With the thumbs up (or pointer fingers up, if you're Emma) to ears [FINALLY] on the mend, we packed the kids in the van set the cruise control, and headed west for Thanksgiving!
First stop, Alexandria MN. Just a room to stay for the night to break up the long haul to North Dakota.
The last time we had the kids stay in a hotel, it was in July on the way to Jeff and Laurie's wedding, and we stayed at the water park of America. So Emma was all excited about the water park and didn't seem to really notice that she was expected to sleep somewhere besides her own bed. Plus, we had this freaking awesome hotel room where she got to sleep in a bunk bed with Abbie.
Well. That was not the case this time. This was a DaysInn in Alexandria, MN. No Abbie. No bunk bed. And Emma wasn't having it.
Emotional meltdowns started about an hour before we arrived at the hotel, which woke her sleeping brother, who was pissed about being in his car seat for 5 hours already, so they both screamed their heads off for the last leg of the first half of our journey.
And then Emma did NOT want anything to do with staying in a hotel room. She wanted to be at her house, and in her bed.
I know, mom, I got bitch-slapped by that payback. [Apparently I was a home-body at 2, and ruined a trip to England or something. Sheesh.]
So at 9:30 at night when you're in a dingy hotel room in an unfamiliar city, and you have a baby and a toddler both feeding off each other's tantrums and attitude problems, you try anything. Luckily, I thought of a bubble bath first, and it did the trick.
Calmed down, jammies on, Landon and Emma fell asleep first at 10, Rory fought it until 11, I finally fell asleep despite Emma's knees in my ribcage sometime after midnight, and then Rory woke us all up at 3:45 -_- ugh.
BUT! We made it. Despite lack of sleep, crabby kids, and having to pee with Rory sitting on my lap at gas stations [a new experience] we made it to Jeff and Laurie's house in ND!
My little potty-buddy
Abbie, your chalkboard drawings from July were still there :)
We had such a lovely Thanksgiving with a big group of the family with absolutely sinfully delicious food. And just like at Christmas, Landon made the turkey. Only this time he brined it. It. Was. Awesome.
The 22lb turkey in its big 'ol bucket-o-brine.
Recipe here:
Big Rory fell in love with big Hank.
And little Emma fell in love with little Axyl.
And everybody loves grandpa. He gives out cookies. Lots of cookies.
Emma was her usual unusual self, and most people find her amusing. I do, anyway...
Grandpa had Rory roaring with some toe-nibbling.
Rory roaring. Rory Rory Rory. I just love this kid's name.
Then after a sad goodbye to grandma and grandpa, we packed up the kids in the van once again to head south.
We made a [much too quick] stop in Bismarck to see our beloved Urbanecs. Little miss Amelia is just the sweetest thing, and such a good little baby for her mom and dad. She is going to be an excellent friend, Emma and Rory agree.
She's the sweetest. We don't have any snuggly babies anymore... Ours are both so busy all the time, so we take baby cuddles when we can get them! :)
These babies just keep getting bigger! Amelia and Rory, together again :) come see us in WI sometime, Amelia! xoxo
Then it was time to say goodbye to our friends and head south for another couple of hours to Great Grandma Maxine's farm in South Dakota where my mom and dad were spending Thanksgiving!
This lady is a gentle soul and a classic beauty. We just love her.
And she's so petite, big chunk Rory looks like a kindergartner in her arms! :P
Emma got to take a nap in the yellow room, which was always my room when we stayed at grandma's :)
What Landon would look like as a serial killer.
Emma needed some fresh air and exercise, and there's none better than playing on hay bales.
She claimed she wanted to have a slumber party in this little hay fort. Haha.
Grandpa couldn't resist playing on the hay bales either.
Playing on grandma's kitchen floor just like Abbie and I must have done a hundred times!
Taking a ride in the old doll buggy! I'm surprised he didn't turn it into kindling ;)
Getting Emma to eat has been a struggle all week, but she decided on cheese and grandma's homemade cranberries. Whatever. At least she's eating.
Time to go to bed so we can get up in the morning and make the long trek back to WI.
All in all it was a wonderful trip, and although it's exhausting to spend so long in the car and live out of bags, it's so important for us to do. These kids are making lots of happy memories!
Videos to come, no wi-fi out in the middle of the South Dakota prairie!
