P.W.E.'s Big Adventures: Thanksgiving at the Ranch

For Thanksgiving this year we headed out the the ranch for some good family time and some good food. We added a couple of new events to our "schedule," and I think they're going to be keepers for years to come. :)

Everybody arrived on Wednesday and instead of having a big dinner, we enjoyed cocktail hour and appetizers in the barn. Now, I'm sure we ate more than we would have if we had just eaten dinner, but it was fun none-the-less. We worked off all the calories we ate by taking turns playing dancing games on X-box...we have some hidden talent in our group. :)

The next morning our little family woke up and got all dolled up (it was truly the nicest we've ever looked out at the ranch - except for my cousin's wedding :)) to try to take a few pictures for our Christmas card. (I should also note that this was the BEST that P has ever slept while at the ranch! Maybe it was because we were in the main house for the first time??? It was so nice to not be exhausted! :)) So we ventured out to get just one picture of the three of us. I'll spare you the out-takes...it didn't happen. :) It turns out two year olds aren't very agreeable when it comes to taking pictures...if they don't want to be held and look at a camera and smile, they're not going to. Thankfully, we were able to catch a few solo shots of Mr. P. smiling.

Beautiful fall colors.

P was constantly carrying this ball (or a variation of this ball) around the ranch...watch for it in the pictures.

Our family.

Sweet boy.

Love his wrinkly nose.

Ahh! :)

Cheese.

Love that face.

Aunt KiKi was cracking him up!

I think this looks like an Olan Mills backdrop. :)

Playing on the mule...his absolute FAVORITE part of being at the ranch this time around!

And here's the ball again...

Trying to get a family picture.

As J says, "Nothing says 'our family' like a picture on the mule." :)

Here is one way to successfully get your pants dirty.

Hi guys.

Another new addition was a "Favorite Things" party...no boys allowed. :)

Uncle K. took care of us and served us some Brennan Vineyards wine.

Cousin Ash brought socks from J. Crew.

Mom brought chocolates from Graham's in Geneva, IL and a snow mint candle.

Emily brought Essie nail polish in "Wicked."

Sister brought mulling spices from William Sonoma.

Aud brought Pure Volumizing shampoo.

Auntie Jan made bath salts with Epsom salt and essential oils. Very crafty.

Whit brought many mini things. :) Some fun Philosophy body wash, Origins face scrub, and mini Vaseline pots.

Aunt Ann brought Bernie and some yummy chips.

Grammy brought a super cute Christmas ornament.

Martha brought a Jim Brickman CD...and I brought scarves from World Market, as can be seen by our model, Martha. :)

The beverage of choice at the party.

Here we all are. :)

Group 1 with their loot.

Group 2 with their loot.

Me with my loot. :)

Cookin' in the kitchen.

Son-in-law and Father-in-law.

K & B.

Emily, Ash, and Mable.

Grammy, Martha, and Charlie.

P watching some football.

Don and Gramps.

P with K and B.

Charlie and Ellie.

The newlyweds.

Dad and me...dad is still swollen from all the fluid he got via IV after going to the hospital the night before for a kidney stone...poor dad. I told him his need for attention was completely inappropriate.