Thanksgiving in Ohio was an absolute blast. I was finally feeling 100%, with that euphoria that comes right after being sick for so long. The energy burst was timely — we baked and cleaned and packed and prepared, and by the time we left on Wednesday morning we were all feeling excited to see everyone. Andrew’s mom hosted a whole bunch of family, and we stayed with her for the whole trip along with Andrew’s brother Ryan and his crew. It was great to see the cousins pick up where they left off since last summer, off running and jumping and four-wheeling and motorbiking across the beautiful countryside. 
Oliver spent 90% of his time on the trampoline, the other 10% on the four wheeler. Upon waking up on Thanksgiving morning, he headed directly outside, barefoot, at 6:30am and started jumping before most of us were awake. Needless to say, he slept well the whole trip! 
We lucked out with beautiful, unseasonably warm weather the first two days, so the kids (and adults) filled up on plenty of fresh air. I went for a long walk and gathered a Thanksgiving bouquet from whatever I found growing on the land — the result was a prickly but pretty bunch! I’m still picking little thorns out of my hands.
Milo managed to crash both the motorbike and the four-wheeler but stayed in one piece, thank goodness. And while it was great fun to watch all the cousins tear around on the vehicles, there were moments I wondered what they were missing by just exploring the land on their own two feet — the animals and birds they would have noticed, the nooks and crannies and ponds they would have explored, the forts they would have built. It’s an interesting thing to think about — do our children experience nature in the same way from a vehicle (sure the wind in their hair, the ability to explore large swaths of land, the thrill of speeding over tall grassy trails, but what about the peaceful sound of it all? What about the connection to it as you run across a field or play hide and seek with cousins or brothers amidst the barn and trees? What about all the animals you scare away before you get a chance to observe them? Food for thought). 
There was plenty of exercise and plenty of play. Michael played with Oliver in the sweetest way, while Gina darted in when she wasn’t cooking an amazing Thanksgiving feast or sneaking sweets to the kids when the parents weren’t looking. Thanksgiving day was filled with even more family — aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, each bringing more food with them, more joy and stories and laughter. It was a full and happy house, and I experienced the phenomenon of barely seeing my own children except for the simple act of tucking them in at night and telling them a made-up story about a litter of puppies. And of course, taking pictures of them, but they were hardly aware of my presence; I was an afterthought amidst their cherished cousins. 
The day after Thanksgiving was a bit chillier, but still warm enough for the kids to spend the entirety outdoors. Wanting to be with them but also stay warm standing still, Andrew and I built a fire and kept it going all day and most of the night. So cozy to relax next to the warmth of it all afternoon and still be able to keep an eye on all the kids! 
Michael took the opportunity for an anatomy lesson by dissecting the turkey heart while all his grandkids looked on — and then, not wanting to waste it, he fried it up and put the serious pressure on to taste it. Emil had two pieces. Katie, regrettably, had one. 
I hope your Thanksgiving was full of all good things — family, food, laughter, warmth. And now, bring on the month of gift-giving! I’m contacting the winner of the giveaway later today, and be sure to check back tomorrow for another opportunity! Happy Holidays! Hooray!
