a HAPPY Thanksgiving

We started our Thankful Vacay on Wednesday with a trip to the Greatest Show on Earth (Ringling Bros Circus), and let me tell you, it totally WAS.  

Just look at these faces!  All taken in response to "What'd you think of THAT act?"

  Truly, how do you top seeing the poodles jump through hoops,

an elephant paint a picture

and getting to meet the dare-devil motorcycle riders (and sit on their cycles!)

And that was all PRE-show!  

We were awe-struck with every act!  Carter's convinced that he wants to be a dare-devil motorcyclist or one of the acrobats that dove through the ring of fire and knives.  Addison, on the other hand, always gives me a hug after Carter makes these comments and says, "Don't worry, Mom!  I won't."  Cute!

Oh yes, and things did get a little fiesty in the lion cage with one lioness :)  That was...exciting.

Then the next morning, being Turkey Day and all, we left at 6 AM on our way to MN.

SUCH a good drive.  We were all organized and ready to pull out on time.  The kids were angels!  It was perfect!

Until my sis, Cheri, (the T-day cook) called and said she was in the ER with her 3-year old getting stitches :(

Poor GIRL!

But aside from the bandage on her chin, that didn't deter ANYTHING!

No sooner had we arrived than huge feathery snowflakes began to fall.

Celebrating the first snowfall of the season -- in thin pants and sneakers because snow was NOT in the 58-degree forecast!

 But that didn't scare anyone away from building the first frosty :)  Apparently it was still standing strong a week later.

We had a scrumptious awesome dinner, just like you, and before changing into PJs we thought that perhaps we should have taken a family picture at some point during the holiday.  This is the best we got with tired kids and one sicky.

 The kids LOVED being with their cousins, and I LOVED laughing with my sister, even if we only saw her for a couple hours.  It made me feel like I could just come over for dinner anyday (forgetting about the 7+hours it took to get there).  After our pie, digestion, and goodbyes, we left their house to spend the rest of the weekend with my brother, Shaun, and his family.  This was packed with AWESOMENESS, as always...racquetball, swimming, playing together, movies, Mall of America's amusement park, American Girl Store, the high school State-Winning football game, decorating for Christmas, ...and leftovers :)  We left on Sunday afternoon, and again were blessed with SUCH a great drive home.  It was wonderful!