Swart Life Continues: 2015

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Thanksgiving Week 2015

We knew that Carman was going to be induced on Monday, Nov. 23rd and wouldn't be able to travel to Galena for Thanksgiving. So we needed an alternative plan for the week. Once again, my sister so graciously made arrangements for a lakehouse in Bella Vista for us. Jeff and I and my Mom traveled down on Sunday night after our Thanksgiving dinner at church and was able to get an early start the next morning to the hospital for Shep's arrival.

The lake is such a calming, peaceful setting and the lakehouse is a blessing each time we stay there.

I kept Laine and Ellie all week for Andy and Carman. Rachel, Copeland and Eisley came on Monday and stayed the rest of the week with us. Jonathan had to work during the day, but was there each evening and did stay overnight a couple of nights. Avi also stayed overnight with us one night and she and Josh were there during the day. Michelle joined us each evening (after working all day).

So it was a week of lots of fun with our kids and our grandchildren!

Carman and Shepherd were dismissed from the hospital on Tuesday. That evening they came out and ate dinner with us.

The four "Swart" men

This was our only night to have all the grandchildren together as Avi had to go to her Dad's on Wednesday for Thanksgiving.

We sure do love all 6 of these kiddos!

Copeland and Eisley thought it was funny faces time :-)

DeDe and her sweet baby boy

We had mild weather most of the week, so we enjoyed the outdoors a little bit.

The kids doing some sidewalk chalk drawing (Ellie had just fallen prior to this picture and wasn't interested in being in it)

They watched some Christmas movies

And there was lots of holding and cuddling

One morning, Grandma Boore fixed homemade donuts, I fixed bacon and Rachel made waffles

With our two youngest

Thanksgiving Day (Shep's first!)

We had the big dinner: turkey, mashed potatoes, Grandma's homemade noodles, Josh's homemade dressing, gravy, green been casserole, corn casserole, relish tray, fruit salad, cranberry sauce and cranberry salad; pink jello salad, and hot rolls. Pecan pie, pumpkin pie, angel food cake with strawberries, banana bread and cookies rounded out the meal.

We were glad that Jonathan's sister, Jennifer, was able to join us and appreciated so much all her hard work in getting the meal ready as well as cleaning up afterwards!