A Quiet Thanksliving

We traveled south for Thanksgiving this year. We left SLC Thursday morning and stopped at Nan's in Cedar City for a visit with the Coates family on our way to Pete's house in Apple Valley. Pete and Gloria were a gracious host and hostess and Gloria's friend Joe joined us for the delicious main meal. On Friday we climbed around on the rocks in Pete's back yard and trekked around on top of Gooseberry Mesa, thoroughly enjoying a sunny fall day. On our way home on Saturday we stopped in Parowan Canyon to cut a Christmas tree (thanks to Nan for securing us a permit!). Gavin saved Christmas by alerting us to the fact that the tree was falling off the roof as we were leaving the canyon. We had to stop a few more times on I-15 to make adjustments, and then one more time to clean up Vivian and all the vomit she'd spewed into her car seat (Julie (driving): "Why do I smell yogurt?" Brandon (peeking into the back seat): "Uuuuuughhhh."). We managed to make it home, and as the sun was going down we unloaded the truck, disassembled the car seat, and threw a load of pukey stuff into the wash, all the while repeatedly explaining to Gavin why we needed to wait until Sunday to bring the Christmas tree inside for decorating. Sunday morning was bliss: tree trimming, family camaraderie, and the return of Scout, our Elf on the Shelf. Flash forward to Sunday evening... Brandon cooked a nice dinner for the family, but by the time it was ready, I was bent over the toilet puking my guts out. A few hours later, Gavin started puking, and a few hours after that, Brandon joined in the fun. I was just thinking this morning how glad I was that Viv had already gotten through her bout with this flu (or whatever it is/was)... when she threw up all over our new living room rug. 'Tis the season to be jolly! Ha.