Giving Thanks (pt 1)

We spent a spectacular Thanksgiving weekend in Huntsville with the full van der Meer clan. There was so much to be thankful for this year. Two new babies in the family, health, happiness, and the gorgeous weather.

So gorgeous, in fact, that we went swimming.

Yup.

Swimming.

I didn't get pictures of the first swim with my sisters. The camera wasn't down at the lake. The water was cold enough that we hooted and hollered loudly enough that the neighbours down the lake knew we were swimming. Charlie, Sam, Jack, Emily, Ange and I all went in together. The lake was numbingly cold.

Grammie was sad that she didn't go in, so we went together later.

Grammie in the water.

Mummy in the water.

Opa joins in.

Charlie leaping in. Brave soul. He was in and out of the water more than anyone else.

I couldn't be outdone, so I jumped in too. I actually got an ice cream headache in my entire body.

Charlie again (and again and again).

Ollie on the pontoon boat.

Charlie driving the boat under Opa's supervision. He's so grown up!

Picnic lunch. Jevon fed me so that I could use both hands to corral and feed Alexa.

Emily and Dean were smarter about it and brought down Joey's booster.

Boys picnicking on the dock.

Opa.

Views from the dock. My parents have a gorgeous place.

Most of the kids in the water. The babies both loved going in the water. It was so cold, but we couldn't keep them out! Joey splashed and splashed and Alexa loved walking around holding my hands (or Charlie's hands or Ange's hands).

Alexa in the water again (with Ange). She loved picking out the autumn leaves. She didn't love that we kept taking the leaves away before she could shove them in her mouth.

Boys and Alexa. Ollie and the babies frequently went without attire when we were on the dock. There was no one around and I didn't think to bring a bathing suit for Alexa (it is, after all, October).

Auntie Em, sunbathing on Thanksgiving.

Uncle Dean and Joey.