Thanksgiving 2015

We flew to Virginia for Thanksgiving last week for good food, family, friends and fun! I made sure to have about a dozen different snacks for the day of travelling, a few different movies for Caiden to watch on the iPad and Grace's Benadryl blankie because I desperately wanted her to sleep on the flights. Caiden was so excited to get on an airplane that he didn't mind being woken up at 7am.

This tiny "suitcase" was a hit with both of the kids. It was meant for Caiden to be responsible for but I think Grace took over before we even got on our first flight.

We didn't have headphones for Caiden on this trip (but we learned our lesson and bought them for the next one) so he had to try and keep the earbuds in his ears. He's never used them before and it didn't work too well. He managed for a little bit but would get frustrated and pull them out and just watch the video. He did so, so well on the flights.

Grace on the other hand was a handful. She just did not want to be confined and wanted to own all three of our seats or be running up and down the aisle. She managed to sleep on me for an hour on the second leg of the flight. About half way through when my arm and leg went numb I tried to pass her to Marc but she got pretty pissed and I had to just suck it up and keep holding her.

On Wednesday we drove to Baltimore to visit my cousin Jody and Chris. They have a 3 month old baby boy, Topher, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on him.

 Caiden was jumping around and singing and Topher was totally into it and smiling.

On Thanksgiving Day we went over to Fery's cousin, Siamack's, house. About 50 people, three turkeys and lots of fun. Caiden loved watching all the kids run around and Grace was the youngest one there so she was just passed around from person to person.

Uncle Bob with his niece and nephew.

On Friday we left Grace home with Fery and we took Caiden to DC. The metro has a stop a few blocks from their house so we were able to walk there and take it right to the Smithsonian stop.

First we went to the Natural History museum to show Caiden the dinosaur bones. I don't think we prepared him well enough because I think he was expecting to see real dinosaurs. I don't think he was near as impressed as we though he'd be.

Caiden was fading fast by the time we left the Natural History museum but we decided to make one quick stop at the American History museum on our way to the metro.

On our way home Caiden kept telling us he wasn't tired, but about 10 minutes in -he was out. 

The kids had so much fun "playing" the piano.

Caiden loved drinking tea!

On Saturday morning we went to the National Harbor. It's on the Potomac River on the Maryland side and is a fun place to burn off a few hours. There was a Carousal, Ferris wheel, lots of shops and restaurants and there was even a Holiday performance by a girls dance team. Both of their eyes were glued to the stage the entire time.

On Saturday night we went over to the Rafii's house. We managed to get all the kids to sit long enough to snap a photo -Seven kids under 5! I know I say this every year but I really love these people and wish we lived closer to them!

On Monday Marc had to work so Fery and I took the kids to the mall. We spent about an hour in the Disney store and Caiden came home with some goodies from Mamani.

At the airport on the way home! I think at this point I've blocked out the entire day. I remember Grace napped for two hours on the first leg and Caiden napped for an hour on the second leg. You think that would make everything great...but for reasons I can't recall right now it really wasn't. But we are back and we had a great time! I love that Caiden is getting to the age where we can take him to do fun stuff and there is so much to do and so many people to see there that it makes the trip go so fast. Happy Thanksgiving!

In the airport - fighting over who gets to hold the suitcase.

Caiden's first Friendship soup

Caiden had his first visitors to preschool this week. They had a Thanksgiving celebration called Friendship soup and family was invited to come and enjoy the soup that they prepared and listen to them sing songs. It was pretty darling. When Grace and I arrived they were singing songs and when Caiden saw us he immediately came over to give us hugs. Then he went back on the mat to sing and Grace was freaking out because she wanted down to go see Caiden so I put her down and she ran over to him, leaned down and started hugging and kissing him. A few of the other parents were "oohing" and "ahhhing" over how cute it was.

After another quick song we all sat around their little tables and ate soup and chatted. He sat next to a buddy named Micah and his mom told me that he talks about Caiden at home and that they play together. Caiden also talks about Micah at home...although I never really get more information other than he played with so and so today. Maybe he'll say he played with a fire truck with Micah but that's it.

After soup the kids went back to the mat to sing a few more songs. Caiden was right in front doing all the dances and singing out loud, it so was fun seeing him engaging with the teachers and kids.

It was also a pretty hilarious event. A lot of chaos and just craziness. Imagine 15 three year olds running around in one room.