Trading Thanksgiving for September

With Scott's family here in AZ and my family in NC, we've been trying to alternate the holidays the last several years. So this year's plan is an AZ Christmas, which means a NC Thanksgiving. However, come this Thanksgiving, I will be a few days shy of 8 months pregnant. SO, no. I'm not traveling then. But I haven't been to NC since last November, so I wanted to squeeze a trip in before my 3rd trimester officially starts.

Josh and I arrived in Charlotte late Friday evening. Scott had to work all weekend (drill weekend). We had only 3 full days, and then back to Phoenix again on Tuesday. Despite the short time, we made the most of it and had a really good time.

First, Josh always gets so excited going to my Mom's because there is just so much room for him to run around, unlike our cookie-cutter AZ home with a teeny tiny yard.



He started by chasing the cat, then running up and down the hill with a football, taking a peak over the fence at the neighbors horses, back around the house to the play house, up and down the slide, said "Hi" to Papa working in his workshop, watched the train pass by (above picture) and finished off by climbing up the pool ladder and getting his fingers wet.

After a rest, we headed to dinner with some extended family. I love that we focus gatherings around food! :) And later, back to Mom's with my sister and her kids for a mini photo shoot. We got a few great pictures between crazy boys running in circles and Josh's pants falling down. Good times. :)



Church Sunday was great. Sometimes I get a little shell-shocked going back to a Pentacostal church after so many years. :) But I kept my cool and remembered where I came from LOL. There was a guest speaker and the message was great. That evening, I got to have dinner with my very good friend Erika, also my MK Director. :) It was her birthday, and we had a fun time catching up. Josh was having fun at home with Nana. Yay for me! :)

My Dad had to work the whole time we were there, so we went to his work for lunch to visit. I wish I had more time to spend with him.



My sister was kind enough to let me borrow her awesome camera that day :) and I took this cute picture of Mom & Josh after lunch.



And later that day, we met up with some long-time family friends for dinner. It's always good to see them. This picture is with Josephine and my sister Amber.



Tuesday was here before we knew it and time to head back to the desert. So nap time was priority that day since I knew Josh wouldn't sleep on the plane. He took a 2-hour nap, eventually slept 12 hours that night when we got home to AZ. And then he was still exhausted the next day at preschool. Jet-lag must've really gotten him. :)

We had a good time, as always. And also, as always, the only thing that would've made it better is having Scott there with us. Next time, for sure. Because I don't think I can sanely handle traveling with TWO little people. :)