A Very Thankful Thanksgiving

When you live 800 miles away from your family, you begin to appreciate family gatherings even more...which is saying a lot, because I'm pretty much obsessed with my family.  So a month ago, after Matthew and I dropped Geoff off at the airport  (me in tears), Matthew very strongly suggested that we take the plunge, buy the plane tickets, and make it for Thanksgiving with both of our families.  One of the million reasons I'm INCREDIBLY thankful for my sweet husband. 

We flew out VERY early Thursday morning...woke up at 3:30am.  Flew into Louisville, rented a car at the airport and drove to Cinci to make it just in time for Thanksgiving lunch with the Smith fam.  We spent Thursday and Friday in Cinci....hit up the mall for some Black Friday shopping, watched LSU kill Arkansas, ate our traditional Friday night Abuelos, played multiple board games, and formed new memories that we will talk about for years to come.  So very blessed.

Newest addition.  Katherine and Ben's sweet Baby Barrett!

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without these people.  Also, check out the newly engaged Andrew and Keela to the left of the picture!  Hooray!

I'm pretty much the cutest thing ever!

Lexi found a new best bud in Uncle Grady.

We then spent the better part of an hour playing with Ashley's Ipad...

I literally cannot look at this picture without busting out laughing...Favorite picture ever.

  Saturday morning we woke up early again to head to Lexington to spend time with Matthew's parents and Benjamin and Morgan.  We got there in time for breakfast and spent the day watching football.... AKA... Watching our Cats WIN!  We had tickets to the game, but decided last minute to stay at the house instead (we're convinced that if we had gone we would have lost again like we did 4 years ago when we were there).  I absolutely couldn't believe it...but we'll take it.  The streak is over!

Saturday night after a dinner of Joe B's, we headed to Rupp to watch the Cats take on the Portland Pilots.  Morgan had never been to Rupp, so we were all excited to be there for her first UK basketball experience.  Sunday morning we went to church at Southside, ate lunch and headed to Nashville to catch our returning flight to Houston...much to my displeasure.  We did get to see precious Maddie Clendenin before we left Nash... I can't believe she is already a month old!  Cannot wait for Maddie and Baby Hardison to best friends!

17 weeks!

Sweet Maddie.  Absolutely perfect. 

It was the best weekend.  A lot to be thankful for....4 weeks til Christmas!