Thanksgiving 2014

Our Thanksgiving was a little bit different this year, and that's okay.

We spent a few days in Provo with my parents and my brother's family.

My sister-in-law Anne was due with baby #3 the day before thanksgiving so she wasn't up for travelling.

We got to do some really fun stuff and spending time with family, wherever we are, is always the best.

We ended up staying four days/three nights in Provo (Mark surprised me with the third night!) 

so, of course, we swam in the hotel pool as much as we could!

Even though, in this picture, Sam looks a little freaked out, he absolutely LOVED the water.  

It was so hard to keep him safe.  He wanted to jump right in with the rest of them. 

Thanksgiving Dinner...was eaten at Sizzler!

Kind of different!  It tasted great though.

The only problem....NO Leftovers!

You could order off the regular menu, but they did offer a more traditional Thanksgiving Dinner.

Most of us ordered that.  Mark ordered Shrimp.  Silly Boy!

After Dinner, we drove to my Aunt's house and visited with her and her kids for awhile.

We don't get to see them that often so it was great to see her and my cousins.

On Black Friday we joined the herd of people shopping (although definitely not the midnight crowds).

We explored Cabela's for a couple of hours.

The kids enjoyed seeing all the animals, real or stuffed!    

After Cabela's we drove downtown to Temple Square.

This is the reason Mark surprised me and let us stay another night.  

He know I really wanted to see the lights.  Sweet huh?

It has been a REALLY long time since I had been on Temple Square, for more than just a wedding ceremony.

and the kids haven't been, really, ever.

So I was grateful my family was willing to humor me and go visit.  Even Anne who was two days over due!

The lights, of course, were gorgeous.  And I absolutely LOVED the spirit I felt as we explored the grounds.

It was definitely a perfect way to kick off this Christmas season.

The next day we drove around Provo, reminiscing about all the fun times we have had there.

For never living there, we sure do have a lot of memories.  It was really surprising.

And then we stopped by the Temple. 

Afterwards we went back to Cody's house to say one last goodbye!

Silly Kids! 

And then we began our journey home!

Somewhere between Malad and Pocatello, I mistakenly gave Sam some chocolate.

What was I thinking? 

Thank you Cody and Anne for letting us come for Thanksgiving.

Thank you Sizzler for being open on Thanksgiving so that we could enjoy a yummy turkey dinner.

And thank you Mark for letting us stay another day, 

so that we (along with everyone else in the Salt Lake Valley) could see the lights on Temple Square.

This was a Thanksgiving I will never forget!