Thanksgiving 2012 part 1

 Thanksgiving this year was really awesome. Over the last several years, my side of the family hasn't gotten together much with extended family because there are just so many of us and it's too much work. Because of that, we typically have Thanksgiving with Ryan's family because they still make a big effort to get all the cousins and extended family together. Well, this year my family decided to go to Central (Richfield) and for the big Turkey feast with my dad's side. It was such a blast! There are tons of kids that are close in age, so it's really special for the cousins. It was really cool to see that next generation. It was totally worth the extra two hour drive. Besides, this is our "country" side of the family, and Ryan feels right at home. :)

Most of this post will just be a picture dump, but that's what people love anyway, right? Above left: My mom and Pierscen. Above right: Isabel (Necia's youngest.)

Above left: James and Preston. Preston was having a moment. Above right: Will, Kara, Samantha, and Hayzen.

No explanation needed. 

Above left: True Blue BYU fan, Dad with Pierscen. Above right: Sabrina, Necia, Owen, Preston and Deiderik.

Above: Sabrina and Pierscen clapping. Below: Deiderik, Owen, Hayzen, Isabel, and Jacki.

We gathered all the second generation kids together for a photo. It was pretty funny because James kept telling them things to yell before smiling and so Pierscen kept looking at the kids. 

...Until this picture below. As soon as the kids stopped yelling "Turkey" or "Thanksgiving" and smiled, Pierscen decided to yell at the top of his lungs. It was pretty funny. I am making it extra big so you can see. :)

The boys enjoyed a few rounds of Speed and regular basketball. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Most of the younger kids went down to the park and played for a while. We should have too! I know Caroline got some great pictures of the kids there. 

After we left, we stopped by Maple Grove, our old Spring Break fishing grounds. It was pretty darn chilly! Dad wanted to stop to collect some watercress for sandwiches which grows abundantly there. I remembered stopping there almost every trip to Richfield growing up, so when Ryan started taking me there to fish, it brought back great memories. 

We saw a couple tiny fish. They have some growing up to do before next spring/summer!

Here are Dad and Kara collecting watercress. It's yummy stuff.

Mom snapped this picture of us before we climbed back in the car and headed home.

I am so glad that we were able to go to Central. We haven't seen a lot of those cousins in a long time. I wish it wasn't such a drive from Wyoming, but we will definitely make the effort to get together more in the future. Family is by far the most important thing in the world.