Giving Thanks Vacation Part 2

Happy Thanksgiving!




After a late night of prep and crafties (see above), Thanksgiving came in great spirits! Kristen made a delicious turkey, among other thanksgiving delights. The kids were being so good playing outside and letting the grown ups get everything ready.


Orson petting the dog nicely after telling him he needed to be nice to Oscar.

Look at those smiles! What cute kids we have!

Kristen and Dan working on the feast.

After all that playing outside, Orson and Sofie took a nap. Which left Kristen and me time to REALLY enjoy a peaceful Thanksgiving dinner. Look at this amazing feast! Kristen the food was delicious and Dan and I were grateful we got to spend time with you and Jason for the holiday!

One of the quirks I have (that I think I picked up from Denein and her scrapbooking) is to take a picture of the holiday food plate. Don't all of these yummies look good?

Everyone sitting down ready to eat. Left to right: Jake (Jason's brother), Kelsey (Jake's gf now fiance), Dan, Jason, Me

"And they'll feast, and they'll feast feast feast feast!"

So everyone was done eating and I still had food on my plate. This is me showing that I had food left because everyone was teasing me. Let me remind everyone of my previous post... I had food poisoning and therefore my stomach must have shrunk. My brothers would be so appalled that I, a Bloxham, didn't finish my Thanksgiving dinner but I really was full! My stomach really did shrink... last thing I'm gonna say.

Sofie feasting on dessert

Orson feasting as well



Snuggling up with Sofie... I love these pictures! Thanks Kristen




So Thanksgiving was a success and we had tons of fun spending time together since we don't get to see each other often. Great day!

Giving Thanks Vacation Part 1

For Thanksgiving 2011 we were able to spend it with the McNinchs. We were SO excited when they asked us to spend Thanksgiving with them.

It started out kind of rocky. We found out it was going to snow in the mountains on the morning we planned to leave so we left for Grand Junction at about 9:30 PM and stayed at my sister Denein's so we would beat the weather. We were able to see some family before leaving for Utah.

Here are my guys sleeping in the car on the way there. They look so much alike. :) Oscar was on the other side of Orson.



We were so relieved when we got to Jason and Kristen's house. Dan wasn't feeling well and we were ready to be out of the car.

Here are our kiddos taking a bath.




I love Sofie's cheesy smile in this picture.


Dan had been taking a nap when Jason got home and after we ate dinner I started feeling pretty horrible. Dan and I got food poisoning before we left. We found out that all of Dan's family got really sick too except Orson and Zander who didn't eat the meatloaf. It was awful!!! I'd never had food poisoning so bad before and it was not how I wanted to spend our vacation.

The next morning Dan and I slept in as much as we could so thankfully Kristen was able to take Orson while we slept. He seemed to have a good time though.

Sitting in bed watching cartoons




Orson and Sofie got along so well and played together all week.


We also watched lots of movies... (mostly because a lot of the week was a sick week, I think Jason and Orson were the only ones who didn't get sick) thankfully our kids will sit through a whole movie.
Orson, Kristen and Sofie chillin on the couch with a good flick. (Finding Nemo, Kung Fu Panda or How to Train Your Dragon were the three favorites)

While Kristen wasn't feeling well, we got to spend some time with Sofie :) Dan is showing Sofie some of Orson's favorite songs on YouTube.


Jason and Orson got to play a lot too :)

I love the Zoo

We decided to take a family outing in November to the zoo (sorry I'm kind of behind). Orson is getting old enough that he can say most of the animal names. He also likes being outside and looking at cool things.

We had him take a nap before we went so he wouldn't be grouchy and as soon as he woke up he started telling us what he wanted to see at the zoo. "A monkey, a rhino, monkey, rhino" that's what we heard the whole way to the zoo.

My favorite... the tiger! Rarrr

They are so amazing


Orson measuring up... look how big it is compared to him

Daddy and Orson

Mommy and Orson

I can't remember if this was a jaguar or a leopard... I think it's a leopard. It's cool whatever it is.

This was a wolf of some kind and I wish I would have taken a picture of it standing because it's legs were SUPER long, like stilts.


Giraffe. I always forget that they are REALLY tall... I'm always taken aback by how tall they are

Nick the Sea Lion did a little show. So cool!



Ta-da! The Rhino! Orson was so excited. He loves them!



African Elephant

Asian Elephant


MONKEYS!!! I think Orson freaked out the most about the monkeys. He ran around saying monkey, monkey monkey! I didn't get very many good pictures of the monkeys because I was running around paying attention to Orson :)

Look closely... yes, this orangatan is "reading" this magazine!

It was so awesome! It would flip to a page and run his finger over the pictures and then flip to another page.


We had to take a picture of this ridiculousness. This is the fattest squirrel I've ever seen! It was just wandering the zoo... YUCK


Orson is about as tall as an Emperor Penguin


The majestic Lion

Do you see the Lion in the background?

Orson's chosen method of travel. eek!


Our wonderful family at the zoo. We had so much fun and can't wait to go again. I'm thinking a Zoo membership is in our future... :)