Days with Abby...: Thanksgiving 2013

Dear Abby,

It's Turkey Week! Mimi came up and helped us celebrate Thanksgiving by decorating our house for Christmas - GASP! And hooray, she brought Emily! You LOVED helping Mimi decorate the tree and I thought you did a pretty good job!

Most of the weekend and that Monday was spent decorating or running to the store to pick up more decorations, but you and Emily managed to perform a couple dance routines play school a few hundred times.

On Wednesday, I took you and Ellie and Kipper and Kate to Goofballs, your favorite place ever. You two were thoroughly disappointed that you couldn't ride the bumper cars although you have enjoyed them multiple times before, but for some reason the owner decided to stick to the "6 and older" rule. I have pictures of Kate riding them... Whatever. you two found happiness elsewhere, including these motorcycles...

And then there is the SpongeBob ride that you think is SO awesome because it's SpongeBob and Mommy does not let you watch SpongeBob so you love EVERYTHING SpongeBob even though I know you have no clue what it's really about. Little lesson for your mom - don't push too hard on things I don't want you to do/wear/eat/smoke/drink/etc...

You were very kind to hold Kate and Kipper while they experienced the 'roller coaster'. That's what you kept telling me - "I'll hold them so they don't get scared". You wanted to ride but you had used up all your points! Whatever the case, you did hold them tight and they did have fun.

On Thursday, we woke up and had a nice relaxing morning including breakfast and a little parade watching. Now, I have to say, we have watched the parade before, but never really sat down with nothing else to do kind of watching of the parade. Let's just say, we all thought it was a little overrated. OR, at least we felt like maybe we should have waited about an hour so we could fast forward through the performances and go straight to the floats. You liked a couple of the performances, but there were a couple that I myself questioned. Oh well, lesson learned. I told Daddy we should just go to New York... He didn't respond.

We eventually got ready and headed to Cookeville to Aunt Amy's and Uncle Martin's. While they prepared a hearty Thanksgiving dinner, you and your cousins scattered throughout the house, getting into one thing after the other!

After dinner, we all enjoyed staying up very late (including you!) and eating desserts (including you!). The next morning was a slow moving one for sure, but the Clark girls sure do make a pretty sight!

We got ourselves ready (eventually!) and headed for our annual day after Thanksgiving Day hike! While we were gathering the older folks (yes, it is typically the older folks we wait on in this neck of the woods!), you kiddos took a little swing on the front porch.

We had about a 30 minute drive to the hike, and, well, you used that time wisely...

We got to the park and saw a playground, so everyone had to have a swing or two, including your Uncle Martin!

And then Dixie insisted on a swing or two, too!

We got a family picture (which is, sadly, so rare!)...

And off we went on the hike. Now, within 100 feet of our hike, we came to this nice little contraption.

It specifically said only 10 or like 5 people or anyway, only a certain number of people on at a time so you had to walk with Aunt Amy while I hung back. I didn't understand what was taking you guys so long until I actually walked across it. It was SCARY for sure. But good news is we all survived! Bad news is we had to do it on our way out! SCARY!!!! But fun!
We had a nice hour plus long hike and as you can imagine, your legs got tired. Thankfully Uncle Martin was able to help you out...

And there were times when you helped Katie Bug out...

And then there were times when Harrison climbed a tree, you did a dance, Uncle Jaybee tickled you to death, and Mommy made everyone nervous by making you sit on the edge so I could take a picture...