A Thankful Thanksgiving!

We were sure grateful my parents took some time out from their busy lives to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. It makes SUCH a difference to us to be able to stay at home and keep the kids' sleeping/napping arrangements the same, favorite foods and toys here, and just their basic schedule the same-- it makes my life soooooo much easier, plus not having to mess with all of the red-tape associated with getting Jon allowed out of the state of Nevada was super appreciated. And we got the bonus of having company right HERE-- at home!! Here's a rundown of the week:

My parents flew in and Taylor joined the par-tay from BYU all about the same time, so as soon as Wednesday morning dawned we headed to the Paris casino for the world famous buffet. I had never tried it, but my parents have sworn by it for about 10 years, so I got to finally taste for myself. It was some AMAZING french cuisine, for sure!!


After brunch we headed across the street to the Bellagio to see the water gardens and giant pumpkins (some weighed almost 1,000 lbs)!

We just missed the fountain show, but now we have an excuse to go back since I've heard they use the Mo-Tab version of the Hallelujah chorus for one of them. Now wouldn't that be something to hear in Sin City?


Thursday morning we got our chef on and tried brining the turkey the night before to make it super moist and flavorful, and I will never do it differently! In addition to turkey we had an amazing array of cuisine-- Greek salad, celery and apple herbed stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, whole wheat rolls, strawberry pretzel jello salad, and banana cream and pumpkin pie (Bobby Flay's Throw-down winning recipe). We ate ourselves silly! Taylor and Jon got to see the new Harry Potter that night, but I decided to go to bed early so I would be well-rested for the girls' shopping trip to the outlet malls in Primm, right on the California border, the next morning. They had some amazing deals, plus a Williams Sonoma outlet, and Lucy was a total trooper through it all. I love that I get to really shop at least once a year!

Saturday we headed to Valley of Fire (see previous post), watched the Cougars take a hit from Utah, and then went out for my Dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Tom the Turkey! We had some delicious southern BBQ at a local place called Memphis Barbeque.

Sunday we got to just hang out before and after church, as well as tune in to my favorite. reality. competition. ever. (and the only TV I guiltily allow myself to watch on Sundays), the Amazing Race. Monday we did a little more shopping and then got lunch at In and Out on the Strip. Lucy was amazingly calm and composed all that morning as I tried to prepare her for the fact that Grandma and Grandpa were leaving (she BAWLS any time ANY one leaves), and I realized my mistake as soon as we pulled up to the airport-- she thought she was going with them (we leave in a week to go to Boise for a few days to welcome my sister Whitney home from her mission and she thought it was time)!! Whoops. Calamity ensued and lasted the entire ride home. Oh well. We had a GREAT week and are so THANKFUL for all our family on both sides, especially recently as we've appreciated their extra love and support and understanding even more as we've dealt with all things moving, military, and more!