We ate Thanksgiving at Gramma and Papa Al's with Grandpa and Ms. Gail, Uncle Jay, Aunt Millie, Kira, John, and other family.
Kira and Addie only seem to become sweeter friends each time they play.
We always attempt to grab a picture of the 5 cousins. And while clearly everyone was not smiling or even looking at the camera...no one was crying!!! i'd consider that a success!
There was lots of playing outside.
We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.
And ended the night at Gramma's with Kira and Uncle Paul quite seriously blowing out the battery powered candle!
Our family stayed at Grandpa's, so we headed back there for bed where the dogs were anxiously awaiting our return...or not!
but a good bedtime story sure was!
we woke up the next morning, and Grandpa took us to a playground at a local church. the girls had a blast!
Of course what's a toy if you can't sit and ride on it!

There was lots of climbing...

and more climbing...

...and playing in the sand (together!).

and riding dinosaurs with grandpa!

we had dinner at Grandpa and Ms. Gail's that night with Jay, Millie, Kira and John.
and since our kids are never at a loss for finding fun, the doggy door became a huge source of entertainment ...
that everyone seemed to use except the dogs!
there was jumping (and laying) on the covered jacuzzi...
and just sitting in the yard and loving on cousins (love addie's hand on kira!)
the next day, we went to the Savannah River for a picnic with Gramma and Papa Al.
to say it was gorgeous is an understatement...
we took a long walk...
some of us walked...
and some of us soaked it in from up higher.
...some of us snuggled and slept.
and some of us walked away only to run right back to (by then very tired) mommy's arms!
everyone had a blast on the playground...
climbing and...
and sliding...
and swinging!
we ate lunch under a pavilion,
with Paul's cousin's children as well.
after lunch, there was a quick game of big girl hide and seek.
lots of jumping...
and blowing bubbles.
but one of the sweetest moments for this mama was when Addie took little Lily's hand and led her over to where everyone else was blowing bubbles. i just loved how caring and nurturing she was, making sure that Lily was just as much of a part of things as her baby sisters.
here are the 6 girl cousins that were there. there are five (yes 5!) more girl cousins and baby john!
kira and john both had on some variation of star wars shirts, so a picture with their daddy was a must!
but my favorite picture from the week...
baby john!
and now, i am officially caught up...at least through the end of January that is!
happy... 'er...ummm...Valentine's Day! :o)











































