Pickle ball-Thanksgiving 2013

We went to the pickleball courts that are near the elementary school by Ben and Wendy's house, on Thursday after dinner.
The game is played on a court like a tennis court only smaller, or you could call it a lifesize pingpong table. It's played like pingpong with a wooden paddle and a wiffle ball with pingpong rules.
We started the the little boys playing then rotated through the rest of the family. It was fun to watch and fun to play and I wouldn't be surprise to find myself getting some paddles and wiffleballs to play on our tennis courts with next summer. A great activity for a family or a date or YM/YW....

Charles and Soren at the Pickleball courts

Look at that form and technique...

James and Laila waiting for the ball.

Tilly and Sadie 

Such finesse, Sadie. 

Hannah showing us how it's done.

The little boys got bored waiting for another turn and made up their own game on another court nearby.

Look, it's the Hannah/Montana team.

Cambria and Olivia keeping an eye on that ball.

The fans.
The courts are so nice, with seating for spectators and shade umbrellas. Who knew Pickleball was such a big sport ?

Um, I think I've got it...

You put your left foot in, you put your left foot out, you put your left foot in and you shake it all about....
You do the hokey-pokey and you turn yourself about. That's what it's all about!!

Ethan! Fetch!!

Zoe, Ane, and dogs, Quincy and Max.  

Nice try, Nina!

Montana practicing his ballet moves as he returns the ball.

Oh, boy. Just for posterity. Me and my mom. Don't we look like some mean Pickleball players?

Well, the jacket came off. I must have been getting serious here.

Me watching Montana do all the work. Curtis was off dealing with one of James' temper tantrums.
I don't think he even got to play at all. 

Sadie's good photo taking skills.

Thanksgiving-St. George style

We had a fabulous time in St. George at Ben and Wendy's new home for Thanksgiving. We were sad that Grandpa wasn't with us, and wished that Karla's family, Jordan and Lindsey, Ford and Shiala and Aysha could have joined us. They were definitely in our thoughts. 

The Crane's new house is spacious and has plenty of room for all. The stairs spent the weekend being a car ramp, the trailer outside (belongs to Ben's parents) became the movie theatre and the kitchen became the main gathering place to visit and eat. Along with Thanksgiving dinner we did some other fun activities.

We went and played pickleball. Never heard of it? We hadn't either, but it's fun and great for all ages.

We went to the indoor aquatic center and let the kids swim. Even my swimming-hating kids got it and had a bit of fun. 

We (adults) went to the temple and it was marvelous to be there together. Beautiful building. My first time in it.

We all went to the glitter pits just southeast of St. George over the stateline in AZ. What a kids' paradise! And a geologist's. Also got a bit of shooting in while out in the desert.

After a fun filled weekend we headed home after sacrament meeting. It was hard to go and know that it will be a long time before we see the Crane's again. It was hard to get back in the car, knowing the length of the coming drive. But we were thankful to have been able to be there to have those moments together and make memories to carry us through. It's all about family!

The teen/tween crowd gathered around watching a little Studio C.
Lobster Bisque!

Lounging and visiting at Wendy and Ben's new home in Little Valley/St. George.
Ariel, Corbin, Stewart on the floor and Stacy.

More loungers....Grandma B, Wendy and Ben.

Those who missed out on the comfy chairs...
Montana and Curtis

The nightly plank session...Nutsorama.
Clockwise from top left-Stewart, Stacy, Wendy, Tilly, Montana, Ben.

The dinner preparation. I love that all the men got involved. Ben deep-fried a turkey, Curtis made the mashed potatoes and Stewart did the sweet potatoes/yams. Not like any Thanksgiving I remember where my mom did ALL the work.

Better lighting...

Showing off our fine china (and Mom's delicious rolls). Smart move to use disposable dishes.
Clean up was easy and quick. Let the naps begin.

Just photo evidence of all the smart-phoning going on. 

Even Grandma got in on it. Thankfully this was an isolated incident. We really did spend time talking and enjoying each other's company. Ben and Wendy were terrific hosts and we had a great time. 

It's a looooong drive...

For Thanksgiving this year, we (Barton family minus the Eberlings) decided to head to the sunny Dixieland and get out of the cold. No, not the south, just went from snowy SE Utah to sunny SW Utah. Hop, skip and a jump, right?
um, no.
It's a darn long ride. And the fog and traffic we encountered made it seem even longer. Thankfully, we had a car with enough room to hold us all, music to sing to, toys to play with, books to read, games to play and naps to take. Here are some outtakes of the journey. I had to find a way to occupy MY time.

Fog between Moab and Crescent Jct.

Our very limited view on our trip-some serious fog

Could hardly see Moab's airport

Fun in the back seat. Sadie, you have such lovely hands. That's all we ever get a photo of.....

Surprise! Mom and James settled in for the long ride.

James showing the cool toy he got at Wendy's in his lunchbag. 

Our chauffeur, Mr. Montana Sir.

The front seat gang. It was muy strange to sit in the middle seat with my hubby on a trip.  Nice, but strange.

Ha!! Got her!

Soren seems to be learning some of Sadie's picture avoidance techniques...

All you need for a long trip is a cozy car seat, a SOFT blankie and a bottle of Molkahi!

Through Charlie's Eyes...

These are pictures I found courtesy of Charles. It's interesting to see things through his eyes. Pictures taken from much lower perspectives than I see. I'm glad he decides to take pictures every once in a while. He's not much of a talker and sometimes it's hard to know what he's thinking or what's important to him. Through his pictures we get a little glimpse into "Charlie".

Charles - age 4 1/2

"Freckles" his stuffed frog

"Blueberry" his stuffed dinosaur

a picture of my stack of scripture study stuff...
no idea why he took this one, except that it may be because
 it's always sitting in a pile in the living room or kitchen. 

Love that face!

Sadie's chicks. They are getting big.

They're wondering what he's doing....

Oh, that's better. He got his whole face this time.

His view of one of our most used rooms, the 'addition'.
It's where all the electronic entertainment lives.

Nice messes. It's actually cleaner than usual.

Trying an artsy filter?

Up the stairs and at the end of the hall is his abode...

Not sure he intended to photograph his feet, but they are cute.
And still not very big at 4 1/2 years old.
The tile is 12x12.

James' work as a photographer...

Occasionally I open my photo app on my phone to find that someone has had some fun with pictures unbeknownst to me. These are a few that I found the other day featuring James and Cambria.

Two of my favorite people

Some day I'll look at a manly face with angles and facial hair and I won't remember that it was once soft and round.
Preserving these photos will remind me how little he once was...

Get a little too close, James?