Saturday, November 28, 2009

Thursday was our "day after"

Thursday, while most people were celebrating Thanksgiving, here at the Johnston Chronicles, life was either full of traveling, getting ready to travel, or lounging around eating leftovers. Joshua, Erica, Thalia and Blu took off for home at 3:15 a.m. Gabe, Emily, Emerson, and Biscuit packed a little, ate a little, played a little, and then started all over again. Around 5 p.m., they were packed and hit the road.

The house was feeling a lot emptier...but before the emptiness set in, we had some 'playing with the babies' time...Benjamin started his day by talking to his Grandma, Grandpa, and his 2nd cousin, Julie...
They live in Montana...

Thank goodness for SKYPE!
Emerson decided to watch a little football with his Papa and cousin Addison...
Emerson and Benjamin played around...
They were laughing at their Papa's attempted jokes...
They played on the floor with their toys... sharing, of course.
Benjamin had been a bit jealous of his cousin, Emerson, who is now eating things like sweet potatoes, rice cereal, etc... so his mama gave him some milk in a spoon...
He wasn't too sure what this spoon was - at least at first.
We loved having GRITS here...
Grammy loved holding her boys...here she is with Emerson...
Emerson! What did you say to your cousin Addison?
Emerson was getting ready to go home... he became the icing in the middle of the oreo cookie... that means he was sandwiched between his Mimi and Papa...who were so sad for him to go home!
Gabe was saying good-bye to his Grammy....
and, of course, to his Saddie...
Aunt Lindsey was showing him what it was like to be in cousin Benjamin's Ergo...
Emerson was loving attacking his Aunt Patti's glasses...
Gabe gave his sweet wife, Emily, a kiss...ahhhhh....
Emerson wanted one more picture with his Aunt Patti...she was only too happy to oblige.
Benjamin grabbed his cousin Liz's hat. We need to let the readers of the Johnston Chronicles know that 'Wicked' has to do with the musical, not Benjamin...but I think you readers already knew that.Benjamin was enjoying sitting on his mama's shoulders...

Playing with the babies...already missing Joshua, Erica, and Thalia...eating leftovers, and visiting with the fam... that's how we spent our Thursday!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving on Wednesday

Here in northern California, at least here at the Johnston Chronicles, Thanksgiving fell on Wednesday this year. Joshua, Erica, Thalia, and Blu had to leave Thursday morning...thus, a Wednesday Thanksgiving.

I liked having it on Wednesday...the grocery stores were still open for those of us who forgot an ingredient or two.

We had 17 ... and I loved having each and every one of them! Emerson needed to have a bath before he ate his turkey...He actually didn't eat turkey...just the sweet potatoes, cereal, and milk.
It was definitely a day for pictures! I needed one of the mamas and their babies...from 10 years to almost 6 months!
... my grandkids! Oh, how I love them!
...the daddys and their precious cargo...
... delightfully happy... an unbelievably ecstatic Mimi and Papa ... with their grandkids ...

... the great-grandmothers ... Great-Grammy and Saddie ... with their great-grandkids!
...a potential Christmas card...

... Gabe's buddy, Brandon, came over to visit...
It was a long day for our little men... Emerson conked out on his mama...
Biscuit... poor Biscuit, she doesn't get the same attention...
We spent a lot of time just lounging around, visiting with the family... Benjamin loves his Sophie...
Elizabeth told us about her fiancee... he's in the Air Force... and right now, he's in southwest Asia. Thank goodness for SKYPE!
GRITS told us all about her baton twirling... she's incredible!
Donnie was hamming it up... he's the man of many faces...
My little men were dressed in their matching shirts from my friend, Lynne...
They were having fun hanging out on the kitchen table...
and I took 90 pictures of them in about 15 minutes... no kidding!






I just love my little men...

It was an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving!