Chauncey and Melanie and their kids were visiting as well. Chauncey and James got along famously. They seemed very evenly matched and when one of them got tired of playing, they just left the game with no fighting. It was great.
We had tons of fun activities, depicted for you in the pictures below with explanatory captions above the photo they describe.
1. the turkey pinata. James and Gillian had fun helping with the paper mache, but the poor turkey never really got finished, I lost my energy. It never did get its feet or beak. There is also a picture of James in his Pilgrim outfit he made at preschool--he loved it and insisted on wearing it in the car on the drive down. Needless to say, the paper outfit didn't survive well.
2. The kids playing with fire. While they had a great time, I was in absolute agony. I couldn't look away because I just might catch and prevent a disaster, but I couldn't look because of an almost irresistible urge to grab their little sticks away from them with a stern lecture on how we don't play with fire or sticks. I guess I just read one too many Tort cases and can't help imagining up all the worst case scenarios. But I managed to bite my tongue, and there were many, many adults watching, and luckily all our kids are fairly good at keeping rules, and they did have a marvelous time.
3. Family hike/walk at Umstead Park. I have never seen such a gorgeous North Carolina fall; the colors were so vibrant. I never realized how much the leaf color change depends on weather patterns etc. Even Tim's family, NC veterans, said it was one of the most lovely falls in memory. I love hiking and wish I had more family-friendly hikes in Norfolk. There is a picture of the group sans my Dad, the designated historian, and one of James playing in the stream.
4. Gigi at the Park
5. Making Gingerbread Houses
6. Tim with Kate and Gigi
7. the Thanksgiving dinner table. My mother always sets the most fabulous dinner tables. I hope to one day have her skill. I hope to one day have a dinner table. Melanie also made adorable edible pilgrim's hats that she placed at each place setting. They were festive and delicious.
