Since we were not going to be around for Grandma's birthday we celebrated at Thanksgiving as well. We ordered-in Mexican and got an ice cream cake!! The kids (Jill, Andrea and me) gave her a birthstone necklace representing her entire family. We were a little late in ordering so we gave her a picture and an ETA :-), but she loved it anyway.
Grandma and her cake.
Grandma getting her necklace picture!
Grandma and Auntie Jill.
While in Kentucky I was also offered and accepted the Superintendent position at Morrow Mountain State Park (which I applied for in the first week of June). We have been busy since and are now at the new park! More on that to follow...
The day after Thanksgiving we got some snow!! It was awesome! Eli and I were the only hearty souls willing to go out and play and we had a blast. We were briefly joined by Mama and Emmett and Grandma made a cameo as well.
The "camping trip" had plenty of other activities along with the treasure hunt. We went to the Eno (Eno River State Park where I used to work) and hiked to the swinging bridge and wilderness cabin as well as played along the river. We also went to Little River Regional Park and played on the playground. Saturday night we had a campfire and cooked hot dogs, s'mores and pudgie pies.
Claire being adorable!
Eli LOVES to be outside!
Wyatt wasn't in the picture taking mood.
Cuties!!
We put up a tent in the sun room for the kids to play in but Auntie Ree took over!!
Camping makes you tired and snuggly.
Eli and Claire helping make hot dogs.
We made dinner over the campfire but ate inside for ease!
Eli eating a marshmallow with Mama.
Emmett roasting marshmallows with Dada.
Alison brought some super-sized marshmallows...
They're GRRRReat!!
The pudgie pie/s'more table.
Super-sized was right!!
Lollipops!!
Cousins.
Holding hands and hiking sticks on the way to the playground. Eli was so funny at the playground, he was using his hiking stick to dig in the wood chips looking for treasure!!!
Story time.
Grandpa and Emmett.
Grandma, Auntie Alison and babers (nickname of the baby to come) making some grub.
The weekend before Thanksgiving we had our annual camping trip with the Eakright's and Renfrow's. We had previously decided that anytime there was a baby under 1 we would "camp" at someone's house so, this year we were at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
Andrea and I decided to make a treasure hunt as one of the activities so the camping trip did not turn into a movie watching, living room sitting trip :-) It was a lot of fun making it and the kids loved it! We made a treasure map and clues for each stop along the way.
A flashed out picture of the "treasure map".
Claire looking for and finding stars at clue #1.
Claire finding clue #2.
Off to find #3.
Hiking sticks at clue #3.
The hiking sticks were a huge hit especially for Eli, who wanted to be carried until he got his.
Andrea and Claire enjoying clue #3.
Studying the map to figure out where to go.
Looking for our next stop.
It was a good thing Wyatt was there, the clues were right at his speed but a little above Claire, Eli, and Emmett (okay WAY above Emmett :-) ).
Wyatt on the bridge. If you look closely there is a bag of fish bread, snacks and another clue in the middle of the bridge.
Feeding the fish to find the last clue in the bottom of the bread bag.
"X" marks the spot.
Digging for treasure!!
Treasure!!
We filled gallon freezer bags with coloring pages, books, lollipops, Reese's Pieces, Whoppers, barrettes for Claire, and dinosaurs for the boys.
Group picture of the treasure hunters.
The treasure hunt was a blast and the whole family got to participate!
Grandma and her cake.
Grandma getting her necklace picture!
Grandma and Auntie Jill.
