper and Tor

On Friday we hung out at the house and my Dad took Olivia and Brandon to the movies to see Pete's Dragon.  Sean and I snuck away to Mazama brewery (a local brewery that we enjoy in Corvallis and had never been too).  My dad gave us massages for Christmas and I let Sean have mine since he has not had a massage in a really long time and I had been getting them weekly due to my shoulder issues.  We all came back to the house and had yummy left overs.

On Saturday it was Civil War day and we took the kids to the park to run off some energy before the game.  Then Sean and I went running in the neighborhood (the first time since I had my toe surgery) and I was able to make it over 2.5 miles.  We came back and watched the Ducks almost come back to beat the Beavers in one of the more memorable Civil War games for the Beavers who had lost like 8 in a row to the Ducks.  Needless to say the Corvallis Beaver fans were happy.  We celebrated my mom's birthday that day and went out to Bomb's Away cafe and had yummy Mexican food and a cocktail.  Then we came back and had yummy carrots cake and my mom opened up her presents.

Playing at Wild Cat park

They loved the tire swing

Livie and CiCi celebrating Cici's birthday

On Sunday everyone had to head back home.  It was quite an ordeal packing up the car again and then having to unpack everything when got home.  It was a rude awakening as well on Monday to have to go back to work and to return to tons of weather related (it rained 2.5 inches on Thanksgiving day) claims.  But we had a really good Thanksgiving and it was so nice spending time with my family who I wished we could see more of. Brandon especially had a blast with his Aunts and with his best buddy Jasper.