Thanksgiving Get Together

We had a very full house the week of Thanksgiving. Preparing our home, sleeping arrangements, entertainment, and food supplies kept Frank and me quite busy. Airport arrivals kept us on our toes once the guests started coming. Departures took place over three days. Once all had left, Frank and I were a bit wistful but also plum tuckered out.

• Dan arrived Sunday with Vivian (9), Lillian(7), William(5), Irene(2).
• Robin arrived Monday with Autumn(11), Isaiah(8).
• Carrie joined the fracas Wednesday.
• Alex was with us Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, but did not sleep over.
• Robin left Friday with her two kids.
• Dan and Carrie left Saturday with their four kids.

DECOR
I had decorated with mini gourds and wreaths on the inside walls and a welcoming wreath on the outside door (seen later). 

I draped quilts on tables, chairs, and ladders.

There were plush pumpkins and turkeys and pumpkin-themed pillows on the hearth - or at least they started out there. They were fun favorites for play and for use as photo props. The first three of the following photos were taken before the addition of plush turkeys and before the arriving throngs scattered and rearranged the display for entertainment and snuggling. The fourth photo shows a bit of the relaxing and scattering with pumpkins still on the hearth to the far left, in chairs to the far right, and in laps foreground (not shown).

Not exactly a decor item, but just about every Thanksgiving household has a frozen turkey thawing in water somewhere. This one was in our kitchen sink. Dan was prepping it to brine and grill outdoors.

The grandkids took care of the outdoor decor with ambitious chalk drawings on our driveway.

TRAINS IN THE GARAGE
Frank was thrilled to run his model trains for the grandkids. First William got to watch and then control the trains. He was engaged for quite a while. Just look at the grin on his face. I also love that he has a cowlick just like his dad!

Lillian was up next. She too watched only at first, sitting on her hands to keep them off the controls. But then her powers of concentration set in as she also ran the trains under Grandpa's guidance.

Isaiah was intense as he watched. Then he was eagerly engaged and asked questions as he focused his attention to learn from Grandpa not only about the running but also about the building.

INDOOR GAMES

I bought three pair of air pump powered foam ball shooters each set with 36 foam spheres. It was a wild and crazy shoot 'em up frenzy and everybody had a blast. There were of course the occasional skirmishes and cries of "unfair!" for those few who thought the best offensive tactic was to hoard the balls to keep them from their enemies arsenal. But adult intervention for truces and compromises were worked out. I did not count how many of those 108 balls we recovered, but I am sure Frank and I will be discovering those 1 inch size spheres for months in all sorts of places.

William and Lillian both were engaged in a road puzzle track game while here. It is compatible with LEGOs and they will be surprised to find it as one of their Christmas presents that I mailed on to them. (The boy in the striped shirt in the second photo is not one of our grandkids, but the photo illustrated the game so well I included it in this post.)

Logical Road Puzzle Track Games for Kids: Build a route on the base board with different pieces to form a continuous line, wind up a car and let it deliver the marble ball to the finish. Easy to learn with clear instructions. This puzzle game is ideal for enhancing children's logical thinking, focus, observation, color recognition, and understanding of cause and effect. It's the best puzzle for kids aged 3-8. (and it is compatible with LEGOs)

Lillian is busy playing with a set of Duplos blocks we already have at the ready in the grandparent arsenal of diversions. She is also manipulating a 12" high 20" wide blue yarn garter stitch knit ottoman. It is meant to be a foot rest but it did get rolled down the stairs from the upper floor and tossed about as a medicine ball. I had to decide whether to discuss that blue sphere in the "decor" section or in the "indoor" games section of this post.

Vivian is entertaining herself with playdough, again another toy basic at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Next to her she has just set aside the newly purchased game Zoo Rendezvous. It is a logic game for helping zoo creatures to escape the zoo in a logical orderly fashion. Zoo Rendezvous too will find its way as a Christmas present at one of the grandkids' households. One of the perks of a pre Christmas Thanksgiving trial is to learn who likes what.

• Brainteaser game of helping zoo animals escape for a night out on the town!
• Encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, logic, planning skills, sequencing skills (recommended for ages 8-12)
• Find the right sequence to solve each of the 60 puzzles
• Puzzles grow more and more difficult
• Includes 16 wooden meepels, game board, 30 challenge cards, card holder 

I found some small rubber stamps at the stationery store with vehicle images and roadway sections that has a center line. William liked that arts and craft project and created some traffic. To be expected though, all stamps do not go on only the paper (note wrist).



Autumn devoted some time to playing with Snoopy in the back yard. He yipped happily as he chased after the ball. Autumn got her exercise since he never would bring the ball back to her. He really did love the attention, though. As a reminder, I have this sign next to the window over the kitchen sink.

SCREEN TIME
It is the digital age after all, with the accompanying hoopla over limiting kids screen time. We knew there would be electronics to be moderated but it turned out there was a good balance between the cousins interacting with each other and the old folks getting some quiet time. Cousins Autumn (11) and Vivian (9) each arrived with book seven of the Harry Potter series under their arm. They truly bonded over their halls of Hogwart's discussions  but still were a dynamic duo even when on their video games.

Boy cousins Isiah (8) and William (5) liked the same games and even exchanged tips with each other on how to get to the next level in some cases. Truth be told though, in stereotypical male fashion, they were the most wild with the pop guns when not engaged quietly on their screens. 



For cousins Lillian (7) and Isaiah (8), age proximity trumped gender differences, and they too played well together.

When it came to the big screen, aka television, they snuggled and bonded together for Harry Potter  movie after Harry Potter movie. Grandkid #6 Irene (2) was napping or was watching Bluey in the family room and so was not in the photo. This trip she was very clingy to her mom Carrie and I was persona non gratis. Her phrase for the week was "Mommy do it!"

Bluey is an Australian-made kids TV show about a family of anthropomorphic dogs who walk, talk and act like human beings... Surface level explanations of the show's quality don't do it justice. Bluey is a show about a family doing everyday family things, but it's the execution that counts... Ultimately Bluey is the rarest of shows. It speaks directly to parents without alienating children. It has lessons to teach but never patronizes or oversteps the mark. It's perfectly balanced and endlessly rewatchable. There's never been a kid's show like Bluey, Almost every episode is operating at the level of a high quality Pixar short. Watch it immediately. You won't regret it. For real life.

Cousin bonding was not limited to daytime hours. Two nights the five oldest kids declared there would be a slumber party in the family room. A twin mattress and a cot were dragged down from upstairs to supplement the recliner and the chair-and-a-half as sleeping accommodations. Midway through the night I believe the two boys crept upstairs to sleep the remainder of the night in greater comfort with their parents. I slept all nights on the couch in the living room and Frank slept all nights in the garage on the couch which he shared with Snoopy. "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry."

FOOD
Costco-prepared meals that need only to be heated were a great help for feeding a large crowd on those non-Thanksgiving days. On various days we had: Meat Loaf with Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Alfredo, Chicken & Vegetable Soup (meat from from spit roasted chickens). Other nights I made baked chicken with pierogis or spaghetti with sausage. Everybody loved bread it seemed.



Other between meal treats (Grandma allows those) were Ghirardelli squares and Lindt's balls, Costco muffins and fancy European cookies, Hershey kisses, mini drums ice cream cones, and (just for fun) chocolate milk.





On the big day the menu was traditional: turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots with almonds sautéed in lemon butter, broccoli casserole, flaky buttermilk biscuits, and cranberry sauce that no one touched. Alex was only with us for the one day of that week but Frank and I were so thrilled he ate like a champ and stayed at the table with us during the Thanksgiving meal. In past years he showed no interest, ate other food, and ran off to watch his videos. This year's change was truly something for which we were pleasantly surprised and grateful. Frank and I noted and mentioned it as we all took turns around the table stating reasons for our thankfulness... family, food, friends, experiences, etc.

POSING WITH PUMPKINS
Of course before the visit ended we needed photos with us all together. For that to happen they had to be posed. Those plush pumpkins and turkeys were included. First, from left to right, are the original Frank(75) & Diane(70) Chambers clan, with their three kids Alex(37), Robin(43) and Dan(40). OK, not only the grandkids have their ages revealed. I always claim I will willingly tell you my age if you ask because I cannot control that. But please, do not ask me my weight.

Second photo includes three generations, minus Irene who was napping.
Back row: Frank, Diane, Alex, Robin, Dan, Carrie

Seated: William, Lillian, Vivian, Autumn, Isaiah
Scattered: One turkey, ten pumpkins

Irene is included in this next documentary photo, sitting on the blue ottoman/medicine ball next to Snoopy. In the back row are Lillian, Vivian, and William. Four out of five are smiling. Snoopy, not smiling but sitting patiently, turned 15 in October. According to the American Kennel Club, for a dog his size, 15 is equivalent to 93 human years. He is entitled to whatever expression he wants.

Here are Grandma and Grandpa at the front door with all six grandkids. Note that Irene is far from Grandma

In this photo Dan is trying desperately to squeeze through the throng to take an armful of coats out to the car during the photo shoot.



Finally here are the cohorts, Dan and Robin, responsible for producing that third generation. They coordinated to get all the cousins together in the presence of Grandma and Grandpa. Packing up and transporting those kids out here and back was a lot of work. Frank and I appreciate the effort entailed, especially for the memories the trip made. 

Now Frank and I need to recover from making those memories! 

AFTERWORD:

Squishmallows are very popular stuffed toys these days, kind of like the beanie babies craze. I met the kids at the airport with a couple Squishmallows, While the grandkids were here I had an eight Squishmallow set of Marvel characters that that they split up among themselves. The toys really are very tactiley appealing. After the kids were gone, and I was tired, and my defenses were down, I went to Amazon and treated myself to a Squishmallow turkey of my very own for next year. Her name is Ulana. Isn't she cute?

I just liked her for her, but Ulana's bio reads:

Ulana dealt with a lot of life changes last year that left her feeling tired and a bit down. So, she started a positivity routine! Ulana writes a daily gratitude list and lights wishing candles. Today, Ulana is grateful for her 'Mallow pals and wishes for her basil plant to grow big and strong!

Ulana will remind me of squishes and hugs from my grandkids and their fondness for all those plush pumpkins and turkeys.

Pre-Disneyland with Grandkids

Overview
Frank and I were to fly down to Southern California Friday September 13th returning Tuesday September 17th to visit with Dan and Robin's families and enjoy some time at Disneyland together on Sunday with all five grandkids. Frank and I would return to Disneyland on Monday as well with Robin's family.
  • Friday Frank, Diane arrive; visit Dan, Carrie, Vivian, Lillian, William
  • Saturday Robin, Jeremy, Autumn, Isaiah arrive; visit Dan's family
  • Sunday Two grandparents, four parents, five grandkids meet at Disneyland
  • Monday Disneyland with Frank, Diane, Robin, Jeremy, Autumn, Isaiah
  • Tuesday fly home

Friday Sept 13th
Frank and I  flew down on an 11:40 am flight  into John Wayne Airport in Anaheim, CA, IATA location identifier SNA. While waiting for our luggage on the baggage carousel, Frank and I admired this "canstruction" designed to promote public awareness and action against hunger. Airports often do have interesting things to observe if you pay attention. Somewhere over the rainbow U-n-I can end HUNGER! reads the sign by Fluor, an engineering and construction company with a strong employee volunteer commitment to feeding children everywhere.

We trundled our two suitcases across the roadway that circled the terminals, to get on a shuttle bus to our hotel, The Park Vue Inn, about 15 miles north of the airport and directly across from Disneyland. We rode in relatively light traffic, in air conditioned comfort for about 40 minutes as our shuttle visited several hotel drop offs throughout the Disney Resort area.

A smiling Mickey Mouse statue greeted us in the lobby of our hotel. We checked into Room 222 and were hopeful that when Robin, Jeremy, and kids arrived the next day they would be checked into adjacent Room 223 with adjoining doors. (No promises of course, but the management did come through for us!)

The construction company Dan works for has a project going at Disney and Dan had conveniently scheduled a meeting on site for the day we arrived. After it ended he would able to drive us back to his home for the evening. Frank and I just chilled, content to wait until he was available.

Dan's home is about 35 miles southeast of our hotel. He moved there in January of 2015. On our way there we picked up 3 year old Lillian from her day care, and 5 year old Vivian from her after-kindergarten care, then stopping to get and bring home delicious shish kabobs from the Luna Grill. We'd gotten excellent food from there last April 2018 on our visit to meeting newly born William. As I had done during that visit, I waited in the car amusing the girls with music and apps on my cell phone. At one point I sneezed – quite noisily Vivian's opinion. She said "Grandma, you sneeze loud! You sneeze like an old lady!" "I am an old lady," I retorted. Young whippersnapper! I remember four-and-a-half years ago her taking her first steps at ten months in the kitchen of their then-new home while Frank and I were there helping them move.

After dinner I read Lil and Viv a bed time story. The book Pinkalicious was really cute and had great illustrations. A little girl helps her mom bake cupcakes and wants them to be her favorite color, pink of course. She eats too many cupcakes and she herself turns bright pink! Spoiler alert: eating green vegetables is the antidote.

After the kiddos were snug in bed, Dan, and Frank and I played a game of Splendor. Dan won, of course. Then he drove us back to our hotel. We planned to visit again Saturday evening with Robin and crew after they had arrived and settled in to their room.

Saturday Sept 14th
The Park Vue Inn is nestled back aways off the street and its front is obscured somewhat by the Cold Stone Creamery just off its lobby. 

To assure that Jeremy would not miss his turn after driving from the airport, Frank practiced the pose he would use at curbside to direct them.

We ate lunch at the IHOP next door and a wandering photographer took photos of our happy gang. Considering the Oklahomans had needed to get up at 4:00 am California time in order to make an early flight and arrive mid morning everybody looks pretty happy.

The girls as well as the guys were in great moods.

There was an awesome balloon artist making creations beside the tables. He made a spider man for Isaiah complete with a silver ballon extension that looked like it shot out threads of web. He handed it to Isaiah complete with "pyeeooh... pyeeooh... pyeeooh..." sound effects.

Then he asked Autumn if she would like a mermaid or princess. As we'd entered the restaurant, we had seen a few girls leaving with pretty impressive Ariel balloon creations. Autumn asked, "Can you do Aurora?" The man said, "I have never had anybody ask for Aurora before but of course. I can make anything." He seemed pleased at the challenge (and was perhaps tired of making green and aqua mermaids with red hair).

He was about to hand Aurora to Autumn when she innocently asked. "Doesn't she have a rose?" "Oh, of course, she does need a rose. I will make her one." Which he did and Autumn was thrilled when he placed Aurora with rose into her outstretched arms. He then rushed off saying, "Wait one moment. I will be back." He went somewhere and came back with metallic balloons that he proceeded to mold into a jeweled crown. He showed Autumn how to size it for herself or for Aurora's head with its flowing golden locks. He was so talented and had such a rapport with the kids. By the way, the balloons were free, but you can bet we tipped him.

Our first meal and outing together was a grand success.

The IHOP we were at is to the left outside the range of the photo. We did not even have to cross a street to get to it, just a driveway. But note that crosswalk at the light.

Taking that crosswalk directly to the other side leads to the entrance to the Disneyland Resort and we would be going there the very next day... down the pathway and off to the right.

Isaiah and Autumn did take naps before we went off to swim with their cousins Vivian, Lillian, and William in a nearby pool, one of the perks of living in Dan and Carrie's planned community Baker Ranch. I have no personal pictures of us in the pool because I was in the pool enjoying it with the kids sans cell phone. We had pizza delivered poolside and enjoyed dinner al fresco.

This pool is at #6 The Arbor Club on the following map. Dan and Carrie live within walking distance and overlook #5 Barker Ranch Dog Park down the hillside below them.

After eating and a bit of hot tub dipping we went back to Dan and Carrie's backyard and made S'mores at their fire pit. It was quite amazing how the little ones managed to get melted chocolate everywhere. I think only one marshmallow caught fire and only one was dropped into the fire pit... not too bad statistics.

Just before leaving to go back to the hotel I read the kids a book titled Emeraldalicious. It was similar to the one I'd read the previous night but this one had a bit more of an ecological bent. When Pinkalicious and her brother Peter come upon a garbage dump that had once been a park, a bit of wishing, a dash of love, and a swipe of a magic wand and all becomes green and clean and beautiful. On that optimistic note, we headed for slumberland for tomorrow was to be our big day at Disneyland.