Thanksgiving in Estes Park or Laundry, Laundry, Laundry!

This Thanksgiving we were very fortunate to be able to spend the holiday in Estes Park with Mike's family. The house was amazing. We had a huge room with a two way fireplace and a jetted soaker tub. The downstairs was perfect as well. They had decorated the whole place for Christmas including a tree where the kids loved playing. Of course, the stuffed bear they could sit on didn't hurt!

Here we see the difference between girls and boys. Lissie and Abby loved to cuddle the bear. Sam and Joey had the bear attack them! Sam even went so far as to pour ketchup on his neck and play dead. It was very funny. Unfortunately, the picture was really blurry.

There was a giant table that was able to seat all 12 of us comfortably.

and also a nice sitting area with a flat screen tv above the huge fireplace. It was perfect.

I even got a chance to just relax and read a book by the fireplace!!! I forgot how wonderful that is.

Of course, Lissie's favorite place was on the kitchen counter.

Here we all are after dinner, watching the traditional "Christmas Vacation" movie. It was like Cheri was just seeing it for the very first time. We love you "Bethany!"

After the movie though is when all you know what broke loose. Abby had a rough day to start with her potty training as the bathroom was upstairs and over a baby gate. There were also many fun distractions like Uno with the cousins and lots of treats so we had MANY accidents. The worst though started at midnight after a lovely Thanksgiving dinner. Abby got a terrible stomach flu.

She was sick all weekend and at least 30 times that first night. Poor baby was so tired and dehydrated that we called the doctor twice out of concern that she might need to go to the emergency room. Here she is eating a popsicle that Aunt Cindy and Uncle Tom brought her from a trip into town. They also brought me lots of laundry detergent. I spent the rest of the weekend doing laundry for Abby first and then Lissie who caught the bug on our last night.

Abby was such a sweet little girl though and tried very hard not to let her sickness spoil her fun. She enjoyed opening her traditional Thanksgiving presents from Gigi and Grandpa Mike.

Lissie enjoyed the presents too. Please note the little bow in her almost non-exsistant hair!

We had to empty all of the lower cabinets as this was one of Lissie's favorite places to play and she had emptied all of the dish detergent in Breck forcing me to call poison control just two days earlier!

Another of Lissie's favorite play places was in our huge tub. Notice the baby in her jammies with the water running. Daddy thought the tub would be safe and contained. I think he forgot how smart she is and how much she loves to turn on faucets!

Here is my big girl resting downstairs in her nest. You can't see it in the picture but her ever faithful companion the trash can is just below her chair. Also there is a blanket covering the chair as I already washed the couch seat covers the night before. Oh how I love laundry! Sadly, this is a picture of her when she was feeling a little better:(

In an effort to keep Lissie entertained we went out once to look for elk. We found some beautiful ones in a clearing just off the road. Lissie loved looking at them. I think she also loved being dressed and out of the house!

We also were able to see some coyotes!

On our last night we had two more fall to the stomach flu. Poor Aunt Cindy and Lissie both got sick that night. In the days following our return everyone but myself would get some form of it. It was a horrible horrible bug. Despite all the sickness and laundry though, we really had a wonderful time. Abby needing to rest and stay home, forced us to relax and find ways to have fun indoors. We read, played games (including pick up sticks), watched movies and just enjoyed each others company. It really was very nice. Oh and we'll have to have our Nerts rematch at Christmas!