We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week! Yes, the whole week!
Robert's brother and his family came from CA to visit! We hadn't seen them for two years.
It doubled the people in the house and there was always something going on.
We started out with a bit of excitement when our oven broke Sunday morning. We thought of microwavable things to eat for lunch, and for dinner Robert built a fire and put the grill over it. We cooked up chicken and baked potatoes for dinner and finished off with some s'mores!
(Robert did get the oven fixed the next day.)
Monday we had to take care of some coughing boys before we could really play.
We went to the park and out to eat (for my niece's birthday) and back to the house for cake and ice cream.
It was so sweet of her to want to celebrate in GA with her cousins (her birthday had been the week before). When we would talk to her on the phone she would say how much she missed us and how she couldn't wait to see us and asked if I could make her a cake. When she came in the door she gave multiple huge hugs, smiling from ear to ear.
Tuesday we went to the Botanical Gardens in Atlanta. It was great seeing the gardens in fall colors
and the kids had fun running around
and looking at everything. They had an area set up with trains for the holidays, 
each cousin had their favorite car and would run around the display following it.
It was gorgeous walking around.
Alyssa became a favorite cousin and had a cute baby at her hip or by her side most of the week.
The statues around the gardens are so fun.
I always save the Children's Garden for last, the kids loved running through the different areas.
It was more overcast and chilly than expected. Robert was looking pretty styling as he used Natalie's jacket on to warm up a bit. (He'll probably have me take down the picture, so enjoy it while it's here.)
There was a trip to Larry's to see the donkeys and look for walking sticks.
Whenever we were at home, there were games of soccer (kids against adults, and in the Beckstead family there is no mercy!) 
and jumping on the trampoline whenever the mood struck.
There were many games played inside and hours at the Lego table.
My brother Thomas came in on Thanksgiving day, and stayed the rest of the weekend.
He got here just in time for our Thanksgiving feast. Gordon made an amazing turkey (setting it in a brine for the day before). His gravy was liquid turkey. I think they'll have to come out for Thanksgiving every year!
While we let our feast settle, so we could eat some pie, we were entertained by the cousins, headed up by Alyssa, who put together and performed a Thanksgiving play entitled: The Curse of the Thanksgiving Turkey!
It was a tale of a family trying to get their Thanksgiving turkey who didn't want to get caught!
Logan finally saved the day by pushing the crazed turkey into the oven to cook.
We were all laughing - especially at a recurring jab at my beet and apple soup that Alyssa included in the play.
The play was a perfect prelude to enjoying our pies!
The weather became a bit more rainy the next day, so we took the opportunity to head indoors and do some bowling. You have to love the technology that allows lane bumpers to go up and down according to the bowler.
The ball heading down the lane was exciting enough, knocking down pins even better!
Jake joined the big boys team, all the girl cousins were together and Amanda and I bowled with the younger boys. Need I mention that the Beckstead competitive nature skips no generation nor gender nor game being played. It's a good thing we love being together and playing together. They were a couple of great games!
It was sad to say good-bye and everyone was missed immediately. The week went by too quickly.
But how grateful we were to have family visiting and that we are blessed enough to have a feast on our table and the ability to enjoy so many activities together.
A Very Thankful Thanksgiving Week!
It doubled the people in the house and there was always something going on.
We started out with a bit of excitement when our oven broke Sunday morning. We thought of microwavable things to eat for lunch, and for dinner Robert built a fire and put the grill over it. We cooked up chicken and baked potatoes for dinner and finished off with some s'mores!
(Robert did get the oven fixed the next day.)Monday we had to take care of some coughing boys before we could really play.
We went to the park and out to eat (for my niece's birthday) and back to the house for cake and ice cream.
It was so sweet of her to want to celebrate in GA with her cousins (her birthday had been the week before). When we would talk to her on the phone she would say how much she missed us and how she couldn't wait to see us and asked if I could make her a cake. When she came in the door she gave multiple huge hugs, smiling from ear to ear.Tuesday we went to the Botanical Gardens in Atlanta. It was great seeing the gardens in fall colors
and the kids had fun running around
and looking at everything. They had an area set up with trains for the holidays, 
each cousin had their favorite car and would run around the display following it.
It was gorgeous walking around.
Alyssa became a favorite cousin and had a cute baby at her hip or by her side most of the week.
The statues around the gardens are so fun.
I always save the Children's Garden for last, the kids loved running through the different areas.
It was more overcast and chilly than expected. Robert was looking pretty styling as he used Natalie's jacket on to warm up a bit. (He'll probably have me take down the picture, so enjoy it while it's here.)
There was a trip to Larry's to see the donkeys and look for walking sticks.
Whenever we were at home, there were games of soccer (kids against adults, and in the Beckstead family there is no mercy!) 
and jumping on the trampoline whenever the mood struck.
There were many games played inside and hours at the Lego table.
My brother Thomas came in on Thanksgiving day, and stayed the rest of the weekend.He got here just in time for our Thanksgiving feast. Gordon made an amazing turkey (setting it in a brine for the day before). His gravy was liquid turkey. I think they'll have to come out for Thanksgiving every year!
While we let our feast settle, so we could eat some pie, we were entertained by the cousins, headed up by Alyssa, who put together and performed a Thanksgiving play entitled: The Curse of the Thanksgiving Turkey!
It was a tale of a family trying to get their Thanksgiving turkey who didn't want to get caught!
Logan finally saved the day by pushing the crazed turkey into the oven to cook.
We were all laughing - especially at a recurring jab at my beet and apple soup that Alyssa included in the play.The play was a perfect prelude to enjoying our pies!
The weather became a bit more rainy the next day, so we took the opportunity to head indoors and do some bowling. You have to love the technology that allows lane bumpers to go up and down according to the bowler.
The ball heading down the lane was exciting enough, knocking down pins even better!
Jake joined the big boys team, all the girl cousins were together and Amanda and I bowled with the younger boys. Need I mention that the Beckstead competitive nature skips no generation nor gender nor game being played. It's a good thing we love being together and playing together. They were a couple of great games!
It was sad to say good-bye and everyone was missed immediately. The week went by too quickly.But how grateful we were to have family visiting and that we are blessed enough to have a feast on our table and the ability to enjoy so many activities together.
A Very Thankful Thanksgiving Week!
