Stucky Thanksgiving 2013

The week leading into Thanksgiving was a little more stressful than usual. The stomach flu made its way around our house, as it has been in many other homes so far this season, and it made planning and prepping for Thanksgiving a little different. 

(Talkin' about throw up here, so read on if you feel comfortable.)

It started with little Logan, poor guy must have thrown up early in the morning on that Tuesday. He didn't make a peep until his usual wake time, so I had no idea I needed to go in there…when I went in to get him there was throw up all over his crib. Oh my. He had a pretty quiet day, but he was in pretty good spirits…just lots of yucky diapers!

It seems inevitable that the other child will get it. That's seems to be how it always goes. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat. Tuesday night, a couple hours after we put her down for bed, Makenah wakes up and throws up in bed. My heart started beating so fast when I heard her. I was on the treadmill downstairs and heard her in the monitor…I jumped off the treadmill and sprinted upstairs, treadmill still flying. Makenah had it a little rougher than Logan, and was pretty yucky the day after too. 

I told Bryan I felt like a ticking time bomb. Just ready to get sick at any minute. Bryan and I wanted desperately not to get sick. I cleaned like crazy, we sanitized our hands every time we touched something we helped the kids with, and so on. 

I'll spare you the details, but Bryan got hit next. And, of the two of us, he was not the one I would have put my money on. Wednesday night going into Thanksgiving… yikes.

His loving mother postponed the big dinner, so he could rest and not miss out. We celebrated that Saturday and everyone was healthy. (I'm sure people were crossing their fingers we didn't bring any of that to the house! Ha!)

Phew. 

After a completely amazing lunch, enjoyed by the entire Stucky family, Bryan's grandparents, and my parents, we hung out the rest of the day and spent a lot of time outside. It was a gorgeous day!!

Uncle Brandon supervising

 Petting Sarah.

All the "kids" playing.

 He'll ride it any way he can.

 Thanks Uncle Blake.

 Brad, Racquel and Logan. 

 Papa broke out the 4 wheeler for the kids.There were tears when it ended. 

 There were also tears in between each ride, when it wasn't a certain little boy's turn. 

The day was totally awesome! Being together, laughing, eating a ton!!

Thanks for being so flexible Mimi and Papa!!

Thanksgiving is in the books!

From my phone...

I caught them standing still!

And then they started to wrestle.

 When my siblings were home for Thanksgiving we went out together for Sunday lunch and Bryan's parents got to join us too.

 Living room tent.

 Before the deep freeze came, we spent time outside. 

 My mom helped coordinate one the biggest and most beautiful fundraisers for work last month. Makenah and I got to go see a sneak peak early. She showed us all around. Many, many beautiful and impressive items were auctioned off.

 Making Christmas ornaments.

 Makenah is always asking me to take pictures with my phone. I can't blame her, she sees me doing it all the time!!

 He's a block stacking pro.

 I can't quite remember what she said she made...

 Out for dinner for Papa Steve's birthday.

 After Sunday lunch.

 This was the day before the snow and ice came…gorgeous. It was so funny knowing what was forecasted for the next day.

 She made me a plate of cookies. Rolled out all the play doh, used cookie cutters to make all kinds of shapes, put them on a plate and then bagged them up like she was delivering them to me.

 Helping me fold laundry. It usually turns into her trying things on. This day it was Daddy's scrubs. 

 Brrrrrrrrr

 The cutest customers at Home Depot.

Billings Thanksgiving 2013

We celebrated Thanksgiving Billings-style a couple weeks ahead of time, to make travel schedules work, and to get to spend the most time together that we could! I am thankful for easy-going families, and for spending time together no matter what particular day it is. 

I got to host Thanksgiving for the first time this year, and I totally loved it. We had the family to our house, did lots of playing, eating, more playing, more eating, played games and laughed hard after the kids went to bed. (There was also more eating involved.:) 

Some pictures to remember the day. 

Pre-turkey…

In and out, in and out. Is it ready yet?

Now, this is love. One uncle pulling, one aunt riding uncomfortably, and one aunt supervising and making sure no one gets hurt.

My first turkey.

It was a success.

This was watching Bryan carve it. Makenah was thinking, "This sure takes awhile," and Logan was being restrained from climbing on the table to go get it.

 Post-turkey napping.

 Football.

 Chalk and bubbles

 Good form. 

 Bike riding.

 Aren't they the cutest?!

 Fall colors at the Stucky house.

 Backyard playing before it got dark.

No pictures of the leftovers for supper, the wild bath the kids got, and the game time to cap off an awesome day!! It was a special day to celebrate all the things we are thankful for and to remember our many blessings.

A Very Stucky Thanksgiving is next.