Thanksgiving 2011 in Ohio

We had an awesome family & friend-filled Thanksgiving trip to Ohio this year. We left on Wednesday with beautiful weather on our side. The trip there took 9-1/2 hrs, Chris drove & I entertained. :) We were fortunate enough to stop at a rest area for lunch and let the kids play on the playground. (Illinois has awesome/kid-friendly rest stops for those interested ;) Lydia did awesome on this trip compared to our August drive :) ... so LeaAnn took her place this time.  Just hard for a 9-month old to sleep when they are supposed to and be entertained in a car seat for 9+ hours!  She did better on the way back... and I have no doubt... she'll learn, b/c the big girls are world class travelers! They did AWESOME. They could not wait of course to see the big blue arch that we drive under to get to Ohio... but no fighting, no crying... we could not ask for more.

When we arrived that night - Mimi had Lydia's birthday present for her... and what a perfect present it was! The baby you see here (watching the train w/her) is in almost every picture from here on out! Baby 'girl' came complete with a bottle & pacifier :)  so she and Lydia have a bit of a 'connection.' She always knows when "babies needs her pacifier!"

That night in the bathtub...

Carson watching the train...

Thursday, 11/24 - Thanksgiving Day at Aunt Dawn & Aunt Gina's house!

Cracking nuts w/Aunt Gina... HUGE hit with ALL the kids at the house... they had not nuts left by the end of the day ;)

I like how "Wiam" was trying to join in on the action ;)

Notice the baby 'girl' ??? I'm not kidding... EVERYWHERE she went, she had that baby with her :)

lovin' on Mimi...

Trying to get a pic of the 6 of them :) 

But Obie did NOT want to be left out! :)

Lydia 'negotiating' with Aunt Dawn :) I believe she was saying, "my table! my table! woll!" Meaning in her 'polite' way, "get me a roll please" ;)

And what would a Koontz Thanksgiving be without wrestling in the living room?  Aunt Jayne is usually the instigator and referee :) As you can see in the pictures - Wiam wins most of them :)

Lydia you are IN FOR IT when she gets older :)

but hopefully - they'll be best friends too :)

They really do love playing together :) And speaking of LeaAnn winning most battles... just the other day, Lydia was sitting on a stool in the kitchen, next to LeaAnn in the high chair, and she was holding onto a teething ring. Lydia was flaunting it in front of LeaAnn, so naturally, LeaAnn grabbed on... and to Lydia's surprise, did NOT LET GO! :) "Hey! Hey!" Lydia kept shouting... I just stood there and laughed... :) The story ended with Lydia continuing to pull and LeaAnn continuing to hold on, and eventually LEAANN was the winner who held out!  I could not believe it... of course Lydia promptly let me know that, "Wiam took my wing!!" But I do believe that's a good indicator of future encounters :))