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Busy Thanksgiving!

Normally, our Thanksgiving is pretty low-key.  This year, however, Chelan's brother and family were here from California.  And when they're here, it feels like we're on vacation, too!  They were here for a whole week, and during that week there was plenty of eating (too much, probably), plenty of projects, plenty of football, plenty of catching up, and plenty of laughter.  I didn't do a very good job of taking pictures, but I did get some good ones of the big football game on Wednesday afternoon!

Chayce is 4 years old and really wants to keep up with the "big boys!"


Looks like Chayce is going to get away!


The onlookers - Grandpa and Delaney

The little kids decided it would be more fun to watch cows than to watch a football game!



During the football game, Uncle Matt zoomed down the driveway with a go-cart - a surprise for all the boys!  They spent the rest of the afternoon taking turns at riding and driving!  I think Caiden was in pure "boy heaven!"

Chayce is all set to go!

We did celebrate Christmas while the California Duerksen's were here, so the kids got to open some presents throughout the week.  Grandma and Grandpa had all kinds of projects lined up for the kids.  They put together puzzles, painted metal flowers for Grandma's garden, went on a hike in their brand new orange sweatshirts, and even put together and painted wooden tractors and trucks.

It was such a fun week!  I'm always amazed at how the cousins warm up to each other right away - as if they've never been apart!  Even though they live so far from us, we are grateful for the times we can get together and catch up with our "far away" family! 

Finn got in some tractor time before opening gifts one morning.  He is almost 2 1/2.

Cambry, Caiden, Mace, Cale, and Chayce are sporting their new sweatshirts.  No one will ever lose sight of them!

With so many boys in the house, someone was always being tackled!

Santa dropped some gifts outside and the kids had to go searching!

Cambry is diligently painting her flower for Grandma.

I think there was one John Deere flower, 3 K-State flowers, and 2 rainbow-ish flowers!

Finn and Delaney bonding at the activity table in the basement!

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