Thanksgiving Travels

Several years ago we went to Connecticut for Thanksgiving. While there we went to NYC and mom fell off a curb and broke her foot in a horrible way.  She still hasn't recovered.  And two years ago we went to Connecticut for Thanksgiving and while going to IKEA we were rear ended by a tow truck. I'm not sure any of us is over that.   Over the summer we went to D.C. and on the way home the transmission blew.

Some people would say, don't go north.  And they did.  But Travis loves me and  wanted to take me to Maine to visit my bestest friend in the whole wide world, even if our luck was not so hot.  We took all the necessary precautions.  Well let's just say we really need to stop going north.  We had a late start (6:20am) because we were up half the night with Kenzie coughing and neither of us could get up at 4:45am to leave at 5am.  At 8am we heard a large clunk and well that was that.  We pulled over.  Thankfully we were point three of a mile from the local Ford dealer and being 8:04am, they were open.  After 3 1/2 hours they told us that even though they know there is a problem (because they heard it) their diagnostics machine can't pinpoint it.  Sorry.  Enjoy your trip.  Oh and I wouldn't take that car to Maine.  Thanks.

We rented a car.  We went from a mini van, packed (you know what that means) to a Vibe.  Have you seen a Vibe?  They are half the size of a van. Half.

It had XM radio.  And really good gas mileage.   That is it.  They have no floor space.

We made it to Connecticut at 11:35pm.  We were exhausted.  Grandma's dog barked half the night.  Dumb dog.

We woke up not so refreshed but was excited to get to Maine.  It was just 3 and 1/2 away and we felt great!  (Can you feel the dripping sarcasm?)

 I am so glad we went!  We enjoyed a relaxed, Thanksgiving dinner.

The next morning Kristy and I enjoyed a day-after-Thanksgiving shopping spree.  Without the money.  The weather was awful.  But it didn't stop us from a trip to the Christmas Tree Shop.  And Target.  And Old Navy.  And well a bunch of stores.  Kristy managed to finish all her Christmas shopping.

We left the guys home with all 7 kids and a list.

Saturday brought more fun.  Bailey is a Make a Wish child and they had set up a time for her family to spend some time with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa.   They took a group photo of the Make a Wish kids, wrote their letters to Santa, mailed them, had milk and cookies, their face's painted, balloon animals, made crafts, got Santa hats and Mickey Mouse Ears and of course their picture with Santa.   He also read them "Twas The Night Before Christmas."  It was a great time!  The best ever, according to Nate.

 

 

This is Kenzie with her new friend Scott, from Boston.  He is an incredible artist that had very interesting tatoos that he designed and he does charactacures at Faneuil Hall in Boston.  I know, way too much information but we were there a long time.  He advised me to never ruin my skin with a tattoo. Interesting.

 

This is my favorite photo.  Kenzie is telling him about her "wiggly"  tooth.

I am now in the Christmas spirit. And I am thankful for my healthy kiddos.  It was so sad to see all the Make a Wish kids, who earned their spot by having a terminal disease.  And yet they were so excited about their opportunity.  If you get a chance, go to Macy's and mail your Santa letters.  They will donate $1 for every letter "mailed".  And say a prayer for those parents.  They need it.  Let the festivities begin!