Thanksgiving 2010

We spent this Thanksgiving with my family in Mississippi! I was so excited that we got to go this year...last year Stephen was in the midst of football playoffs and Jake was so little, the trip just wouldn't have been worth it. However, this year we were able to go and I was so excited to introduce Jake to his cousins, great Aunt, and great-grandaddy. It was Jake's longest road trip to date, 8 hours, but he did so well!

We left our house Wednesday morning and arrived just in time for dinner that night. Jake took a little bit to adjust to being in a new place with lots of new people. He was also going through a huge seperation-anxiety phase at the time, so he wasn't really 100% himself the whole week, but we still had a great time.

My great-aunt, Gene, and I on Thanksgiving

My new second cousin, Keaton, who we got to meet for the first time! Cutie-pie! Jake had lots of fun playing with him.

My cousin, T.J, who is growing up way to quickly, but at least for this year I can say that I am still taller than him...barely!

My beautiful cousin, Steph.

TJ was more than ready to dig in!

Keaton wanted the rolls!

I don't have any pictures of us eating Thankgiving dinner...Jake's schedule was off from being in a new place and he napped straight though dinner, and Stephen did too :)

Jake playing catch with TJ, whom he loved right away...he learned his name within minutes of us arriving.

Playing cars with Papa, his great-grandaddy.

And when Papa got tired, TJ took over.

Grandaddy with Uncle Charlie (my great uncle)

Jake and Daddy

When we woke up Friday morning it was SO cold! Jake, of course, would live outdoors if we let him and started asking to go 'outside' as soon as he woke up. 17 month olds don't really understand the concept of 'it's too cold.' He threw a HUGE fit!

So, after we got him calmed down and let the temperature get a little warmer, we bundled up and set out to explore. My family has about 7 acres, so there was plenty of things for Jake to check out.

All bundled up and happy again.

Jake and Daddy walking up the driveway...I love this picture!

SO happy to be outside!

I don't know who liked the swing more, Jake... ...or Stephen.

Thankfully, the next day was much nicer and we got to be oustide and playing most of the day.

Jake and I on Papa's old tractor. When I was a little girl, I spent many hours driving this tractor. It doesn't run very well anymore, so Jake and I just pretended we were driving.

Jake also thought the leaves were very cool.

We spent the rest of the day playing around the house. Jake was starting to act more like 'himself' the longer we were there.

Okay, I need to give some background for the next set of pictures. There are several large lakes near my Aunt's house. They are all there mainly for flood control from a nearby dam. In the winter they shut off the spillway from the dam and the lakes basically dry up for the winter. It's really neat to go down and explore the lake bottoms because it is just sand as far as you can see.

When Jake got up from his nap on Saturday afternoon, we set off for some more fun exploring. It was fun to see Jake's reaction to seeing sand for the first time.

my favorite...I just love those little footprints

TJ making a 'discovery'

so pretty!

walking with daddy

Auntie trying to show Jake how to use a walking stick.

One of the 'fun' things about the lake bottoms, is that some spots are still pretty soft and you can sink down if you aren't careful. Well, Jake was getting farther away from me than I liked, so I was hurrying to catch him....you can guess what happened...I got stuck up to my knees in the mud/sand. I was NOT happy!

These were my nice, clean shoes.

The best part was everyone laughing hysterically at me while I was stuck, instead of coming to help me. I'm just glad I didn't lose either of my shoes while I got myself un-stuck.

Here are more fun pictures from the lake bottoms.

The whole time we were there I tried to get a picture of Jake and I with my Grandaddy...this is the best I got...not so great, but oh well :)

I hope that Jake grows up to love trips to Mississippi as much as I did when I was growing up. It is truly one of my favorite places!