Stephens' Stories: Thanksgiving 2015

We flew to Georgia over Thanksgiving to join my mom's side of the family for the annual reunion at the McGregor farm house. This was Austin's 3rd time to go and Campbell's first, unless you count when he was in my tummy. We go every other Thanksgiving. This year there were 92 family members who came - big group! We flew to Atlanta on Tuesday, rented a car and arrived in Vidalia that evening. We stay at the Americinn - the nicest hotel in Vidalia - even has a little lake/pond behind it. We had the suite - complete with a fold out couch for Austin, doors between the living space and bedroom, and a full kitchen. Campbell slept in the pac n play in the room with us and Austin on his very own fold out couch. We ate dinner at David's childhood pizza place in Houston (a chain), Pizza Inn. It wasn't quite as he remembered it..... Campbell was sick with a nasty cold the entire time we were there and wouldn't eat at all. He even refused to eat the ice cream at Pizza Inn. On Wednesday morning, David let me run outside by the "lake" while he braved the continental breakfast with both boys. Ha! Then we went to the farm house for lunch and exploring. We checked out all of the old barns - with lots of rusty nails and tools. Very safe for my crazy curious kids! I picked up pecans and filled my pockets! Yummy! Aunt LaLa and Uncle Will had driven down from their new home in Lookout Mt, TN so it was great to see them! After lunch, we went back to the hotel for nap time. That evening for dinner we went to Anice's house for the famous Brunswick stew, congealed salads, and cakes galore. The boys had fun "playing" Anice's piano, riding the motorized tractor and the old fashioned rocking horse. After tearing up Anice's house enough, we headed back to the hotel for bed.

On Thanksgiving day, we hung out at the hotel and then headed to the little church by the farm house for a family church service. Our family easily fills the entire church with some people in standing room only - including me and Campbell, but not because we didn't have a seat. He is NOT quiet AT ALL. I kept having to get up with him and go in the kitchen to mask his blabbering. Oh well. After church, we all gathered on the porch of the house for a group picture. We enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving lunch with turkey, field peas (my favorite), sweet potatoes, stuffing, rice, cranberries, gravy, and cakes of all flavors- caramel layer cake, chocolate layered cake, coconut cake, and more. David and I were in Uncle Don's bedroom that had a little table for Austin, Campbell, Ava, Lily, and James - whose parents were also at our table. After filling our tummies, we went back to the hotel for nap. Most people go straight over to the Little Pond house to ride horses, hunt, fish, play outside, etc. We did go, but after nap time. At the Little pond house, there is paddle boating, horses, campfire, although it was very warm so we didn't really need it, more porch rocking, eating leftovers, games, a swing set, and more. Our kids were not interested in horses or hunting but would have gone swimming in the pond if we weren't watching them. I kept trying to get Campbell to eat (going on day 3 then) but he was more interested in climbing to the top of the bunk bed or venturing towards the fire - can't figure out why!! We hung out there until about 7pm and then went back to the hotel to watch the UT vs Texas Tech football game in the hotel lobby - like we owned it, or at least paid $ to rent the place, but no, we just take over all of the lobby furniture. It was a close game with a poor outcome - blah! David kindly went back to the room so that I could watch in the company of cousins and he watched under the bedsheets on his phone - that is what you do when you have kids sleeping in both rooms. Ha!

We woke up on Friday, packed up, ate continental breakfast (and tried again to get Campbell to eat), and made a last stop by the farm house. It was great, warm sunny weather the whole time we were there. We hit the road to the Atlanta airport - making a stop in a small town McDonalds. This is when Campbell decided to eat - his very own cheeseburger happy meal! Ha! He was holding out for fries and a McDonalds burger. Gross but I was okay with it. The flight home was uneventful without delays and Campbell was fairly well behaved. That is a win in my book. I am thankful for this family tradition and how so many cousins make it a priority to come each year. We certainly miss Grandmother and her brothers each year - I know she is happy to see it continue, and now with new little ones each year :)