Thanksgiving Week

Aaron took the full week of Thanksgiving off work and we headed down to Colorado to spend the holiday with my parents and most of my siblings.  My sister, brother in law, and two nieces came up from Alburquerque and my brother flew in from D.C. to share the week.  My brother in Tulsa and his fiance couldn't make it this year and we missed them!

Ethan got to meet his Uncle Brian and had a great time playing with him.  Uncle Brian was a hit since he wasn't afraid to throw him around, which E loves.  Brian became a favorite of cousin Anni's as well with his fascinating juggling skills. 

It was nice for Aaron to get to spend the full week with Ethan.  If only he hadn't just entered into a mommy stage...  Anytime Ethan was the slightest bit tired or hungry he would panic if I wasn't in the room or holding him.  He got some great play time in with Dad, but some days didn't venture very far from Mom.

We spent the days before Thanksgiving hiking around the foothills of the Rockies, checking out a local wolf conservation, and just relaxing at my parents house. 

Those of us from Alaska enjoyed the wonderful Colorado sun and warmer air.  We couldn't soak enough sunshine!

We all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner (probably one of my mom's best!) and Ethan tried yams for the first time.  Even though you can't tell in the picture, he really did enjoy it.  While at Nana and Poppy's house Ethan started to love eating solids.  If I was a little slow on getting the next bite into his mouth he started to dive into the spoon...kinda like a shark attack.  He couldn't get enough apples, yams, peas and cereal.

We started a new tradition this year of one club golf.  We all grabbed a club and a few beers and headed out back to the golf course.  It was a fun game, even if a little chilly.

Ethan got to see more family than just my siblings and parents.  He saw my Aunt Becky and Uncle Bob again...

As well as Grandma Dolly and Aaron's Uncle Vic.  Its nice that so much family lives in the Colorado Springs area.

Glenn and my dad took more pictures than I did, so once I get copies from them I'll post pictures of Ethan and his cousins and his grandparents.

Ethan was such a trooper on the flights to and from Nana's.  He has turned into such a flirt when out in public and seemed to love getting to hang out in the airport smiling and giggling with people.  E made it through two full days of flying without a single meltdown and was happy the whole time.  He made it through better than Aaron and I did!  It is so much fun to have such a happy, smiley little guy.

The day before we got home Anchorage was hit with loads of snow, making perfect skiing conditions.  As soon as we got back we hit the trails and enjoyed a great winter day.  We skied a different area of town than normal and saw wonderful views of the inlet with the Alaskan range on the other side as well as 5 moose on the trails.