Well we just had another amazing Thanksgiving in Las Vegas with lots of family! There was a lot of eating, hot chocolate, football, movies, games, playing, hot tubbing, and just overall lounging. Now that's my idea of a vacation!
This year my parents hosted us, Preston and his family, BJ and Kirsten, Paul, Granky, and Mark and his family (Mandy and kids: Bruce, Rachel, Madelyn, Will, and Anne). It's so nice of my parents to provide all the food and a place to stay, not to mention all the toys my mom has been collecting. The kids had a blast playing and it was kind of nice to have them more or less contained while the adults sat around talking or recovering from eating too much ☺ We had 8 kids, 5 under 3 years old so it felt like we were in Crazy Town, but we loved every second of it!!
Here are some pics of what the weekend mostly looked like, kids and toys everywhere, and everyone holding someone else's child. Seriously, it was so funny, more than once I walked into the family room to see Mandy holding Nolan, Justin with Rhett, and Preston had Anne - or any other number of combinations. It was also kind of funny that Preston, Mark, and Justin have similar height and build and often wore jeans and a tshirt. The kids sometimes got confused and called the wrong person "Dad."
We're so blessed to have such an amazing family that loves each other and gets along so well. In fact, it's crazy to think about it, but this weekend was actually the first time Devin even met Mark and Mandy, but they got along like old friends! ♥ this family of mine!
Love these little blonde toddler boys! Nolan, Will, Beck, and Rhett
Nolan grubbing some banana off of Gp Mathews. One morning my dad sat here with a bowl of cereal and Nolan came up to get some. After several bites Nolan decided he was done and then Rhett came up for some too haha!!
Spinning!
Bruce and Beckett were so cute playing together!
Justin holding Rhett, and Nolan
Preston chatting with Granky about future plans
Justin holding sweet baby Anne. She is seriously a really chill baby! Dare I say better than Nolan was? (nah, maybe just the same ☺) Justin thinks he probably shouldn't have a little girl because she'd have him wrapped around her little finger!
Beck and Will
Hot tubbing! One of the main reasons the Mark Mathews family likes to come to our house (along with Aunt Dana's hot chocolate bar and amazing Thanksgiving feast!)
Cute cousins!
Nolan and Rhett. Check out Nolan's bed head. It was seriously laying down when he went to bed the night before.
This video was for Jeanni ☺
Watching football with Gp Mathews
I think Nolan liked playing on the stairs
Snuggling with Gm Mathews
I also want to point out here how awesome Mallory was. She has so much patience and was always willing to watch the kids in the other room for long periods of time, for which we were all super grateful! :)
Mark with Will and Madelyn, and Justin playing with Beck
Anne liked this little bouncer, and Nolan and Rhett liked playing with the toys while she was in the bouncer!
Preston and Devin with Granky
Nolan saying something important to Gp Mathews
Surfer Beck
Pirates Dice! Bruce especially loved this pirates dice game and was always coordinating games with anyone willing to play.
Since the toys were usually dumped out of these buckets anyway, Preston found an alternate use for them and the kids loved it!!
I'm dying over this video!
Nolan sure loves cell phones and everyone knows if you have one out anywhere near him he'll find it, but he still can't do much with the phones when he gets them besides turn them on and off. Will on the other hand, if you leave your phone laying around you might find some selfies on it ☺
Will and Beckett playing at the park
Beck and Madelyn
On Saturday we headed up to Red Rock, apparently everyone else had the same idea because the line to get into the park was super long! We just took a different road and it worked out great! We got to climb all over the red rocks and take some pictures and, bonus, didn't even have to pay to get in like the original plan! The best kind of fun is free fun!
What a handsome little guy!
I love this cute family!
Paul and Will
Preston and Devin Mathews family
Mark and Mandy Mathews family
Nolan loved climbing on the rocks with daddy, and Madeline had a blast break rocks!
Can you find Preston and Rhett?
Mark, Madelyn, and Bruce climbing up the rocks like pros
Mark teaching Bruce the art of bouldering
We got back in time for the BYU vs Utah State football game and celebrated our win with Mandy's delicious rasberry rolls! Mmmmm!
We decided to take advantage of Aunt Devin's haircutting skills, especially since Granky mentioned that Nolan's hair was looking a little 'scraggly' haha.
Justin's job was to distract him haha.
We actually also got to see Justin's parents and Gm and Gp Hickman while we were there! His Gm and Gp Hickman usually travel from Spokane to Yuma, AZ for the winter and stopped in LV. Doug and Pam drove down to spend Thanksgiving with them so of course we took the opportunity to see them all! It was so fun introducing Nolan to some more of his great grandparents. Family is the best!
Of course we couldn't leave without saying goodbye to Granky!
Granky with some of his great grandkids
L-R (front): Nolan Bailey, Rhett Mathews, Will Mathews, Granky, Madelyn Mathews, Beckett Mathews
L-R (back): Anne, Rachel, and Bruce Mathews
