Thanksgiving in Illinois

After Thanksgiving and Black Friday in Kansas City, Scott and I traveled to Illinois to celebrate with his side of the family. Things have been a little iffy between us, so neither of us were looking forward to 6 hours in the car.  It was pretty much him talking and prying and me giving him the silent treatment.  So much fun for both parties involved.  (There needs to be a sarcasm font.) 

Anyways, we left Saturday morning around 10am (after I got my workout in), and got almost an hour away before we realized we had the air mattress in the back of my car --which was supposed to go to Jason and Kelli for the weekend.  So I made a u-turn in the middle of the interstate to head back to KC.  Thankfully we didn't get too far before they said it wasn't a big deal.  (Insert another u-turn...) 

The roads were icy in KC and it was slow going, but it eventually warmed up and cleared off for most of the drive to Colona, Illinois.

We went straight to the bowling ally in Moline just as his extended family was finishing up bowling.  Which was fine with me because I was way too sore to bowl anyways.  And Scott's back was still bothering him.  So, perfect timing. 

We were hardly out of the car before we got back in and went to some little pizza place for dinner.  It was a total hole in the wall, but it was packed.  I wasn't feeling like pizza so I only had one piece, but it tasted like any other greasy pizza.  Clearly I was missing something -- from all the people there it had to be better than that, right?  Look at this place...

The next location was Scott's aunt and uncles home, but we made a pit stop at HyVee first to pick up stuff to make a salad.  Everyone just hung out and played games for the most part.  A couple card games, pool, watched some football.  I watched Frozen with the kids. :)

Sunday morning we went to church (two blocks away), and Scott's sister and brother-in-law did the Advent candle lighting and reading.  His little niece and nephew are just too cute!

There was a potluck lunch after church (so good!) and then we decorated the whole place for Christmas!

I took my bow tying very seriously, obviously. And they looked good when I was done! 

With not much to do in small town Illinois (especially when it's cold!), we grabbed the last two names off the giving tree in the lobby and went to Wal-Mart to get what the kids needed.  Mostly clothes and shoes and coats, but a few books and games, too.

Hopefully it will make some little guys Christmas a little better this year. They'll be styling anyways, that's for sure. ;)

That did't kill much of the afternoon, so we went to the movie and saw Secret In Their Eyes.  I thought it was a good movie, and there was a twist at the end I didn't see coming!

After the movie, we went over to Scott's sisters house to entertain the kids.  Scott made another salad, and we just hung out and played.  I colored with Addi and Scott decorated the tree with Zaiden.  We kinda sorta helped get them to bed, and called it a night.

Scott's parents house, all lit up with Christmas lights:

The next day we got up pretty early and hit the road back to KC.  It was a short trip, but I wanted to get back for Allie's basketball game at 3:30 -- which I learned on the drive home was actually on Tuesday, not Monday.  Oops.

It rained pretty much the entire way from Illinois to KC, sometimes really heavy.  Not so fun to drive in.

The sign said "Ice is frightful, safe arrivals are delightful."  HA!  

Well, we had a safe, delightful arrival back in KC that afternoon.

Black Friday

I really like the idea #optoutside instead of shopping.  But it was freezing and raining in KC on Black Friday.  So I did a little (or a lot) of #opttoshop instead.  :)

My Christmas tree and all my ornaments and decorations were lost in the fire, so of course I had to replace some of that!  I had quite the accumulation.

Stop #1:  Big Lots

It's close to my house and they had cheap trees and decorations.  {Going red and gold this year.}

Not pictured:  7 foot pre-lit pencil tree (We don't have much room at the little rental house.)

Stop #2:  Joanns

Right down the street from Big Lots and I wanted to check out their decorations.  Ended up with some Christmas gifts instead!  (Poor Scott.  He's a trooper for going along with all of this!)

Stop #3:  Michaels

I found a cheaper tree that I liked better, AND this tree!  How cute it this!

It was beginning to look like Christmas in my car!

Stop #4: Target

Again, for trees and Christmas decorations.  Ended up with the last copy of The Grinch for Hadley.  {It was a doorbuster sale - half off - and I had to argue with the manager to get it for the price.  Hey, if the sign is still up, I want it for the advertised price.}

Stop #5:  Chiropractor

Scott's back had had all the shopping it could take for one day.

Stop # 6:  Spin Pizza

Lunch.  And some pictures to prove how freezing cold and wet it was.  

Stop #7:  Wal-Mart

It's nice to have someone to shop with you -- and hold everything. ;)

Stop #8: Home Depot.  They didn't have anything I couldn't live without. ;)

Stop #9: DSW Shoes.  To return some shoes I bought earlier.

Stop #10:  Jason & Kelli's house.  Was supposed to be just to deliver the movie but we got sucked in to dinner, too.  Where I might have had more dessert than actual food.

It was then discovered that they didn't have a BluRay player, and I had bought a Blueray dvd.  Oops!

So while Scott and I went out to search for the movie as a regular DVD (seriously, we went to three places!), Jason just went out and bought a BlueRay player. 

OH - and new 50" tv.  No big deal.

Good thing Scott was there, because he set the whole thing up for them.

And it's a smart TV so they have access to so much more now.  Happy Netflix watching!

We were supposed to have a date night and go to dinner and a movie.  That clearly didn't happen.  It was an early bed time instead.  Which is almost as good in my book. ;)

Thanksgiving 2015

This year I started off Thanksgiving Day in a new way:  Sweat the Turkey Off workout!  It was an hour and a half of FUN -- and then I didn't feel so bad about eating an entire pumpkin pie.  (Kidding! I only had three pieces!)

I say it all the time, I am going to miss the gym and these girls about as much as anything when I'm traveling around next year. 

As soon as I got back to the house, it was prep time.  My mom put me to work on the Thanksgiving feast.  I had to shuffle stuff from our house to Kelli's (where we were having Thanksgiving) so we could use her oven, too.

It was pouring rain all morning.  Yuck.

Kelli really pulled out all the stops and had the house AND food ready to go!

I mean, look how cute this little turkey is!

I caught Hunter read-handed stealing some bread from the table:

 

While we waited for a few more things in the oven, we watched football, chased the cat (who wasn't supposed to be inside) and listened to music.  It might be a little crazy sometimes, but seriously have the best family ever. 

I mean, come on.  Could he be any cuter!?

The food was all delicious, and we all ate way too much.  That's what Thanksgiving is for, right?

Don't judge me for my dessert plate!

The chocolate cake might have been a bit of a bust, hahaha!  I'm not sure what happened to it, but let's just say it was more of a thin, runny pudding than a pie!

I just wanted a pic with the little kids.  Is that too much to ask?  

Apparently so.  Look at those faces!

It took some bribing, but I eventually got one with my two nieces and three nephews.  

#CutestKidsEver

Girls only!

We had to re-do this one like six times because I ate so much I look pregnant!

We cleaned up after dinner, played a game of Pie in the Face (too funny!) and eventually left.  

But we didn't go home.  Instead, we braved the Black Friday madness at Best Buy for a new Macbook Air!

They opened at 6pm, so we got out of the car right at 6 and went to the end of the line.  In the freezing rain.  Ugh.

Look at the water just gushing out of the drains!  So.Much.Rain.  And so cold!

It really wasn't that crazy inside.  I mean we had to wait in line for awhile, but nothing nuts.  And I walked out with a new laptop...which doubled as a great umbrella.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Back in KC...

Tuesday, November 24:

I was excited to be home, but even more excited that I found my GoPro!  I thought there was a chance I had lost it or left it in California.  But when I unpacked, it was right where I left it. 

Today was nothing exciting, just unpacking and laundry and cleaning...and enjoying the quiet, easy life in Kansas.

After a week in the San Fran area, just seeing a quiet street not packed with 800 cars was refreshing.

And of course seeing my niece and nephew was the best!

Hadley was having a sleepover with her cousin, Harper, so I took them both to Wal-Mart for a little outing.

  

Aunt of the Year.  I let them do whatever they want. :)

 

And always reward them with candy.

Wednesday, November 25:

I got back in the swing of things with an early morning workout...but then needed a nap!

Had lunch at TLoft and caught up with a co-worker.  Didn't sound like I was missing much at the office. ;)

I had to run to Wal-Mart for something that afternoon and they were already clearing the place out and carting in the big Thanksgiving Day sale items.  NO desire to be at that place tomorrow.  I'm sure it will be a zoo!

My mom and picked Hunter up from school and took him to see the movie The Good Dinosaur.

He was all about it the first 30 minutes, popcorn in hand.

But after the third "potty break" - we realized he was completely over it.  We wanted to stay and watch the end.  He just stood in the door waiting for us.  HA!  (We left early.)

My mom kept him occupied while I ran out and found a new outfit for him.  He's going to look so good in this for Thanksgiving tomorrow!