A Tale of Two Thanksgivings-Part 2

We left Grandma Lori's around 4:00~4:30 pm on Wednesday night. We got to Grandpa's house (Heidi Anne calls Char's folks home "Grandpa's House) at about 5:30. So at about this time we had been up since 5 AM--did a 3 1/2 hour drive, helped with Thanksgiving (set up and take down), and did another hour or so drive. We were more then little tired. Heidi Anne had more bounce then the Energizer Bunny! When we got there Grandpa, Laura, and Anthony had begun to make Raspberry Freezer Jam. Heidi Anne would wander in, look around, and then come back to the living room. Soon pizza arrived, we had prayed before Heidi Anne noticed food was there-so we had a prayer "re-do" or suffer the wrath of Heidi Anne.

I am going to Sleep in Daddy's Room when He was Like Me!!

As everyone else finished the jam, I crashed. Heidi Anne decided she wanted a movie so we put Beauty and the Beast on our laptop for her. She cuddled up with Sarah and was in high heaven. When the movie was over we went to sleep. She was sooo excited to sleep in the room "Daddy did when he was like me! Daddy was me age! He was little and like me!" She LOVED it-she kept asking him questions about where his toys where and why he had a doll and pictures of Laura.
Yeah-Try explaining "re-decorating" or "changing" or "sharing rooms" to a 3 year old only child at 9:30 at night when your exhausted. It does NOT work well.

Next day, we had Waffles! Again, she was in high heaven. She had fun being anyone and every ones shadow. She helped Grandpa rake leaves outside, playing with Sarah, helping cook in the kitchen, cleaning, following Nana here and there. Then she would just having fun being herself doing crafts or coloring. I honestly think if I could be anyone, it would be her.  

Getting a Story from Sarah with Alice

The downside of getting everything ready for Thanksgiving as a 3 year old? You see everything almost ready to eat but it isn't time yet. Everyone just tells you "Later". Everything is Later...so everything seems to drag on....

Almost Ready.....

Watching Food Get the Final Touches

Everything is Later...so everything seems to drag on....Even the Turkey is craved right in front of you. But all the grow ups are saying things like "Not ready yet." Or "We have to wait for more people".  There it is right there...but "Later"

Until Victory!!! Magic words are said like "Let's eat, everyone is here!"

Victory Olives-Who doesn't have fun with Olives?

After we ate, a special select few got to count the coins. Grandpa had a jar full of coins, he gave everyone 2 clues. The jar weighted 13 pounds and there were very few pennies in the jar. You could look at the jar, but you couldn't take any of the coins out. Everyone could guess the dollar amount in the jar and the closet winner got the money--not the jar. He liked it very much.
Daddy guessed $194.01, Heidi Anne said there were 2 10's, so I took that to mean $210.10, I did $205. The rest of the guesses went from $100 ~ $250

Daddy Not Putting the Dimes Headside Up-Tsk, Tsk

They had to count ALL the coins-because NO ONE knew how many were in there. Only a select few could count the coins. Only Nana, Emily, and Char. When other people tried to join in on the game-they were shoo'ed away.

I Want to Play With the Money Too....

At long last they finished tallying up the money with a grand total of $183 and some pennies. Char won, he was the closest at $194.01. Out of those we found; my missing state quarters for my map my GrandDad got me when I was 12 (I finished with the mint condition coins-but with these are in the actual map), 3 Bicential Quarters (awesome), a few wheat back pennies (totally awesome). Sometime soon we want to get the New Map for the new quarter themes. Heidi Anne is really getting into it.

Momma, MORE Waiting?