Our Thanksgiving trip to Ohio !!!!

(Note: Just a reminder to everyone--this blog serves as our family journal, so feel free to skip over any lengthy posts, or just browse the pictures if you're not up to reading it all. Also, to the Jones family members who have been watching for this post--sorry it's taken me forever. I almost took a hammer to our computer this evening...but it is still in one piece, and so am I. So the blogging will continue!!!)

Here are some photos and a quick overview of our Thanksgiving trip out to Ohio. We flew out to visit Dallon (Darin's brother), Heidi, Maddie and Savannah. We left the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, just after the kids kindergarten Thanksgiving feast and celebration. (Note: the indian headbands and vests. Picture taken as we were walking out the door to the airport.) We had a perfect vacation in Ohio and felt like we were at a 5 star hotel!!! Thanksgiving dinner was a feast!!! The kids attempted to make turkey napkin holder place cards. The one in the picture below Logan made for Darin. It was a typical meal with kids. Maddie was past nap time and made it half way through dinner. Ellie refused to eat anything on the table and had Fruit Loops for Thanksgiving dinner. And Logan tried to pick up the entire can-shaped cranberry sauce with his bare hands. All taken in stride and the adults chowed on Heidi's magic!! The kids had a great time making their own little "books" with die-cuts, markers, glue, etc.

Dallon and Heidi have such a great place!! And they have TREES!!! Which means LEAVES!!! This was the first time this fall that the kids have had a chance to play in leaves. The first time they were "helping" Dallon rake the leaves and put them in a rubber trash can. The next day the dumped them back out to play in them again.
MADDIE MAE, what else can we say??!!! This little girl was the joy of our trip!! The entire trip was and still is referred to by all of us as "going to Maddie's". She is the greatest little girl. Such a determined soul, never giving up and rarely sharing her frustrations. We loved sharing all the little things we brought for her. It was fun for she and Ellie to have matching PJ's and princess dresses. I loved having her want to hold my hand when were out and about. It's always fun when kids want someone besides their parents--especially when it's ME!!! The have already said multiple times that "we miss Maddie, let's go back." I agree!!! It was so sweet to see Logan and Ellie each hug Maddie on the curb at the airport when we left to fly home.

SAVANNAH NANNAH MARIE!!! What a little dolly this baby girl is!! We did get the opportunity to experience her lung capacity---she'll let you know when she's ticked!! But she truly is such a GOOD baby. And just so sweet!! I started to get a little attached to her near the end of our stay and was sad to have to leave her. She is at the perfect baby age!! I got to hold her during church as she slept, and just felt so blessed to have her for my niece. There's something special about that little one. Logan and Ellie just loved her and were really sweet and considerate of her. Ellie has told me a few times, "Savannah is the cutest baby I've ever seen". At the airport, after we'd said good-bye, the kids were pretty sober about having to leave their little cousins. Especially Ellie--trying not to be embarrassed at how sad she was to leave them. So precious!!

We went to the Columbus zoo one evening. It was cold and fun!! We had a few meltdowns from the boy-child of mine. As soon as we got to the zoo he scoped out the map and had us heading for the zoo-themed playground. Unfortunately,it was closed for winter. He thought pretty seriously about hopping the fence to go play. A few of the animal exhibits were also closed for the season. but we did get to see koala bears, some of the big cats, elephants, bats, and the AWESOME aquarium. There is a HUGE aquarium building with all kinds of salt water fish and sharks. We also saw manatees and stingrays, and the kids got to see and touch in the "touch-pool". The kids got to see Santa and sit on his lap. Ellie was prepared with a list she had made up for him. Maddie was pretty hesitant. But she did tell Santa she wanted a game, and she carried around her very broken candy cane all night--very proud!! We also went on the carousel, and watched a holiday lights and music show over the lake.

Darin had his 37th birthday while we were in Ohio. Maddie and Heidi got the place decorated and hung a sign and balloons while we were gone for the day. Maddie spent the day "wrapping" presents for Darin in her little blankets. Heidi make fresh apple pie for the occasion, but we also ended up buying a cake. The idea of no cake on a birthday was not sitting well with Logan. So we had a cake and the kids poked at the frosting and had fun sticking in 37 candles. Maddie gave Darin an Ohio State T-shirt. Thanks guys. Savannah played with the cake-topper,and the others "helped" Darin open his presents and chow down the cake.

We went to the COSI, Columbus Children's Museum. It was VERY cool. It is HUGE and has much more than the children's museum we go to here at home. The kids loved the under-sea experience with "King Triton" and some very LARGE water guns they were able to control. They also loved a submarine simulator that they got to play around in. It made me sick in about two seconds--but they loved it!! There was one area of the museum that is just for kids under the age of first grade. We could have stayed there all day with it's water play, balls, playhouses, pretend play, doctors office, treehouse, and pets.

Yep, all you local who know her...I got to see JEN ARBON!!! She lives less than an hour from where we were staying. It was WAY too short a visit. Next time I'll plan better. It was Darin's birthday and we had to get back for his party, and Logan was at his very limit of the whole trip that night. Oh well. We did get to hang out for a few hours. Jen's place in incredible!! The yard is massive and there are trees everywhere. I could sit on her back porch and be content for a lifetime. We want to move there!!Of course she already has the house almost all redecorated and darling!!
The kids had so much fun running around with Abby, Mitchell, and Luke. They introduced Logan to the Wii system. He's a fan. They played with a hamster, and got to help Mitchell decorate his own bedroom Christmas tree. Yesterday we drove past the Arbon's old house here and the kids were all mad. They wanted to go straight back to Ohio and live by Abby and Mitchell and Luke. If only....It was so great to see Jen and talk like we just saw each other yesterday. She is such a true friend and I hate that she had to move. But I am excited for their new life and adventures in Ohio. Next time we make it out to Ohio (and there will be a next time), I MUST plan much better and spend WAY more time with Jen!!!

So there you have it--a quick overview of our trip. Six days and nights of a perfect break from life. We got home at 1:00 AM Wednesday. The kids did great flying and now I'm all for travelling with them often!! Much better than two years ago flying with them. Thank you sooooooo much to Dallon and Heidi for EVERYTHING!!! We loved the hanging out, playing games, "hot chocolate" talks, and just being with you. We love getting to know Maddie and Savannah better and feel a connection with your little family.
We are officially Ohio fans. That is so random. People ask where we went for Thanksgiving and we say "Ohio", like it was Disneyland or something!!!