This year, for the first year, our school district gave us the entire week off for Thanksgiving Break! It was so nice! When we were visiting Durango over Spring Break, Colin mentioned that it would be fun to do a "Destination Thanksgiving" with his family the way we have done it with my family in the past. He talked to Leigh Anne and she was all for it, as were Grammy and Grandpa, so he planned it! He found us the perfect house with room for us all to spread out and have our own space (and each family their own bathroom!) as well as a ginormous game room to help keep all the kids (big and little) from getting bored. He also booked us all tickets on the Polar Express! Our kids had done it before but they were excited to go again and see it through the eyes of their young cousins!
The trip started out with meeting at Costco in Albuquerque to pick up a few necessities and then onto Bernalillo where we stopped at Whataburger for lunch:
Colton then drove our family from Bernalillo into Durango and he did a great job!
After locating our rental house, unloading and getting situated, Colin called in a pizza order to Homeslice Pizza, a local favorite, and he and I ran into town to pick them up for dinner:
Then, we played a few games, starting with "Watch Yo Mouth" which the kids made a hilarious experience:
Colin and I were awaken the next morning by a turkey gobble. While we found no turkey outside, there was a small herd of deer that hung around in the neighbor's yard:
Leigh Anne and I celebrated our first morning in the mountains with a yummy cranberry grapefruit mimosa!
We could hear and see the train to Silverton pass by the house and the little kids (including Cady) loved running out to watch it go by:
We then headed into town, but first, a stop at Honeyville:
We did a little shopping downtown and then it was time to meet Colin's Aunt Mary and her husband in town for some lunch and a nice visit. Love this pic of Titus having a heart to heart with Grandpa:
After lunch, it was time to run back home to get ready for the Polar Express that evening:
The kids were ready to go (yes - that's as festive as Colton would get):
Fun before boarding:
The Barth Family nailed it with their elf pajamas:
Excited cousins and grandparents::
The kids were sure a lot bigger than when we rode it 8 years ago!
I just love this girl's spirit:
Here it comes:
All aboard:
Baby loved it:
Golden tickets and the kids getting theirs punched by the conductor:
Santa talking with Titus:
Titus enjoying his cookie on the ride back:
Back at the train station, we had to get a cousin shot with Santa:
Some family pics after the ride:
It was a great time! Back at the house, it was time to exchange Christmas gifts with the cousins. We usually mail them so we were all excited to just do it together this year:
Cady is helping Baby get his opened:
They gave Bub the Hooey cap he'd been wanting:
Silly Cady got a new basketball:
The next day was Thanksgiving and many of us were busy in the kitchen all morning. It was worth it, though, look at this feast:
Time with my favorite little snuggler after lunch:
Baby and Uncle Colin checking out the Black Friday ads:
Some table tennis and air hockey that night to help work off some of those calories:
Last morning cuddles with Colton:
Titus and Cady waking up slowly:
These boys love their cousin, Colton:
Cady and Daddy:
One last trip into town, but first, a stop at Pinkerton Hot Springs:
A little more shopping downtown:
Back at the rental, after leftovers for lunch, it was the part we were all dreading - saying goodbye:
It was a wonderful time spent together celebrating our many blessings! We love our family and can't wait to get together again! Hopefully it won't be too long!
