Thanksgiving Tennesee Trip

The day before Thanksgiving we got up and drove to Tennessee.  We had to deal with some rain and snow along the way, but, fortunately, the weather wasn't as bad as we'd thought it might be.  We made it down there mid-afternoon and Mimi and Pops were already there.  We had the room right across the hall from Mimi and Pops which was great because the girls could just run back and forth as much as they wanted.  There was a lot of running back and forth between rooms that first afternoon.  Then we went out to dinner with Mimi and Pops and then all hung out in their room for a little longer before it was time to go to bed.

Thanksgiving morning we were all signed up to do a race.  At least two of us have done this race for the past 4 years and we've always had pretty good weather and nice temperatures.  This year was different, though.  It was COLD!  At race time it was about 25 degrees!  But we still did it.  Paige and Virginia ran the kid's race (and made Mommy and Daddy run with them) and did great.  Then Ben and I started the 8k and the girls did a 2 mile walk with Mimi and Pops.  For the first couple of miles my hands were freezing, but then they thawed and I was fine.  Sure it was cold, but it was doable.

Hanging out in the cold waiting for race time.

Virginia and Paige ready for their race.

Ben and I post race.

After the race we headed back to the hotel to warm up, shower and get ready to go to Ali and John's for Thanksgiving.  I didn't take many pictures while we were there.  It was chilly, but we still barely saw the kids because they were having so much fun playing outside in the bounce house.  Ben and I got enjoy time hanging out with adults- it was great!

 

Virginia, Carson and Paige on the porch at Ali and John's.

Cousins in a toy box- Carson, Justin, Virginia and Paige.

The day after Thanksgiving we headed up to Oak Ridge to their children's museum.  We didn't really know what to expect, but it was awesome!  They had displays about life in Appalachia, space travel, birds, rivers and locks, trains, and the coolest playhouse ever.  We all had a great time exploring.

Virginia with the polar bear!  She was so excited that they had her favorite animal.

Virginia playing the xylophone while Paige watches.

Paige and Mimi weaving in the Appalachia exhibit.

Paige trying to pump some water for Virginia.

Virginia the beekeeper

Paige dressed up as a beekeeper- or is she a monster?!

Paige and Virginia checking out the space ship while Daddy watches.

Paige and Virginia in the kitchen of the world's coolest playhouse.

It was awesome.  Two levels and all kid sized.  They had so much fun playing in it.

Virginia and Paige in the family room of the playhouse with the babies they found in the bedrooms.

Pops aka Lloyd hanging out by the Lloydstown train.

Virginia and Paige learning about how locks work in the river exhibit.

Ben giving Virginia a lesson on locks.

And before we left the museum Paige and Virginia gave us a puppet show.

After the museum we went out to lunch and then went to the cemetery to see Nana and Gramps before heading back to the hotel to rest before going to Uncle Bob and Aunt Beth's for dinner.

Once again when we were at Uncle Bob and Aunt Beth's house we barely saw the children.  They were all playing upstairs while the adults hang out downstairs.  We had a great time sitting and talking with Uncle Bob, Aunt Beth, Mimi, Pops, Rob and Leigh while the girls had a ball playing with their cousins.

All the girl cousins:

Carson, Elizabeth, Paige, Caleigh and Virginia

And now Mason joined them.

Silly girls!

The next day we got up early and headed for home.  As usual we had a great time in Tennessee.  We love that we can make that trip and spend time with the Stivers and Umbargers for Thanksgiving.  Thanks to hosting, Ali and John!