Fatfest 2010

We traveled to Knoxville for Thanksgiving this year, b/c my little sister Becky & her new hubbie Mike graciously agreed to host. They had no clue what they were getting into! We arrived Wednesday around lunch, as well as my older sister Lora, our parents, and their dog Sophie. And Bec & Mike have a dog too. It was a full house!! Luckily, Bec has some of the most generous friends ever and they offered their 3 bedroom house to our family, since they'd be out of town for the week. SO nice! We were able to spread out with the kids, and give them each their own rooms. So that part of traveling that makes it so stressful was taken out of the equation, allowing us to have an even better time than usual! :)

Wednesday night we chowed down at a mexican place, and then went back to Bec's for cake & presents...we celebrated my 31st & my Dad's 61st bdays. Yes, we are getting old! Here are all the November birthdays! Me, Poppy, and Abby (and of course N had to crash the pic)

My family very generously gave me a new fancy ipod nano! My name is even engraved on it! Don't ask me how to use it yet though...I still have to read the manual.

Best buds - love them!

Nate got an early Xmas present - a nativity scene - or as he calls it: Playing Baby Jesus

Awesome pic of N with Aunt Lora!

Thursday (MY BDAY & THANKSGIVING!), we started off the day right by doing a 5K race. Poor Poppy was having foot issues, so he was relegated to photographer duty, while Aunt Lora & Nanny were happy to stay home with the kids.

Like any normal runners, we rewarded ourselves with hot fresh & now KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS afterwards! In fact, we were just ordering a dozen, and a man behind us in line gave us a coupon for another free dozen! So we had 26 doughnuts (b/c we got 2 mini ones for N). Yes you read that right, 26! Can you say best bday ever!?

Someone was anxiously awaiting his donuts at home...

Later in the day, we played around at Aunt Bebe's while everyone was hard at work cooking (except us)

Abby Reece rocked some gold ballet shoes for Thanksgiving! Could she be any cuter!?

Mom with her future fashionista

Nate was taking SUCH a long nap that we had to wake him up for Thanksgiving dinner. Or rather, Greg woke him up by putting Abby on N's bed..not a smart move. She smacked him in the face by accident and he was grumpy most of our meal. Poor Poppy even had to take him for a brief walk outside to cheer him up. Fun times! But man he looks cute when he's sleeping! We just should have left him...lesson learned.

The gracious hosts (and newlyweds)!


Friday, we decided to take it easy instead of heading out at 4 am for all the Black Friday deals like we usually do. Two early mornings were just not our idea of fun on vacation! (Plus, I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping anyway!!) So, we played around at the Pugh's (our house) some in the morning, before heading over to Aunt Bebe's for a huge breakfast. Abby LOVED the toys & little chair there!

Abby was chowing down at breakfast...yes, even on the plate. Girlfriend can eat!

Aunt Bebe with her girl

Nanny & Poppy volunteered to watch the grandkids while all of us "kids" headed to the movies at noon. Me, Greg, L, and Mike all saw the new "Harry Potter" at the IMAX theater. (Bec went to see "Morning Glory" instead.) A fun time was had by all. Even though HP wasn't in 3-D, Greg managed to get some 3-D glasses from the little old lady at the ticket counter. Abby enjoyed these once we got home!

Brother-in-laws bonding

Sisters bonding, the way we know best! :)

N&A wrestling on the bed, one of their fave activities

Abby's mad scientist hair after wrestling

Wake Forest cutie

Mom & Dad getting to relax & loving it!

We won't soon forget all the good times at "Fatfest 2010." We have never eaten so well (or so bad, depending on how you look at it) in a long time. It seriously was so good though - especially that mac'n'cheese - and the company was even better! Bec & Mike - thanks again for hosting - we love you!

Fun memories from our time in Knoxville:
-Nanny playing the dulcimer/vegetable peeler
-N getting SO excited at the Macy's parade floats
-A's blowouts
-N collecting "fairy dust"
-A sleeping in the bathroom
-Gertrude at Krispy Kreme
-Bec looking hot in her new skinny jeans
-The last mile of the Hot to Trot race
-Greg's 2 inch thick cheese
-"Poppy" wine
-Hide & seek with N
-Lora teaching N knock-knock jokes & about "Baby Daddy"
-Those damn dogs
-N's sugar high after his chocolate-iced donut