Not that it was on my bucket list or anything, but I can check driving a 30 ft rv in a Minnesota ice storm and Houston rush hour traffic off my list of things to do. Check.
Thanksgiving is my favorite. It has a lot to do with pumpkin pie and other things on the menu. It also has a lot to do with the time of year. This year it loudly had to do with my family. I was overwhelmed this year by how beautiful each person is. We enjoyed our time together so much and left with many memories.
There she is. So I guess I got comfortable driving her because Taylor remarked more than once that I drive like a criminal.
The boys settle in and get cozy.
Our captain.
Amelia! Relax! We turned her switch off. She has been accused of being a fake baby.
You could catch air back there. No exaggeration necessary. It was like riding a mechanical bull. You should have seen me trying to breast feed back there so how Taylor could read makes me think HE is the robot.
One last goodbye. The boys say goodbye to the beach. And we were off.
Justin: Kickin' up his feet and playing the games kids love that, yep, he made up. Always listening and observing and giving the meaningful "atta boys" to those who need to hear it (me!). Chiming in on a stubborn crossword and collecting lots of crap in our game. Daily finger reports and actually letting us attempt to nurse him back to health. DRILL IT! Brotherly love has a new and better meaning to me because of him.
Johna: Sitting in the corner and working on that gum, cleaning what needed to be cleaned, cooking what needed to be cooked, and hugging what needed to be hugged. Strolling the beach and letting the wind carry things away. Watching her boys fight the waves. And above all, to me, teaching me what it's like to have a big sister.
Seth: Dad of all dads and husbands of all husbands, play mate, confidant, and perfect go with the flow-er, making every group a little funnier or a little more personal or a little more interesting, whatever the situation calls for. Ocean swimming, lots of diagnosing, ticket dodging and pushing through to get us home in record time. I 'm not going on any trips without you!
Sylas: Aching teeth and missing home, not quite his finest moments. You know so when people start complimenting how well he sleeps. But he loves football in the sand (hut hut HIKE!), and finding baby crabs (a cub! a cub! go go cub!), and flying kites with Pops (silence, just mesmerized). Missing his mommymom and loving his sister with the sweetest of head rubs, he grunts his way into my heart to take up the whole darn thing. And, yeah, I guess he does sleep pretty good at the beach. Angel.
Amelia: Trying to crawl for her big audience she keeps us glued. Smiling, smiling and smiling some more, we wonder what could possibly be that good. Her sweet spirit makes it impossible to not join her and then all of a sudden you know her secret- life really is that beautiful, just smile more! Try it. Thank you, Amelia, for your sweet entertainment and important lessons already. Precious.
Donna: An impressive collection of facts and good humor and stories and hymns (who knew?), she's quiet when she wants to be and boisterous when she needs to be, and either way-- it's perfection. After this weekend I feel I know Donna pretty well and I can say this with confidence, Donna is the strong woman that every other woman wants standing in her corner. Just watch the Cowboys with her and you'll know it, too. The weekend wouldn't have been near as magical without her there.
Dakota: A young man in every aspect but this: get him near the ocean and look for the yearned after joy of a child. Can't miss it! My favorite part of this weekend was introducing Dakota and Taylor to my home. I loved how much they loved the things that I love. And so, this year I am thankful for how thankful Dakota was to see the ocean. Seeing him talking with the old folks while texting his gal, doing just what suited him, figuring out the intricacies of a boogie board, and watching him be silly with his cousin made my heart lighter.
Taylor: Always the comic relief with clever one liners which comes in handy on a 20 hour rv drive. Ripping off his shirt and running for the shoreline minutes, no seconds, after arriving will not soon if ever be forgotten. Soaking up every ray and appreciating moments as they come and scolding others who don't is just one way Taylor inspires me to be young. The heart of an artist he left with a cup full of mementos. And I just love that.
Sherry: Wanting nothing (NOTHING!) but for people to come to her home, and be their beautiful selves so that in the end we can all remember the weekend as a time that we got to see a little more of each other. And then doing everything (EVERYTHING!) she can think of to insist that that happens- secret recipes, Cowboys decor, gifts galore, and personalized soap. She cried when we left. But she always does that.
Larry: Dad is all things to all men and winning everyone of them, teenagers and strangers alike. I don't know a single person more likable than Larry Maze. And ask around. No one else does either. I've been around him all my life so that's not shocking to me anymore, but what did get me was how eager (not just willing but EAGER) he is to make everyone comfortable on his turf. And how incredibly successful he is! You know in an instant that he would do ANYthing for you.
If you grew up with parents like mine, I imagine you are speechless too. Thank you Mom and Dad for the perfect Thanksgiving. We all couldn't shut up about it on the way home.
There she is. So I guess I got comfortable driving her because Taylor remarked more than once that I drive like a criminal.
The boys settle in and get cozy.
Our captain.
Amelia! Relax! We turned her switch off. She has been accused of being a fake baby.
You could catch air back there. No exaggeration necessary. It was like riding a mechanical bull. You should have seen me trying to breast feed back there so how Taylor could read makes me think HE is the robot. After about 20 hours we reach the beach and some happy happy Mazes. This following sight was seconds away from putting it in park. I LOVE it!
We watched from our deck the whole time they were out there.
Only one small problem. Small and prickly and fire proof- cockaburrs! That will kill you.
Pops taught Sy what a kite was.
Somewhere in all the fun, we ate Thanksgiving dinner, but I guess we were hungry cuz this is the only pic I have of our gorgeous, collective effort meal and the CHINA that mom insisted be packed and brought to the beach. She wanted everything just right for the big family that we have always wanted!
Johna and Pops talking about the good stuff.
Dood and Sy playing those games.
Johna takes Sy for a stroll.
Taylor's method for avoiding cockaburrs.
Taylor, after playing in the ocean, comes in to a house-full of folks watching football and says something like this:"Lemme get this straight?! We are in TEXAS? At the BEACH?! In a BEACH house?! It's 75 degrees outside and you are watching people you don't know tackle each other?!! AND YOU DON'T FEEL GUILTY???? Well you should."
We watched from our deck the whole time they were out there.
Only one small problem. Small and prickly and fire proof- cockaburrs! That will kill you.
Pops taught Sy what a kite was.
Somewhere in all the fun, we ate Thanksgiving dinner, but I guess we were hungry cuz this is the only pic I have of our gorgeous, collective effort meal and the CHINA that mom insisted be packed and brought to the beach. She wanted everything just right for the big family that we have always wanted!
Johna and Pops talking about the good stuff.
Dood and Sy playing those games.
Johna takes Sy for a stroll.
Taylor's method for avoiding cockaburrs.
Taylor, after playing in the ocean, comes in to a house-full of folks watching football and says something like this:"Lemme get this straight?! We are in TEXAS? At the BEACH?! In a BEACH house?! It's 75 degrees outside and you are watching people you don't know tackle each other?!! AND YOU DON'T FEEL GUILTY???? Well you should."Point taken. The grown ups take their scolding and put on, not a swimsuit because actually getting in was never a consideration, and go wave hop.
Hubby, you are hot.
You are hot. Oh, I already said that.
And there they are. I love this picture because it was a great moment.
I love them.
Here Sy hut hut hikes with me.
The pros teach him too.
Pops has an awfully large soft spot for Sweet Millie.
Grrrrr. Sy has a similar pose. Why I don't have them side by side doing this is shameful.
Donna let us photograph her foot. We appropriately gave her a Cowboys tattoo before game time. Mom got her a bunch of Cowboy loot and a Cowboy cake and balloons. It didn't help them win any, but it got darn close and darn loud.
Love this. I have joked before that Dakota is probably the only 19 year old that knows just how to set up and take down a Pack n Play. I still have a little trouble myself.
There was lots of football to watch and we did it in our jammies with the perfect company.
Taylor doing Taylor things in the hat that I made him.
I did NOT make that hat.
Handsome.
That's a happy Grammy.
And a happy Pops.
And happy cousins. They have a ridiculous song that they remember from a camp from long ago. They entertained us with song AND motions.
Taylor, Amelia feels naked without her bow. Quit taking them! I have told you this a million times!
And then!!! Beef family stopped by to say hi!!
So lucky to get a quick peek at Miles!
Group shot before we go. Such a perfect holiday. The nine of us had a great time together.
Kindred spirits, these two. The tears started about an hour before as everyone slowly packed, but then this is about when she busted loose.
Dad giving Dakota some words to live by.
Til next time...
You are hot. Oh, I already said that.
And there they are. I love this picture because it was a great moment.
I love them.
Here Sy hut hut hikes with me.
The pros teach him too.
Pops has an awfully large soft spot for Sweet Millie.
Grrrrr. Sy has a similar pose. Why I don't have them side by side doing this is shameful.
Donna let us photograph her foot. We appropriately gave her a Cowboys tattoo before game time. Mom got her a bunch of Cowboy loot and a Cowboy cake and balloons. It didn't help them win any, but it got darn close and darn loud.
Love this. I have joked before that Dakota is probably the only 19 year old that knows just how to set up and take down a Pack n Play. I still have a little trouble myself.
There was lots of football to watch and we did it in our jammies with the perfect company.
Taylor doing Taylor things in the hat that I made him.
I did NOT make that hat.
Handsome.
That's a happy Grammy.
And a happy Pops.
And happy cousins. They have a ridiculous song that they remember from a camp from long ago. They entertained us with song AND motions.
Taylor, Amelia feels naked without her bow. Quit taking them! I have told you this a million times!
And then!!! Beef family stopped by to say hi!!
So lucky to get a quick peek at Miles!
Group shot before we go. Such a perfect holiday. The nine of us had a great time together.
Kindred spirits, these two. The tears started about an hour before as everyone slowly packed, but then this is about when she busted loose.
Dad giving Dakota some words to live by.
Til next time...
One last goodbye. The boys say goodbye to the beach. And we were off.Thanks again Grammy and Pops. You really know how to make people feel special.
