Our Little Thanksgiving Trek-This will be long.

Ryan and I went to Utah this year for Thanksgiving to visit my family. After waking up at 2:30am Wednesday and having our dear friend Cecilia so willingly come pick us up at around 3:15 to get us to the airport, we got on our 6:15am flight with no problems or lines (although, we JUST missed the lines, they started right as we got through). When we got to SLC, we met up with about half of my family for lunch at Rubios in SLC. After that we really just spent the rest of the day hanging out at Greg's house down in Highland and spent some good quality time with each other. I feel like I'm missing something, but I don't think I am. By the time we got to bed that night though, we'd realized that we had been awake for approximately 22 hours... I was a tired little pregnant lady! Thursday we woke up fairly early and went to the store for some extra stuff, like some Mac and Cheese for Ryan to eat with his Thanksgiving dinner. Let me 'splain for those who don't live in or know what Mac n' Cheese is to the South. It's seriously considered a "vegetable" here. You pretty much can get it anywhere you go here and it's eaten with everything. And Ryan just loves it... so we knew he'd miss it since our traditional meal doesn't include it. But hey, the kids loved it! After our meal we hung out for a little bit and then we sent all the little kids downstairs so the grownups could talk and help my parents decide how to move on to the next chapter in their life. It was really cool to be there with my siblings and parents and figure out how to help our parents who have done SO much for us. After we talked for a bit and came to some conclusions and starting points for them- some of us went to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.

It was pretty cute... it had a really good message, but it was missing something. Not sure what- but it didn't completely satisfy me. I didn't really want to see that one- but all the kids did. It was fun to go with them though. After the movie we went back to Greg's and had dessert; apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and red velvet cake- and sang happy birthday to my dad since his birthday is tomorrow. Then we sat and talked some more while the kids played. It was just really cool to all be together and laugh and have a good time. Bed time followed shortly after that!

My sister in-law Sam and I had planned to go shopping EARLY the next morning at Gymboree for good sales on the clothes there for her girls and my little guy too. So I rolled out of the bed at 7:30am, brushed my teeth, brushed out my hair, wiped the residue mascara from under my eyes and threw a sweatshirt on over my ugly pregnant lady jeans and she came and got me at 7:45am! I know! Ryan asked if he could go, but I told him no- it was kind of a girls thing. So we set out on our way to the mall and Sam said Delinda (my sister) wanted to meet us for breakfast around ten because she was going shopping. So we went and did our thing and drove over to Mimi's Cafe where I saw Delinda... and then my sister Shauna and her partner Randi... and my mom... and, and, and... ANDREA! I was so surprised! Then realized that my friend Kate was there too... then saw another friend Bobbie... and then her mom... I was like "What the heck is going on!?" Delinda just looked at me and said "it's called a 'pssshhhh' (hand motion like a shower)!" Sam and Delinda had gotten together and thrown me a SURPRISE baby shower! I was SO surprised too! I had NO clue! It was so sweet and fun, and I felt SO loved and honored! So we had The Maxwell Girls including Linda, Bobbie, Trish and KK, Melissa, Kate, Andrea, my mom, Sam, Delinda, Claudia, Shauna and Randi! It was so great! Thank you to all who came and "showered" me with gifts! After the shower we took family pictures in the FREEZING cold wind, but it was fun. And it was the first time in a LONG time we've had everyone together.

After pictures we said our farewell to John's family and Shauna and Randi. That night Delinda and Ryan and I hung out with Andrea and Travis Green. Pretty low key.

Saturday was spent mostly with friends, in the morning we said goodbye to my parents and then had breakfast with an old friend of mine. Afterwards we SEARCHED for a large enough box to ship the crib, mattress and changing table in that my brother and Sam are so GENEROUSLY giving us. No luck, but it'll get here somehow! Then that night us and Delinda met up with Andrea, Travis, Mark, Ryan & Kate Webb and went to dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square and then went to see the lights at temple square. It was lots of fun. Well, it was cold and we weren't there for long- but it was just right. Poor Delinda was feeling horrible and little did we know that she was suffering from bronchitis and a sinus infection poor girl!

Sunday was filled with sacrament meeting to listen to Greg's beautiful solo (that made me cry and the baby go crazy moving all over the place), cleaning up the place we were staying, resting a little, and a ride up to American Fork Canyon just before going to stay over at the Green's. We watched Hairspray (which I was a little skeptical about) and it was really funny! The next day we ate breakfast, thanks to Andrea's mom, and flew home! It was good to get back to our COMFY bed and little Ally and ... humidity! We had a REALLY good visit. One of the best I've had, I didn't get to see some friends I'd hoped I could- but there will be a next time, and our home is always open!! Only if I know you of course... :)

Tomorrow, when I have more energy and time I will post a slide show for more picture viewing. time for beddy bye!