At long last (at least it seems) we are finally home. I had probably one of the worst Thanksgivings that I can recall. I spent the entire day and night before throwing up, and started the actual day off still wanting to just not get out of bed. But of course Elijah set the alarm and we were up bright and early. Avery actually had already woken me up before the alarm went off. We talked about my just staying home instead of trying to make the four hour drive, but I knew Elijah wouldn't come home any earlier even if I was at home sick so I didn't really want to spend Thanksgiving and the days after home alone, so I toughed it out and grabbed a Gatorade and a pack of Saltines and we hit the road. We got to his mom's about 10 or 11 and I laid on the couch and pretty much didn't move until it was time to go to his sister's to crash. I ate one roll and a bite of mashed potatoes for my big meal! I think I am the only person to probably loose weight on Thanksgiving this year. The next morning I was some feeling better and ate a little. I was really tired but Avery wasn't much help, though. She decided that she didn't really want to sleep at her Aunt Julie's so she didn't. She just sat up all night talking. I don't understand that about her. It's like her batteries never, ever, ever run out. I wish that she got that from me. I was worn out. Elijah and Julie were going to get up around 5 to hit the Wal-Mart sale on Black Friday, but since we were all up anyway (thank you Avery) we just got dressed and all went. We got some good deals and started and almost finished all of our Christmas shopping for the kids. We spent the morning back at Julie's and headed over to his mom's for lunch because his brother Joey was coming in for lunch since he couldn't make it Thursday.

Overall it was a good trip, at least once I was able to enjoy it. Benjamin really likes being around all those boy cousins and wrestling and exploring the woods. I even found out that Elijah took the boys out into the woods and let them shoot (with much assistance, and with my full protest) a pellet gun. Benjamin didn't even get to hold it alone, he just pulled the trigger. But he had a great weekend of just being a boy. He was really disappointed when the rain came and settled in and he couldn't go out anymore. They all still had fun. Avery spent almost the entire time in her Grandma Pickren's room. This is Elijah's grandmother so it is her great-grandmother. Ever since Avery was small she has had an affection for her Grandma Pickren. I think a lot of it lies in that Grandma doesn't come out of her room and Avery can go in there and have some one's complete and total attention, and stay out of the way of all the wild boys. She climbed up in the chair with Grandma and watched cartoons and held the 8 week old puppy and napped along with Grandma. I was so sick that I only took a couple of pictures of them on the chair together and holding this tiny puppy:

Elijah's mom has started trying to give the kids all sorts of things to take home with them. It started with the blanket that Sandy started for Avery when she was born. It is a beautiful hand made pink blanket that she just finished, so I have no problem with taking that home. Benjamin saw that she got one and he asked his Granny where his was. She had never made him one so she goes to the closet and gets out a blanket that her grandmother had made. Elijah's great grandmother so Benjamin's great great grandmother. I adamantly refused to take it. I didn't want to take something precious to the family. Elijah actually says he remembers his MaMa (like our Momo!!) making this blanket. They insisted so we now have that. Grandma Pickren said that Avery 'needs' more babies so Sandy needs to get the ones from Rose (her sister) down and give them to Avery. I said she needed those like a hole in the head. They pull down these dolls, and they are a bride and groom porcelain doll set. I tried to argue out of those as well, but you can't argue with those two!! :o) The dolls are beautiful, but put away. She would break those in a heartbeat! We almost didn't have room in the car after Christmas shopping and Sandy giving us so many things.
We are home at last and trying to get back into our routine. The alarm going off this morning to get Benjamin to school on time was not welcome. I am really looking forward to Christmas break!!