It just wouldn't feel like Thanksgiving anymore if we weren't in Tennessee! We always take the kids out of school a few days early to make it worth the long drive. The best part about that has been that we have been able to watch the Jensen kids (starting with Kinley and now Kimball) perform in their Thanksgiving play. Part of Kimball's fan group: Ashton, Karrington, Avery, Kinley, Addison and Todd.
We got a HUGE surprise when Kaylee Brooke came running through the door! She is off at BYU now and wasn't going to come home for Thanksgiving because Christmas break was so close. We were so glad she made it.... it wouldn't have been the same without her!!
Here is our sweet little actress Kimball and her adorable, proud parents. I love my sister Amy and her husband, Todd. They always make us feel so welcomed and loved! I've always appreciated the example they have been to me! So Kimball was a turkey...
and also a pilgrim. She performed beautifully as both characters. :)
After the performance, there is a little Thanksgiving feast. Here is my mom and Aunt Maria partaking of the feast.
The real reason Kaylee came home from college for Thanksgiving wasn't just because we were there... but because just days before we were to get there Amy and Todd got a phone call that my nephew, Kyson, would need to come home from his mission for our church to address some medical issues. Bulgaria is not an easy mission and Kyson was exposed to the hatred first-hand, but he hung in there and was really disappointed that he would have to come home early. However, we felt like it was a blessing that he would come home while we were there so that we could help welcome him home. He has been such an amazing missionary and such an awesome example to all my kids, especially to Austin. Amy put the yellow ribbon out the day he was coming home... and the Lord put his own stamp on the homecoming by sending a rainbow. :)
We all made posters and Randy went and got balloons in the Bulgaria colors. We jumped in a couple of cars and made our way to the airport. We had a little trouble trying to figure out where to park and our greatest fear was that we wouldn't be there when he came out of the secured area. We ended up parking very far away. We weren't even sure where to go once we parked! We just jumped out of the cars and went running... and running... and running. We asked people along the way if we were going the right way while trying to make sure all the kids were still with us as we kept running! I wish we had it on video! I kept saying we looked like the family on Home Alone when they were late for their plane!
But we made it!! And lucky for us, his plane was delayed a little bit! Jordan and Jen met us at the airport and we were all able to regroup. We even had time to sit in the massage chair!
The Jensen Family... all back together again! Such and beautiful family!!
Kyson and Kaylee both had their best friend back!! I hope Avery and Austin are as close as these two are some day! :)
We love our Kyson Todd Jensen!! Well done, Kyson! We are so proud of you and all you have done to serve the Lord. Thanks for being such a wonderful example.
Of course, Nashville has many historical sites all around. Randy and I never usually go to these civil war sights, but we decided to try this one out. My mom and Amy had been raving about the tour guy at the Belmont Mansion, so Amy requested this specific guy...
and we got a big group together to listen to this guy talk about this bold and wealthy woman, Adelicia, who inspired the movie Gone With The Wind. Only... it wasn't the right guy! Amy felt so bad!! This guy was soooo dry and by the end of the tour... half of our group went MIA! This including my husband, Avery, Karrington, Kyson and even Amy. :) Uncle Ed, Maria, my mom, Jordan, all made it... Jen and I stayed also but only in body!! I think we got in trouble a couple of times for talking! :) Maybe we'll try again another time!
But something we ALL loved was laser tag!! It was funny when we all got ready for laser tag to see so many Oklahoma shirts... we had to grab a picture before taking off. Jen's family joined our group so I think we had about 18 people. There wasn't anyone else there, so we played three games with just our group. It was a BLAST!! This will be a new yearly tradition!
Jordan put together a few games himself. He did such a great job and it really made for a fun, fun week! We played Family Feud, Minute to Win it, and Ladder-ball. We had our first annual ladder-ball tournament. Here are the coveted 1st and second place medals.
By this time Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Joe had gotten here!! We were so happy to see them again... it isn't nearly enough!! And can I say, Avery is really getting tall!
After the first few days being rainy, this was a nice break! Everyone played outside all day. Partly because of the weather and partly because ladder-ball took almost a whole day to finish! Here is Uncle Jordan with Addie.
There's nothing better than a nice fall day in the Tennessee Hills. Uncle Ed with Austin.
Avery was all smiles!
Like I said, we were all happy to have Kyson back with us... especially Ashton! :)
We miss not having Uncle Jordan and Auntie Jen close by anymore. They are now over in North Carolina with the John Deere company.
Austin hanging out with his cousin Kimball.
Here's our Uncle Joe, watching the ladder-ball tournament with Addie.
Spectator section for ladder-golf! Crazy that we are almost all in purple!! Great minds think alike! Ashton and I, Auntie Lindz and Kinley, and Miss Avery. I was partnered with Kyson... we got third place, second went to Randy and Jordan, and first went to Uncle Ed and Todd!
Another favorite... roasting hotdogs and smores! Side note: My camera ran out of batteries so a lot of these pictures are my moms. We did do Bounce U this year also... but I don't have any pictures from that. Believe me, the kids wouldn't dare let us forget to go there too!
Uncle Ed took the kids to the Dollar Tree and they found these cute glow-in-the-dark masks and bracelets. They looked so cute!! Kaylee, Jen, Avery and Kimball!
Ashton made her own mask out of two bracelets! :)
Boys and fire... they go hand in hand. These particular four boys have something else in common besides their love for fire... they all have the middle name of Edward!! :)
My handsome brother Joe and his gorgeous wife Lindsay! :)
Nothing better than great cousins... Ashton, Avery and Karrington!
The John family enjoying Thanksgiving together.
Last time we were in Tennessee for summer, we rode Buddy. Avery had a bad experience though. She wasn't bucked off, but she did fall off of Buddy. So this time she faced her fear of getting back on with a little help from Uncle Joe. :) Thanks for giving her some confidence, Uncle Joe!
We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving in Tennessee, full of family and fun! I'm so grateful for the family I have been given!
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