Thanksgiving Vacation

Matt’s parents hosted our Thanksgiving getaway this year in Gulf Shores.  It may seem a little unusual to celebrate turkey day at the beach but it’s actually very relaxing and is the perfect place for me to get some fresh air and reflect on all the blessings I have in my life and give thanks. 

Each morning I would get up to go for a walk/run (trying to get back into it!) and have some much needed quiet time. I prayed a lot during this time, realizing that I don’t thank God enough for the good life he has blessed me with. It’s really humbling to think back on all the happenings of this past year and how we continue to reap so many of His rewards. It was also some precious time to and prepare for the holiday season ahead, knowing chaos will begin soon and wanting to not lose sight of the what we are really celebrating.

So Thanksgiving Vacation is our version of Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation!  Crazy, wild, fun but exhausting!  In addition to us [Stephanie, Matt, Campbell, Sara Gray], Matt’s parents[ Helen Claire, Tynes], grandmother [Edith] & aunt [Sid],  Helen Claire’s sister [Katherine], brother-in-law [Pat], niece [Julie], brother [Michael], sister-in-law [Cap] and mother [Jerry] all joined us this year. 

While it was hectic at times (6 adults+ 2 kids=one condo), it felt like what family is supposed to. Matt' has always told me that some of his favorite childhood memories were at “Jerry’s Beach Trip” which was when Matt’s grandmother Jerry (HC’s mom) gathered her four kids and all their spouses and children together with her sister’s family for one huge family beach trip.  Since Matt is an only child, we typically represent half of the family at his family functions so it was very different but fun to have extended family join us.

The girls were both wild & out of their routine but adored and doted on by everyone. I got a considerable amount of Christmas shopping under my belt but was still fairly lazy.  And I think Matt’s family got a good dose of life in the Baker household!

Here’s our Thanksgiving Vacation album:

 Every morning Campbell would wake up and go to the kitchen to see what she & Clairee were going to make for breakfast.

 Cooking with Clairee!  This is their special time together and they’re a pretty good team.  Clairee told Campbell that when she got old, they could open a Pancake & Waffle Shop together.

Lots of play time together!

Silly Sisters!!

Cuddling up to watch a movie with Julie. Julie is Matt’s cousin and my God-send! She is getting her Masters in Education, so good with kids and Campbell absolutely adores her.

Campbell “reading” Edie’s book with her magnifier. 

Playing with Aunt Sid--she’s so silly!

Uncle Pat feeding Sara Gray

Coloring with Julie

Swimming in the indoor pool

On the beach

Sara Gray’s first stroll on the sand

Getting her feet in the sand for the first time

 

Playing on the beach with Julie

Look-it’s dolphins!

Aunt Cap & Uncle Michael brought Campbell her very own little turkey cake from Louisiana. They have a granddaughter named Campbell and are just so sweet to us.
  Aunt Cap: you made the blog!! Thanks for reading!!

A beautiful Thanksgiving Day view from our balcony

Campbell told everyone “Happy Tanksgibing”

Sisters checking out the pretty day

 Clairee & Sara Gray at Thanksgiving dinner

The whole crew

Daddy & his girls

Aunt Katherine, who told Campbell all kinds of stories about Herman, the bad elf with bad manners.

Jerry, Edith, Campbell & Katherine

 Tummy Time!

This was Campbell’s star chart.  She got starts when she got caught with good manners. As you can see, some days were better than others…  Thanks Sid for the great idea!

 

Campbell giving SG “zerberts”

 

WAR EAGLE DADDY!!  Campbell was soo excited about Auburn and reminded her Daddy very often the first quarter of the Iron Bowl…

Unfortunately, the Tigers couldn’t pull it out and I lost my other daughter to the nasty SabaNation.  Can you see what someone had written in the sand? and then what someone ELSE did!