The Two-Family Thanksgiving

I know I'm a little behind on writing this Thanksgiving post and that I missed doing Friday Favorites last week, but we ended up taking an impromptu trip to Arizona for Thanksgiving and I didn't haul my computer along. I'm aware that I've been back for a few days so probably should have the post done by now, but what I came back with from our trip has really slowed me down. An illness, you ask? Why, no.

We went to Arizona to be with Rophone's family for the holiday, but it just so happens that half of my family was gathered there, too. We managed to split our time rather nicely between the two groups. So, what I came back with was ALMOST 700 PHOTOS that I snapped over the 3 days we were there. That's where my trouble began. It didn't take me too long to delete the blurry and really ugly of the shots, but I'm still stuck with a ginormous number of photos. What to do? WHAT TO DOOOO? I'm pretty sure even the most avid of my readers doesn't want to read a Thanksgiving picture novel.

Sigh.

I'm indecisive at my best, so welcome to my worst. Enjoy!

We had such a fabulous time, although keeping the kids well-fed was a bit more of a challenge. This is what a Big low-blood-sugar-moment looks like:

The difference in the light between these two photos of Edith should tell you how long she was climbing the ladder and going down the slide at Rophone's sister's house. To say she did it hundreds of times would not be an understatement. 

But, it made her happy.

Pen and Ginger loved being able to spend the night with their girl cousins instead of having to stay at the hotel with the rest of us. I'm pretty sure they reveled in their freedom. And being able to have extra bonding time with cousins is always great.

Bud was so happy to play ultimate frisbee in the park with the guys.

Oops. A low-blood-sugar-and-I'm-tired-from-going-down-the-slide-a-gazillion-times meltdown...

That must be why we headed back to do the slide fifty more times before we returned to the hotel for the night. Okay, that was Rophone's family. Ready for mine? Hitch your pants up...

The next morning my sister, Art, snapped a photo of our family for my mom to use in her Christmas letter. It's just an added bonus that I can use it, too. By the time we got things organized, Edith had planted herself in her cousin's car and wouldn't get out in a peaceable fashion. So, Rophone just picked the car up, Edith and all, and hauled it to the front of the house for the photo.

You know what? I love it. I'm glad that Edith wouldn't get out of the car because the car adds so much visual appeal to the shot. And I love that Big is wearing athletic shorts (not my favorite) and holding a basketball because they are so him. I love that we're wearing bright colors that pop just because that's what we do, not because we're trying to look good in a photo. I love that Ginger isn't wearing shoes. I just love the picture because we're not trying too hard by being matchy-matchy or too pose-y. We're just being us and that's perfect.

I had my sister take one of me and Rophone, too. It was pretty tough to keep his hands from wandering (What can I say? He thinks I'm hot!), but I really like it. Thanks, Art!

We just hung out the rest of that morning with my family and I took a few pictures (of course I'm using the term loosely). The boys thought it would be cool to borrow some suits and wade around in the unheated pool. Cool being the operative word.

Although, once you're fully submerged, there's a chance that 'cool' isn't a strong enough word for it.

The rest of us sure did enjoy the show, though, and the recovery was swift, thank goodness.

The look on Edith's face in this next shot cracks me up:

We had a fantastic time with both sides. Enough so that we can't wait to do it again! Thanks families!