An Eventful Thanksgiving

We went up to Washington for Thanksgiving this year. The weather was great and the time was well spent.

My oldest brother is a police sergeant and we'd been wanting to take Westin to see Aaron in his uniform and with his car for awhile. This time it worked out and Aaron took us through the police station and then at the end he got called out and Westin had a fun time watching him drive away with his lights on. Westin talked about this for days after.

While we were there, he threw us in a holding cell! Jk, we went willingly. Us with Thomas, Audrey, Rachael, and Lauren.

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Aaron and Katie's house. We were missing Becky and Steve and their kids, and Leif and Rachel and the twins, but had fun night. It was really nice sitting at one giant table that they created for the night.

Grandma Martin is doing great lately and it was nice to have her there as well.

Ally, Audrey, Westin, Kaitlyn, Rachael, Jade, Thomas, and Lauren.

Katie with Audrey, Rachael, and Jade. That morning I gave Jade my mascara to hold while I was doing my makeup and when I looked over at her she had it out and was attempting to apply it, hence the dark smudges on her right eye. It's not really noticeable though in this picture.

Westin and Jade walking along the Columbia River. It's nice when the weather is clear to walk along the dyke 5 minutes down the road from my parents' house.

We went to Bonneville Dam and the fish hatcheries one of the days, because we knew Westin would enjoy it. Also, the drive there is so scenic. It is the same area that some of the movie Twilight was filmed in.

They have a sturgeon pond there that holds Herman the Sturgeon who is 11 ft long and 500 lbs, and 70 years old. Pretty interesting for a big, ugly fish! Westin is pointing to one of the smaller fish in this picture. Anyway, he had a great time and it was nice to get out in the clean air and spend some time with family we don't see often.

We got to help Aunt Lairen celebrate her birthday. She is greatly loved by Westin and Jade and us too!

We went over to Jeremy and Andrea's house and visited with them for a little while and Westin got to see Jeremy's hunting room. Wes has taken up bow hunting in the last 6 months and Westin has picked up on it and is now an avid hunting fan. So, he thinks Uncle Jeremy is pretty cool and likes to tell him about his hunting plans. Westin also likes to pretend to be a moose, deer, elk, pig, or turkey and have us pretend to hunt him. It's kind of messed up I know, but it is hilarious to watch him scamper away after being hit and then fall over dead. Westin has totally lucked out when it comes to uncles. Uncle Aaron and Jeremy both do things Westin is obsessed with, and Westin has always had fun with Uncle Bruce (Whitny's husband), Steve, and Leif.

Jeremy and Westin

Andrea, Westin, and Jade

Jade checking out the grandchildren photos at Grandma and Grandpa Kanooth's house.

Grandpa, Westin, Grandma, and Jade



IDAHO
So, towards the end of Thanksgiving week, we received news that Wes's grandpa had passed away. He was 95, would have turned 96 this month, and still living in his house with live-in care from his sweet granddaughter, Kelsey. He was still in decent health for 95. His wife, Sally, passed away a couple years ago and he had lived a great life with great family. Instead of going home as planned, we headed to Boise, ID, for the funeral.

Wes with his mom and grandpa

The service.

Wayne, Gail, Me, Jade, Wes, and Westin

Wayne, Gail, Baby Cohen

Wes enjoyed the service and remembering some good memories of his Grandpa Les. I stayed in the car with the kids, because we forgot their coats and they would have been loud and running around anyway. We enjoyed spending some time with more family that we don't see often. We got to meet baby Cohen, Wes's mom's new baby. Just kidding, but doesn't this picture look like it? Cohen is Wes's cousin Brandan and Janette's baby. He is a cute chunk and low maintainence. We always enjoy catching up with Brandan and Janette, and the rest of the family there in Idaho.

So, on our way out we stopped and saw Becky and Steve, and kids in Nampa, ID. The visit was short and sweet, because we had a long drive home ahead of us.

The boys: Wes, Westin, Steve (who Westin is nuts over), and Steve.

Westin and Tori, they are both 3 in this funny pic.

Me, Sydney, Becky, Jade, Westin and Steve in back.

Steven, Westin, Sydney, Jade, Tori, and Reese.