This year we drove to Baltimore for Thanksgiving, to spend it with Andy’s parents, Liz and Aunt Fran. What should have been an eight-hour drive one way took us 12. But if you think about it—that’s not that bad, considering every stop required feeding two adults and a toddler, bottle feeding two babies, changing three diapers (which usually meant taking the kids, one by one, into a public bathroom) and then convincing three children who simply wanted to play and stretch to get back into their car seats. Things that made the drive more bearable: I had a small bag of “treats” (stickers, books, small dolls, etc.) to give to Sophie when she started getting antsy. (Thanks to my Aunt Alise for this idea!) To save time I used a battery-powered breast pump, while riding in the car, with a nursing cover to hide myself from passing semi trucks. We caved and bought Sophie a portable DVD player—however we’ve limited it to long trips only.
The drive there was great. The drive back was much more difficult because of toll roads (lack of exits) and traffic. Still, it was worth it to spend a great holiday with family.
table set for Thanksgiving dinner
Sophie, unfortunately, fell asleep minutes before dinner. Therefore she wasn’t the happiest of children when it came time to wake her up to eat.
Liz, Jill, Andy, Owen and Sophie
Marty and Fran
holding baby James
Grandma and Owen
Sophie modeling the adorable apron Great Aunt Fran made for her
Sophie riding a tricycle—with pedals!—for the first time
Sophie loved playing soccer in the large entry
the boys enjoying their first fire
matching fathers and sons
We had a very nice dinner with Marty’s cousin, his wife, Sandra, and their beautiful daughter, Rachel (Sophie loved having a girl close to her age to play with that night).
the boys, not sleeping (I think it’s close to midnight in this picture)
We visited the National Aquarium—Sophie loved the dolphin show.
Sophie opening a present—They Might Be Giants’ Here Comes Science CD and DVD—from Aunt Lizzie
James napping
“This is the finest measure of thanksgiving: a thankfulness that springs from love.” —William C. Skeath
![The kiddos at First Unitarian Church are collecting books for students at South Avondale School to help fill the free bookstore our church sets up at the school regularly. If you have gently used or new books you'd like to donate, please let me know and I’ll come by and pick them up! We mostly need Pre-K/K (board books, concept books [ABCs, shapes], not lots of large hardcover picture books), early readers, early chapter books and blank journals. Because of the importance of children seeing mirrors of themselves in these books, diversity is key. Thanks!!](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/vp/1b0de463b3b6651ce328e04c69eefb61/5DAF8772/t51.2885-15/e35/p320x320/65600510_490323258372040_2015424398939439067_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com "The kiddos at First Unitarian Church are collecting books for students at South Avondale School to help fill the free bookstore our church sets up at the school regularly. If you have gently used or new books you'd like to donate, please let me know and I’ll come by and pick them up! We mostly need Pre-K/K (board books, concept books [ABCs, shapes], not lots of large hardcover picture books), early readers, early chapter books and blank journals. Because of the importance of children seeing mirrors of themselves in these books, diversity is key. Thanks!!")
