Happy Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving week deep in the heart of Texas, Houston to be exact. While not the shortest flight in the world, the monkeys didn't do half bad. We had a great time in Houston. I'd like to write more, but I find myself running behind this week so I'll keep it to the greatest hits.

• A visit to the Erwins to hang out with Jill and Avery. Avery is gorgeous and sweet and tolerated her intruders, and I was so glad to see a kindred house full of toys. It was great to see them and I only wish we lived closer.
• A trip to the zoo with Peyton and MacKenzie. Peyton is another stunner (with friends like these, C and D are going to have to be really funny). The little ones enjoyed the animals and loved the carousel. Yet another family to whom we wished we lived closer.
• Some hang time with Andrew's high school friends (who, incidentally, C/D now think of as their friends).
• Lots of "drive drive drive" time for C/D (they love to play in cars), mostly in Sam's cars, and unfortunately once in our friend Nick's car which ended with C breaking his stereo by sticking a quarter in the cd slot (please send us the bill Nick).
• A plethora of goodies waiting for them in Houston, from "fuzzy crocs" (I have had to hide here for a bit until they can fit in them because if they see them they will refuse to wear anything else) and candy cane jackets to buses and grocery carts and vacuums all waiting to be pushed.
• More space inside and out than C and D had ever seen before.
• Lots of cousin time with Ainsley and Hayes. Ainsley was so sweet and couldn't understand why C/D didn't want to be hugged and kissed all the time (sometimes almost five year olds hugs can be a little overwhelming for a 22 month old, but that is hard to explain to a very sweet almost five year old). Hayes was a trooper, sharing his grandparents and their toys (although he initially referred to Sam as "My Sammy" as in "not your Sammy." Who can blame him?)
• A great thanksgiving feast, and great food in general.
• A valiant but failed attempt to get a picture of all four cousins together.
• 80 degrees weather one day, 45 degrees weather the next.
• Queso, but not enough of it.

Getting home was more painful than getting there, but all in all it could have been much much worse. Here's hoping everyone else had a great break too.

Here's some pics, I'll put some videos up later.