Alec & Emma's Blog: Thanksgiving in Goliad

This year, we drove down to Goliad, TX for Thanksgiving with Aaron's family. We broke the drive up on the way down...but drove it in one day on the way home. We got to Goliad on Wednesday afternoon. We enjoyed an awesome Thanksgiving day with our wonderful Texas family. We had lunch at the Goliad Club, hosted by Aaron's grandma, Florine. There were probably close to 50 in attendance. It was neat because we got to meet Alec and Emma's twin cousins, Cooper and Collin, for the first time. Their other cousin, Cira, was also there. Alec and Emma are almost 20 mos old. Cira is 14 mos old and Cooper and Collin are 13 mos old. You can see the "Baby Patch" pictures with all 5 of them. Wow! There's something in the water, I guess! Afterward, the kids and I took a nap back at g'ma's house for almost 3 hours. Then we went to Aaron's other g'ma's house (Abuelita) for dinner. We all had an awesome time with all of the family, and definitely ate enough to last us a while.

Friday, Aaron's parents and brothers watched Alec and Emma while we did a little shopping in Victoria. We didn't get up for Black Friday...but we did battle crowds none the less. Also got to meet up with my good friend, Jenny, and G'ma Florine again in Victoria for a little while. We had BBQ at his Aunt Linda's later for dinner...but not until I forced us all to take "Christmas pictures" in front of G'ma Florine's house. You see, G'ma has moved into an assisted living apartment since her several back surgeries, and is planning to put her beautiful and historic old home on the market in the new year. This makes me sad, because it is a gorgeous plantation style Southern house and Aaron's family has made many wonderful memories there. In fact, I think he spent every single Christmas morning there as a child. We would love to buy it and make it our own...but I don't know that there are any IT positions open in Goliad! I wanted to have pictures of us as a family outside the house. The kids were super cranky and in desperate need of a nap by the time we got home from shopping, but we had to do it then because it wouldn't be light out after nap. So, Grandpa took some pictures of us out in front of the house and of the kids walking around the yard. I'm glad we have the memories...even though they didn't really want to cooperate for the family shots. I will post some...but I'm debating on whether to wait until after the Christmas cards go out!

Saturday after breakfast we hit the road. We made a stop in Houston for a few hours to see Tia V, and to try on my dress for the wedding and have it altered, and to have Emma fitted for her custom made dress. I know! What other little girl gets a dress custom made just for them? We hit some traffic heading out of Houston and a little congestion heading up I45 to Dallas...but nothing bad! We left Goliad at 9:15am and got home at 11:15pm. What a day! The kids were troopers. I don't blame them for getting cranky. It stinks being in the car that long. I just try to keep them entertained with books, music, dvds, food and hopefully...naps!

If you are reading this, I hope that you had a super Thanksgiving spent with family and friends. We have so much to be thankful for. We are so blessed!

At the club