Belatedly Grateful

Since Christmas isn't quite here yet, I still have time to slip in a road-trip-to-Thanksgiving-in-the-OC post.  I'll blame my tardiness on both my camera and my computer, but I'll spare the details.  Suffice to say, neither is an over-achiever these days.

And, neither are we when it comes to road trips.  I'll just get these first two pictures out of the way, and you(all ten of you) readers can decide if you ever want to read this blog again.  First, I present our completely unsafe alternative in the portable entertainment world.  We've taken your standard dual screen DVD player that normally attaches to two headrests, and entertains your standard two-kid family, and snazzed it up a bit...by dangling it precariously on some bungee cords stretched from one side of the car to the other.  Why?  So all of the girls can see!  Basically, the small chance of a collision hurtling this screen directly into Annie's face can not compete with the larger chance, nay, guarantee of more damage being caused by three girls in the back seat fighting to see the screen. What can I say?  We're gamblers like that :) 

And, if you're going to get judgy looking at these photos, I would urge you not to notice the pajamas that everyone is wearing (and continued to wear for the entire eight-hour trip!) or the offensive item in Megan's hand in the picture below.  Look away if you can't handle kids eating french fires!

But, you can look at this cute face.  Happy 1st Thanksgiving, Mary!

I don't have any pictures of the adults eating our scrumptious food, but I do have some (poorly lit) pictures of the kids scarfing down their feast...

while watching Home Alone!  Somewhere along the way in the Raley household, we started watching Home Alone every Thanksgiving -- not during the meal, but usually afterwards -- as a fun way to kick off the holiday season.  Maybe it's just us, but that movie just never gets old :)  So, we figured we would introduce the little ones to this uber-sophisticated flick, and we did let them watch while eating their dinner!  This whole set-up just blows Grandma Raley's Thanksgivings of the past out of the water.  These are some lucky grand kids...or our old Thanksgiving kid table left a lot to be desired!

Lest you, dear reader, think that our Thanksgiving this year was all french fries and movies, we also introduced the kids to another great tradition -- fighting over the wishbone!  (Boy, I sure am painting a pretty picture of my side of the family!)  Do other families do this?  I'm not even sure!

Megan and Joey were the lucky contenders, and Joey was intent on learning the rules of this game, while Megan flirted with the camera.

Some wishing and tugging ensued,

and we had a winner!

We're working on fulfilling Megan's wish: to live in a castle!

But, first, we're grateful for another amazing Thanksgiving, and thankful for a year full of good health, happiness, little girl giggles and a baby!!