Early Thanksgiving

Today we got together with Tom's extended family for a Thanksgiving celebration. The day started with a visit to Tom's mom at the nursing facility where she is recovering from a broken hip. Thanks for your prayers: she's making good progress and we pray she will go home at the right time. Natalie entertained everyone with clapping.

Then we went to a local Marie Callender's restaurant for lunch, followed by dessert back at Mom and Dad's house. Patrice brought great gifts for the kids to play with while we waited for our meals (thanks Patrice!)...pipes for Lukas, a doll for Natalie and a funny spider thing for Konrad. Konrad decided he liked shredding the napkins at least as much as playing with the spider. Natalie got good practice using her pointer finger to press the button for the music to play on the doll, and we know that new pipes are always a hit for Lukas.

The kid closest in age to Lukas is his second cousin, Jewelee, who is almost 11. They played together a lot, then Lukas got mad for some reason, and tried to be mad through the picture, but you can see the hint of a grin peeping through.

We wish family didn't live so far away that we could get together more frequently! And the family gathering never lasts long enough (or our kids don't last long enough before we have to leave!) Thanks to everyone for making the trip...we really enjoyed it and can't wait to see you again soon!