A WEEK OF THANKS, FAMILY AND GOOD FOOD

For Thanksgiving we traveled to Utah and Nevada to visit J's family. It was quite an undertaking lasting 9 days with 2 plane rides, 4 days of driving, 2 states, 2 Thanksgiving dinners and changing time zones 6 times! But I am glad to say we survived and V was such a trooper and a hit with the fam.

First we visited my Great Aunt Annie, who has been like another grandma to me. V is named after her side of the family so it was really sweet for them to meet.Next we drove out to Elko to have the first of our Thanksgiving dinners with J's mom and most of his siblings.
The nieces and nephews had to beg and drag J out to bounce them on the trampoline. (If you believe that you obviously don't know J very well , haha)

V was so funny when he met his Uncle Jeff, for some reason he loved to do head dives into his chest and then just snuggle. It was hilarious to watch him do it over and over again. The older kids were all excited to hold V, for now he is the youngest of the grandkids but soon his spot will be usurped by J's little sister's baby boy who is due in January.

One night J took V into the pool for his first time. Of course he loved it since it is pretty much a huge bathtub which is his favorite time of day anyway. However, once J handed him out to me and went to swim a few laps V's opinion changed. He started screaming as J swam away from us, it was the first time I had ever seen fear on his face. Once J popped back up and V could see his face he was fine again. Apparently he didn't like J's head being underwater, I guess we will work on that for the future.

We also were able to meet up with my cousins for lunch. V thought they were great and kept trying to pull Rod's hat off, haha.

At dinner Uncle Rick helped V practice using utensils. I think it will still be awhile before he gets the hang of it.

Couldn't miss a trip, or two, to Cafe Rio for some yummy food. And luckily were able to go with some fellow Cafe Rio-lovers. V and Nathan really hit it off and even had a little secret handshake, haha.

V is a pretty lucky kid. He has three Great-grandma's and one Great-grandpa still living. He already knows one of the Great-grandma's and his Great-grandpa. But on this trip he was able to meet the other two Great-grandma's too, starting with the one on J's mom's side who we stopped to visit in Fillmore.

Then we went down to Mesquite to have our second Thanksgiving dinner with J's dad and family.

More relatives to meet including the last of V's Great-grandma's.

On the last night of our trip we were able to squeeze in a quick visit with the Wooten's, I just had to see Adrienne's adorable growing belly. I think we are only slightly less excited then them for their first baby (a boy, yipee! ) to be born in a few months.

Like I said it was an ambitious, long, and busy trip spread far and wide but we had a good time introducing V to more of his family, visiting friends and eating good food. I have to admit though I am glad we are just going to stick close to home for Christmas, no more lugging suitcases, nice!