Pre-Thanksgiving

Mom and Dimitrios hosted "pre-thanksgiving" at their home this weekend.

I'm so grateful we could fly out and join them! 

It was a fantastic afternoon and evening spending time together. 

Visiting the horses--Lena, Bandit and Sugar; hearing the story of the broken redwood limb and its future as something cool that Dimitrios is going to make; the grapevine; the new kitten.

Playing Spot It with the kids; picking olives for Dimitrios to make into... olives; pomelos, not limes.

Chicken and Steak on the Traeger. Chicken Feet tradition. Olives of all kinds, cheeses, dip and bruschetta for appetizers. Spanakopita. 

Shannon, Zack and Chloe. Max and Dana. Rachel, Jeremy, Cooper, Dylan & Reese. Us. 

Mom & Dimitrios, Marge. Peter, Olga, Dean and Nate. Eric. 

A wonderful, wonderful day.

We checked into our hotel late, but still played one round of Double Ditto 

(thank you Marty and Lizzie for being willing!)

Woke up to this beautiful view.

We drove up to Rachel's (about an hour away) for church and then were going to spend an hour with them seeing their new home.

We were actually on time and sat down to get ready for the meeting.

Dan was confused as to why there were so few people at 8:57. 

Marty and Lizzie got back from the bathroom and had noticed chairs were set up all the way back in the gym. "I think it's Stake Conference!" 

Yep, it was. Well, we tried!

We bailed and went to Rachel's early, catching them in their pj's. 

So fun to finally see their beautiful home and family in their element.

And then we came home.

I'm so grateful we get to make these short jaunts to spend time with people we love.