Our Thackeray Family Reunion

This weekend we went to a family reunion in Washington at a beach house on the Puget Sound. The location was beautiful.

It was not very safe though. The rocky beach below the un-fenced beach house was open to small curious children which happened at one point in our stay. Madeline took off with her cousin Lucas down a trail. If you're wondering "where was Christiana?" I was in the back with my husband's family practicing a song and had asked someone to watch over the children... This obviously wasn't taken seriously. It was probably one of the scariest moments of my life as a parent. Madeline is only two, but because she is so tall people think she is older than she is and that she can understand directions and whatnot. She's just a toddler. And especially in those years, toddlers 6 months older than her can be leaps and bounds ahead developmentally. Toddlers abilities range from month-to-month since they learn so much. Sarah, my sister-in-law, found them walking on the rocks next to the water and totally saved their lives. It's a good thing that the house wasn't directly on the Sound or who knows what could have happened. I'm so grateful God kept them safe. It's times like that which remind me that we are totally in God's hands.

On the way there we drove to the Salt Lake airport and took a plane from there. I made Madeline some activities to play with while in transit.

This is a pom-pom push intended to improve fine motor skills. You take some of those craft pom poms and then push them through a hole in the top of a container (like an old formula bin or oatmeal container. I used a nesquick container). Maddy spent about ten minutes doing this. 

These are gel stickers from the dollar tree. I had never exposed them to her before, and they were a huge hit! She spent about 40 minutes sticking them to the plane window and table. 

This was also a hit. It's pipe cleaners and pony beads. She stringed the beads through and after I made them into quick bracelets. She LOVED this for about 30 minutes and then she started throwing the beads on the ground... but then the plane ride was over and we prepared for landing.  

I was a bit surprised about how well the plane ride went. Both Faye and Madeline were well-behaved and we weren't that family--the one that everyone hates because their child is screaming their head off the whole time. Everyone thought Faye was so cute and tiny, and they thought it was amazing that we were traveling with a 7-week-old. Madeline loved pulling around the pully-backpack I painted for her. She had to have it just like Mama and Papa.

We got to my in-laws house after about an hour drive, but it was so much fun seeing the house they are renovating. It is a MESS, but it is going to be such a great and perfect grandparent house when it is finished. It's in the middle of a huge cookie-cutter community where all the houses look very much the same, but their house is super old and is on at least an acre of land with a barn house, a garden area, and a gated area for a horse or cow.

Then the next day we made the 4 hour drive to Puget Sound. I hate driving that much.

Anyways, it was nice getting to know the Thackeray side of the family since I had never met most of them. It was also nice seeing the whole family together, and the food was awesome! There were bags and bags of homemade cookies of all different kinds. I can't tell you how many I ate. I lost count after 10.

Here are some pictures of our weekend (most photos courtesy of Brian Thackeray and his new awesome camera):

The clouds on the way to Portland airport. 

Madeline slept the whole flight home. Yay! She wasn't grouchy at all. 

Two sleeping beauties. :)

I am going to brag about how awesome my husband is. I only got 2 hours of sleep the night we went home because Faye decided to be up all night long. This man carried everything in the airport while I scuddled through barley able to keep my eyes open. He had gone on a run up the Sound and got huge blisters on his feet and he still sacrificed for me. How can I not be in love with Marcus? 

Use the term special needs rather than handicap! Handicap is derogatory. 

The Russian Olympic team for something at the SLC airport. 

 

Faye is a belly sleeper.

My cuties on the way to OR.

Guilty. I am eating a cookie.

This is Marcus and his nasty sweaty shirt after he went running. 

Aunt Anne and Aunt Nancy cuddling Faye.

Grandma cuddle time.

The 18 and under-s marched around doing a parade on 4th of July. 

Most of the family. 

More grandma cuddles.

This pic is cute! Two of the dogs, my in-laws and aunt anne and Marcus' cousin Justin.

I think this is such a sweet picture of my mother and father-in-law. 

We were actually ready for this photo. My hair and make up are not done yet. 

Marcus playing against his Dad in the horseshoe tournament. It was an intense game. The whole tournament was a success and everyone had a blast participating and watching. 

Mother and son. Precious. 

My little dog that EVERYONE loved. They kept saying he was such a good dog--which he is. 

So cute. Sampson and Aunt Sarah.

Overall it was a great weekend being able to see everyone. Now we just have to prepare for the crazy next few weeks. Our yard sale is this Saturday, Tyler will be here next Monday, and then finals, graduation, and the BIG move!