Long Family Thanks-mas

Thanks-mas... that's what Maddie called our weekend gathering of the Long family. We usually always combine our Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations into one event. However, each year it becomes more and more difficult to schedule the weekend for it. It was a little early but we rolled with it and here's some of the highlights.

Cooper got a Batman toy and played all weekend with "his Blakey." There was four wheeler riding and football throwing. Don't let that Gamecock shirt fool you, Cooper decided he was going to play football for the Clemson Tigers!! As long as Blake will come watch him, that is.

Philip and Lily got new LeapPad 3's. Lily overcame her fear of Sadie this weekend and would even lay down face to face beside her.

It's a little sad when your youngest child moves into the category of asking for and getting money as her Christmas gift. Trinity and Maddie had fun together all weekend. We just wish we lived closer so they could see more of each other.

MJ got lots of legos, his favorite. Notice our tiny tree in the background. That borrowed wooden tree was the best I could do for a mid-November attempt at Christmas decor.

The girls also got these really cool bows that shoot foam arrows that light up and whistle. They were awesome in the dark.

Lily and Uncle Harold worked on getting her Leap Pad set up...

while Colsen got loved on by Uncle Bryan. This is the most precious face ever. I hope despite the crowded quarters, cool weather, lack of smores over the fire in the fire pit, and the squabbles that always happen among cousins, that all the kids felt loved on and had a great time together. That's what it's all about anyway.

On a side note, Bryan fried up the best turkey we've ever had and afterward declared his injection recipe top secret. It was really good, so good the turkey was completely gone and the ham was hardly touched. I am sure we have a Thanks-mas tradition now.





~Tara