Thanksgiving, 2022 with Grandma Nancy and Gerald Tews.

Through some extenuating circumstances, this year we had a really special opportunity to spend some extra time with Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Gerald over Thanksgiving break. Mom was sick and couldn’t host and Kevin wasn’t feeling well, so Stan stayed in New Mexico to be there with him. And then Ashley and Eliza slept over at Josie’s house. So, we had lots of special time with Grandma and Grandpa.

The shooting crew.

I remember eating Thanksgiving dinner at this table when I was this size.

And then graduating to this spot when I was a little bigger.

And then finally graduating to the adult table.

Dessert time!

YUM!

Playing a Thankful game after dinner. Some tender time.

Cousin veg out after dinner.

The Geralds napping after dinner.

Zoey and Aunt Josie.

Card games in the loft. It’s so fun to see our kids do some of the same things we did.

We are so thankful for our family. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t all be together, but we really enjoyed this special opportunity this year.

Kathryn made such a lovely cake. And that 3D printed topper is pretty cool too.

Zoey did not think it was appropriate to eat cake on the floor.

Once placed in a proper eating spot, she was much happier.

November is a double birthday month now. Zoey has turned 1, and Ashley has turned 9. On Zoey’s birthday, we whisked her off on a long car ride down to see cousin Lily get blessed. She was amazing and such a good girl in the car.

Here we are opening some presents before heading out.

Then her birthday cake the next day at Stan and Mel’s house.

Ashley quite enjoyed the ride down to New Mexico. Landon and Eliza rode the whole way down with Mom and Dad, and she and Zoey came with us in our car. That meant she basically had us all to herself for the day, and she took great advantage of opportunity to plan a pretty cool science themed birthday party.

Ashley’s birthday morning. In a twist, we did not have German Pancakes for breakfast, but instead had chocolate croissants and scrambled eggs.

So stylish.

Instead of cake for the party, we had German pan-CAKEs. As one of the friends was asking for seconds or possibly thirds, she said this was the best birthday cake she had ever had!

We learned about the periodic table, elements, and played with carbon dioxide in it’s three states. Solid (dry ice for the root beer), liquid (dissolved in the root beer), and gaseous (cold white clouds, fiz, and blowing up balloons with vinegar and baking soda reactions).

The other thing we did that was probably my favorite experiment was to boil a red cabbage and collect it’s purple juice which is a pH indicator. Then we experimented with different acids and bases changing the color and then changing it back. I practiced ahead of time and had a bit of a show I went through. So fun!

Check out Kathryn’s latest violin project. She played some incredible clarinet, violin, and piano trio pieces with Amy Gabbitas and Carmen Hall, both extremely talented ladies. This was part of the Timpanogos Chamber Music Series of concerts. We are all so proud of her!

BRAVO! BRAVO!