Thanksgiving Vacation in Utah

This is a long time coming, but here's my post about Thanksgiving. I hate that it has taken me so long to do this, 'cause I have forgotten all the cute little stories. Here's my best take on it though. : )


The plane rides to Utah weren't bad at all, even though we dreaded it. For almost every plane ride we had to be separated because of the number of oxygen masks. And starting in January, Jackson will be get his own seat. Sure, it costs more money for our family to fly now....but (here's my effort for the "glass is half full") at least he won't be sitting in my lap the whole time. Talk about exhausting.

Jackson loved watching the planes, as you can see in the picture. He's such a good traveler. We really have nothing to worry about with him on planes.


Braden is so young, we don't have anything to worry about with him either! He just slept the whole time. Our only problem with him was the fact that he kept pooping!! He pooped before the flight, during the flight, and after the flight. He couldn't keep it in! On the flight home, he pooped when he woke up, pooped before we boarded the plane, then pooped on the plane, and then pooped after the plane. How much more can this kid poop!? It was mindboggling to us.

Before our flight to Salt Lake City, we were sitting around waiting to board when the pilot walked up to us and started talking to us about Jackson and Braden. He was a very friendly man and said we should come to the front of the plane and let Jackson see all the gadgets and buttons. Fun! Jackson did love the buttons and stuff, but was a little confused who the guy was. haha

When the plane was taking off, the pilot got on the intercom and gave us a shout-out! Neither Trapper nor I can remember the exact phrase, but he said something like, "And if you're traveling with children, like the young couple from Cleveland..."

Little things like that make the long trip more enjoyable.

Braden got a chance to play with his cousin Layla. She's only about a month younger. Unfortunately, Braden has a tendency to grab and pull hair or pinch anything he can get his hands on. Poor little Layla had to watch out for him.

The bungalow was a fun place to play games and to watch movies. Jackson loved playing air hockey.

Mario Kart was a favorite activity, along with Settlers of Zarahemla. It's the same as Settlers of Catan. It's just the Mormon version.

I love visiting family for the sheer fact that I don't have to hold my child very much. Lots of aunts and uncles who will do it for me! Braden, however, is suffering from separation anxiety and can't be without his mommy for too long, especially when he's tired or hungry. The night we went out to see "New Moon," Braden was so stubborn that he wouldn't take a bottle or even a cup of pumped breastmilk. He only wanted mama. *sigh* I hope this is a short phase.

Grandma's house was the funnest place to be. She had a gazillion little toys and they also made homemade play-dough. Jackson liked making them into little balls and throwing them around the room. He had to get down after that and pick them all up. Look at that face though. As soon as I pulled the camera out, he smiled. It was such a sweet smile too.

"Papa," as Jackson calls him, loved holding the babies. I couldn't wait for Braden to yank on Papa's mustache, but it never happened. Papa still got a taste of our mobile little boy though and got weary after holding him when he just wouldn't stop moving. I'm telling ya, this kid doesn't sit still.

Jackson has his eating issues, but at Grandma's he ate really well. He asked for more and more pancakes or waffles everyday. It was a sight to see.

And in this last picture, we are at Trapper's Grandma and Grandpa Yates' house in Lake Point, Utah. Trapper and I were the lucky ones 'cause we were the first to arrive there and got to choose which bedroom we wanted. Grandma said we could even have her room with the tv and bathroom, so that's what we chose! It was awesome.

Trapper has such a large family. I forget people's names all the time. Once I finally start catching on, I have to wait another whole year to meet everyone again!! And then I'm back to square one.

Anyway, it was a wonderful thanksgiving, with tons of food, and lots of laughs.