Giving Thanks

We didn't get to spend it with family, but great friends and one more little turkey to be grateful for, made this Thanksgiving extra special anyway!

A week before, in a rare moment of "mom craftiness" we made turkeys out of Oreos and candy corn. Jon loved making them, and insisted on making one for literally every person in his life: the neighbors, his sports coach, swimming teachers, the entire staff at the gym daycare, his primary teachers, the receipt-checker at Costco (Dex)... everyone. I drew the line at mailing them to the people far away, and we still went through three packages of Oreos and two trips to the grocery store to replenish supplies! I love this guy and his giving little heart.

For Thanksgiving weekend, we drove to Chicago. We stayed in a hotel one night where we swam, hit up the breakfast buffet, and visited the Christkindle market for the first time--where we ate gingerbread that Fabio is still talking about. It was seriously so! good!

Clearly the boys had an amazing time at the market--

more gingerbread for mommy and daddy, though!

And then it was time for the true attraction of Chicago: the Flemings.

the man behind the man

Thanks, Adam!

Adam and Lindsay are responsible for Fabio graduating from BYU, convincing him to retire the Sponge Bob sweatpants in favor of  "big boy clothes," and challenging his height requirement for dating. They are basically the reason he is a functional, married, adult. And they were visiting Lindsay's parents just outside the Windy City for Thanksgiving.

And because her parents are awesome, they invited us (complete strangers) to join them for the day and then to spend the night--thus forging a second generation of awesome friendship as J spent 36 hours shooting aliens, putting out fires, watching football, and catching bad guys with their twin 6-year-old boys. (They also have two beautiful daughters whom he'll probably appreciate more at a later visit; but for now, no guns, no fun.)

The boys had Jon at "Dusty Crophopper."

 The adults got to talk, and laugh, and cook, and eat. Ben got to people watch. Basically, we had a perfect weekend and the boys have never slept deeper. And as a fitting close to our Thanksgiving season, Jon gave our generous hostess, Miss Julie, the very last turkey cookie!