Thanksgiving...WARNING: THIS IS LONG

Is it really December? Wow.

Wednesday night, we got a late start headed to Aiken. Matt had to work later than expected, but I was able to get to cat packed, and kids fed and bathed. Our trip down went SO smoothly. There are HUGE pluses to traveling at night.

Thanksgiving morning we went to the Blessing of the Hounds in Hitchcock Woods. Every year at the first formal hunt, an Episcopal Priest comes and blesses the Aiken Hounds and the horses. We walked about 1/2 mile into the woods, and got to watch the ceremony. Alden rode in the backpack and Hudson fell asleep in the Bjorn. There were so many more people there than we had thought! Alden wanted to walk back, so although we started at the front of the pack, by the time we reached the road, there were only a couple people behind us. At least it wore her out some.

The whippers-in and the hounds.

This cute little girl and her pony made me hope that Alden will like horses!

After our walk back. Alden made it!

We had Thanksgiving dinner with Matt's parents at Woodside Country Club, which was delicious. They had one of the best turkeys I have ever tasted, which says a lot, because I don't typically care for turkey. Alden was not in the greatest mood, and probably ate 3 bites of food. She and I spent most of the meal in one of the lounges watching cartoons, so that they other diners could eat in peace.

An attempt at a family picture. Alden was NOT interested in photo ops.

We went to the park that night to burn off some energy. Good thing, too, because it rained the next few days.

Leigh and Eric arrived late Friday night, and Alden just went right to their room Saturday morning needing her poop diaper changed. And we didn't even tell her where they were staying, and honestly, did not even put her up to it! Bless Leigh's heart, because she got up with her, washed her off in the tub, and entertained her downstairs, all after only sleeping 4 hours.

Three generations of Wyatt men.

He can sometimes even get his passy in his mouth the right way. That is HUGE!

Nap time.

We went to downtown on Saturday. Alden got her face painted for the first time.Snuggle time with Grandma.
Matt and I still managed to fit in some runs despite the rain, and Hudson and Alden enjoyed the grandparent attention. We iced Christmas cookies on Sunday, a Wyatt family tradition. Alden helped cut out the shapes and iced a few. She even had her own special apron.

Enjoying the fruit of her work! Yum!

Hudson wanted to try some, too.

Alden had a great time playing with Eric and Leigh. They were "conducting" with the blocks to the songs from the Baby Einstein book. One of her favorite things this past weekend was when she and I took the Owl and Yak from the alphabet train and looked for the "S" animal. I thought it was a snake, but turns out, it was a skunk. Alden kept saying, "Mommy, mommy, play owl and yak...find snake!"