We started November with a quick trip to Missouri for our nephew Nathan's wedding. Eva got to be a flower girl but I'm pretty sure she felt like the bride, lol!
Back at home the Thanksgiving feasts began. Eva is the only one that is young enough that parents were invited to eat with them. She loved having us there but come recess time she couldn't leave fast enough, hence the mouth full of turkey in the picture!
Whenever the kids are home they love to take Lily on a walk.
Before we knew it was time to head back to Missouri for Thanksgiving! Rich really wanted to surprise Julie with a bench for her dinning table so he spent every spare moment, the week before we left, working on a bench. He is the sweetest!
Off we went! Arabella crocheted more than half of the drive.
It's so cute to watch.
I also love watching their expressions during movies:)
These girls never waste any time getting back into doing what they do together.
Thanksgiving morning there were 3 turkeys in the front yard. I thought Eva would be so excited so I called her to come see them. She did think it was really cool but her excitement faded pretty quickly. She followed me into the kitchen and asked where the turkey was that grandma was cooking. I showed her and she said she was sad for the turkey because there could be 4 turkeys in the front yard if grandma wan't cooking one. She also said she would NOT be eating turkey! I wasn't going to make her eat turkey but I did put some on her plate. Later, after we were done eating, I asked her if she ate turkey and she said, "Yes. I was freaking out! When I was holding it Greyson bumped my arm and it moved!" Then she grabbed her neck and said, "I think it just moved again!" Hahaha!
One thing the Bakers do that I wasn't used to but now I thoroughly enjoy is the feast before the feast. Everyone brings an appetizer and they just snack and snack on all sorts of delicious food BEFORE we eat the main meal. It's a double edged sword. It's all so good and we're all so hungry that we stuff ourselves and then we double stuff ourselves on the actual meal. I'm most definitely not complaining;P
Julie always hosts Thanksgiving and does such a good job. This is the kids table.
The adults get a fancy table too! Everything turned out delicious this year!
Julie also does these candy stuffed turkeys that the kids love, of course, because they get to fill them with candy.
They each always have to have their picture taken with Daisy.
The whole gang!
The next day was our day to spend in Branson with my family. It was one of my favorite visits. We got there and my mom and Leon were already there, my mom was busy in the kitchen making tortillas which is all of the grandkids(and adults) absolute favorite!
We hung out and talked and did a lot of laughing when we were showing my mom and Leon different Snapchat filters. The baby filter was our favorite, haha!
It was Black Friday so we HAD to do a little shopping! My mom hung back with the kids while all of the adults and Julian and Damian went out for some deals. I actually found some awesome deals but that wasn't the highlight of our day. Every year the Bakers go down to Branson to watch the Dutton's Christmas show, after Thanksgiving. This is my favorite night because it's the one time a year both sides of my family are all together.
I don't get to watch the show very often but every time I do I just swell with pride for my nephews!
After the show, Josiah was so excited to give his cousins a backstage tour. They loved it and now that they are older they think it's so cool that their Aunt Amy is a Dutton, lol! She was so sweet to them and spoiled them with Dutton gear and then took them over to the gift shop for some ice cream.
Then it was back to Marshfield for us. We spent the next day letting the kids hang out and play. Maya and Luke flew kites, dug in dirt, hung out in their fort and just had the best time! The kids LOVE getting to spend time with all of their cousins.
That night, around 10:30, when the kids should have been in bed, grandma let them decorate her tree. There are no rules or bedtimes when we are at grandma Bakers!
