Thanksgiving

Our first Thanksgiving together, Noah and I were living in Caronport, Saskatchewan. We made the trek out to his Grandma’s house in Manitoba for Thanksgiving, my and Kaylie’s first time to the province. I think I remember us getting lost. I’m pretty sure it was Noah’s fault. (Because this is my blog and he’ll need to get his own blog to defend himself.) Seven years later, we’re spending our third? fourth? Thanksgiving here, enjoying Grandma’s amazing kitchen skills.

To maximize our time here, we left the city on Friday at noon. Noah and Kaylie ditched out early from work and school. (Kaylie was not real stoked about this, seeing as school is her very favorite place to be AND SHE MIGHT MISS GYM.) (Or art.) (And that would be HORRIBLE.) The kids traveled quite well, although Preston got a little grouchy toward the end. He’s not a big fan of car trips. It rained incredibly hard for the majority of the trip, which made passing the bazillion trucks we passed quite scary. Apparently I’ve been away from BC so long that I’ve forgotten how to drive both in the rain and on a two-way highway.

Grandma had an amazing spread when we arrived — she had even prepared (fat-free gallstone-friendly) food that I could eat. We never ever go hungry when we are here.

Lexi (a cousin the same age as Kaylie) was waiting here when we arrived, as a surprise for Kaylie. They were inseparable for the next 48 hours, until we dragged Kaylie home from their place Sunday morning to get ready for church. I didn’t even have a chance to get a photo of them together, we saw them so little.

Oh, wait, I lied. I got a blurry one of the three girls.

Liliana was lonely when the older girls took off to Lexi’s house, so we took a little walk to the park. I have to say, I’m quite a big fan of small-town Manitoba. It’s so peaceful and quiet and I feel safe enough to let Kaylie walk a couple blocks with a friend. In the city, I hardly let her walk down the street by herself. (Although, to be fair, little girls Kaylie’s age and younger are … propositioned … by men driving by.) (I’m dead serious.)

Liliana found another little girl at the park and invited the girl to play with her. My kids are so shy.

When the little girl left, Liliana played happily by herself, climbing and sliding, climbing and sliding. I love that she has the ability (and imagination) to play — quite contently — by herself.

We didn’t do as much walking as I would have liked, but it was quite windy. I’ll never get enough of the prairie sky, though.

We headed to a field after church Sunday morning to take a couple photos and Kaylie hadn’t brought her sweater. I let her wear mine until we got there. I’d left my phone in the pocket, not really thinking much of it. A couple hours after we got home, I was looking for it and was instantly filled with dread when it was not where I’d left it. Noah and the girls were at the park and Preston was napping, so I sent a couple tweets to Noah, since they go to his phone like text messages, and he and the girls retraced our earlier steps and found my phone in a ditch. PHEW.

I set up Find my iPhone on both our phones immediately.

I’m thinking about ordering all five of us matching track suits. What do you think?

Noah and Preston watched sports while Grandma cooked up a delicious turkey dinner. I was wondering how I was going to get through a turkey dinner without gravy (there was gravy, I just couldnt have it), but I did and it was still delicious. I’ve developed a fondness for turnips. I’d never had turnips until I had thanksgiving dinner with the inlaws before they were the inlaws (before I’d even met Noah) and I liked them instantly. Now, they’re a favorite.

After dinner, Preston hung out with Aunt Liz

and Liliana snuggled up to Uncle Bob.

She was so tired, she sat there almost completely still, besides when she was asking Uncle Bob why he didn’t ride his horse to Grandma’s house and where was his horse and could she ride it? When Uncle Bob left, he told the girls they could go riding this morning. But, we woke up to rain this morning and the ride was canceled. I’m sure they’ll get other opportunities.

Now, I’m off to attempt to beat Grandma and Noah in a game of Scrabble, a not-easy feat I’ve achieved twice this weekend. Wish me luck. Oh, and Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving!

Filed under: family, traveling