334/365

Darin left for China early this morning. While we were gone on our trip, our trees lost all their leaves... Who's going to rake these up?

333/365

 Greyson has discovered his toes. As soon as I lay him down, he reaches for his toes. Cutie.

332/365

Uncle Ron followed us to Boise--just missed us too much, I guess! Today we were back in the swing of things--Darin back to work (for one more day before his China trip), Gavin back to school after his three-week track break, Ellie back on the iPad... oh wait--she was never away from it!

331/365

Nice suckers... It feels good to be home--had a pretty calm & restful Sabbath, as it should be.

330/365

 This was today's only photo... I am apparently in the mode of photographing sleeping children & not much else! Mom & Dad left early early this morning (like 4:30am) for St George, so we had said our goodbyes last night. We made the long drive home, arriving safe & sound at 10pm.

329/365

 This morning we packed up & got ready to leave Ron & Lesley's. It has been a fun couple of weeks! I snapped these pictures of Gavin because this was a typical morning... he somehow ended up out of his sleeping bag most days, cuddled up in his blanket. The boy does not sleep without his precious bunny blanket, no matter what the season. When we arrived in Las Vegas, we got to visit with Mom, Dad, Patty, Vance & the boys, & Mom made Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner. Yum! Once again, NO pictures of them!

328/365

 Thanksgiving day started out like any other: with the girls making 19 finger-stamped turkey place cards! (from an idea I saw on the Disney Family Fun website)

 but we were still in our jammies...

so we started getting ready,

 the ping pong table was set (isn't it beautiful?),

& there was time for hanging out & spoiling kids.

Finally, it was time to dig in...
(& I got no pictures of everyone at the table. Too busy eating I guess!)

It was delicious, and we were thankful...

We're thankful for family. Especially for Ron & Lesley & these beautiful girls. They are amazing & spent so much time with Gavin, Ellie & Greyson. We'll miss them when we get back to Idaho! Let's just make sure we don't go another 2 years before we see eachother next.

327/365

 (Disclaimer: These photos were not staged.) This afternoon there was a knock at the door, & it was Grandma & Grandpa Bishop! A total surprise to us... Ron & Lesley had known for a little while. Anyway, we were just visiting, & I noticed that all of my kids had a cousin all to themselves, giving them their complete attention in play. So I had to snap some photos. Complete & utter cuteness.

 & the men were all in the kitchen, making dinner. Carry on!

326/365

We went to Disneyland! This was my favorite photo of the day... right before we left at 9:30pm. Ellie had been nodding off, only to be woken by a kick in the head from Greyson. Finally she was out, despite the kicks. But let's go back, to the beginning. We arrived around 11:00, along with 50 million other people... The weather was perfect, the decorations were festive, & we were in great company!

First up was the jungle cruise. I really like this (iPhone) photo!

Next we waited in a pretty long line for the Haunted Mansion. Caught Gavin in a sneeze?

 Uncle Ron fed Greyson in line!

We split up to do some different (age-appropriate) things, & we found ourselves at the Star Wars Jedi Training Academy. Gavin was SO hoping to be one of the younglings chosen...

 He made it!... and took the training very seriously.

 Good thing, since he had to fight this guy! Here he is, mid-duck.

 He finished the fight, unscathed.

 We did the Buzz Lightyear ride, Winnie the Pooh ride & the Tiki Room show before meeting back up with Ron & Lesley around 4:00 to claim our spot with them & wait for the 5:30 parade.

 The parade was, without a doubt, the highlight of the trip for Ellie. Here she is, watching to see what was coming around the corner. Oh, the anticipation!

 Oh, the excitement!

 Oh, the awe!

 Oh, the pure joy!

Gav liked it too.

Greyson had fallen asleep in my arms, and woke up just in time to catch the last of it.

Not sure he knew what to think...

Next we headed over to Toontown & did the Roger Rabbit ride & saw Mickey & Minnie's house. 

We got a group photo taken before splitting up, to meet back at Ron & Lesley's house.

 Looking back at the photos, you can see Ellie's starting to fade...

 But we broke out the paci & forged ahead! We did It's a Small World, then the Finding Nemo submarine before realizing we weren't going to make it until midnight. 

Gavin was still going strong, & Greyson was along for the ride, but Ellie had had her fill.

...And we've come full circle. A great day!