Thanksgiving pt. 2

For the record, these were all the families that were at the Thanksgiving: (Hosts) Busby's = Keith, Anika, Kayla, Luke, Darren, Charlotte, Jared; Western's = Eric, Shirley, Olivia, Afton, Eila; Smith's = Scott, me, Addilyn; Smith's = Grandma, Grandpa, Isaac; Busby's (Keith's parents) = John, Gail. All but Keith's parents stayed at the Busby's house.

We made it Pennsylvania Monday afternoon. For FHE Addilyn taught one of her favorite songs, "Do as I'm Doing". It was a hit.

Grandpa and Grandma doing popcorn popping which followed.

I don't remember exactly what days we did what, but on one of them we went into Scranton where they have a steam engine museum. Scott helped the older kids do this ranger thing that was like a scavenger hunt and you had to find the answers to the questions. In the end everyone got a badge.

Charlotte, Afton, Addi

Issac, Keith with Charlotte, Grandma, Luke, Grandpa, me with Eila

 Watching their film presentation of a guy who worked on steam engines when they first came about.

This cute girl

Kayla, Luke, Darren

They had an archeological dig (why at train museum, I don't know) for kids and they spent quite some time playing in it and getting dirty. Addilyn played for a few minutes until she started putting the coal pebbles in her mouth.

Afton

The mail train- Scott and Addi

Afterwards we got pizza....lots of pizza. They said it was the closest thing to New York pizza they could get. It was really good, especially the marinara pizza.

mmm foood

The candy shop- Kayla, Grandma (Gail) Busby, Shirley, and me

As tradition goes, we had a girls day. We went into downtown Tunkhannock and walked around their cute shops. We were gone for many hours while the men stayed home with the kids. It was a really nice break! The candy shop was this cool old school one where you count the candy and pay for each peice or weight.

showing off my loot

Inside one of the many shops- Anika, Gail, Grandma, me, Shirley, Kayla

Outside the candy shop- Gail, Grandma, me, Shirley, Kayla

The chearleaders

This was the first Thanksgiving that I (and most of the other wives) have ever seen turkey bowl. Usually I don't go because it's so stinking cold (don't get me wrong, it was in the 30s still). But man, the kids needed to get out of the house! It was like the house was melting. We had lots of fun watching them play, having the kids run around, and keeping them off the play field!

Oh ya...

We all were impressed by this picture of Eric. Aren't you?

Addilyn was the cutest. She really loved watching and kept trying to play

My little powderpuff

For the record, Scott wants you to know he caught this.

This picture is the proof that he did.

With some brotherly love, Isaac was mad.

And now for Thanksgiving food. There was plenty to go around! And it was all delicious. I must say my favorite part was the gravy. It was Keith's first time making it and it was so so good.

The food...

The pie!

(Afton and Addilyn were putting the tambourine on each other)

That night we did our singing with with kids. We had already done our choir practices as adults, but this one we bring out the musical instruments. It only lasts for one song, but everyone is happy when it's over. Not that we don't love doing it, it's just most of the instruments are banging ones...

I think Addilyn will be a piano player

Issac and Darren

Grandpa Busby with Charlotte

King Tut

That night before the Busby's went back to their hotel, Grandpa Busby was coerced into doing his King Tut. (originally by Steve Martin on SNL)

 The big event was on Friday when we had Kayla's baptism. Their church building is super tiny! After all it s a branch. After the baptism their branch had their annual left overs dinner. It was very convenient to have dinner right after! There were a lot of people who came to the baptism. One of my favorite parts was when all of the cousins got up to sing. I was already planning on being up their to hold Addilyn, but I ended up holding both her and Afton. Talk about weight lifting!

Charlotte, Afton, Addi

Keith, Anika, Kayla

Everybody

the dinner

Overall the week was a success! The cousins all got along and had a blast with each other. On the way home Sunday, the Westerns caravaned with us to our house. We had so much traffic getting home. They stayed at our house Sunday night and Monday morning we played with Cabo and went to Costco. They drove the last 5 hours to their place in Georgia. We very much look forward to another massive party at our house in just a few weeks!