Thanksgiving and Leaves

We enjoyed a deliciously wonderful Thanksgiving in Richmond this year at my parents' home. We were joined by some out of town guests like my dad's brother and his family (aka "The Lynchburg Baldwins") and my brother Doug & sister-in-law Jaime.

Bradford was so excited to see his Auntie Jaime and Unkie Doug. He was the only person who didn't ask them about the Penn State scandal and their thoughts on Joe Pa (Doug and Jaime are both Penn Staters who live in the State College area).

The calm before the storm. My mother even made a place card setting for Baby Deuce. Bradford sat at the "children's table" in the corner (aka his high chair).
The grown-ups: Uncle Steve, my mumsy, Aunt Leila Lou, and my pops.

Bradford waited calmly for his Thanksgiving feast. He was pretty excited for his first Thanksgiving dinner where he would be eating the same thing as everyone else and not baby food mush out of a jar.

Bradford's share of dinner: cornbread pudding, sweet potato deliciousness, creamed carrots, turkey, mashed potatoes, and green beans. He cleaned his plate up and had seconds, and even some thirds just like the rest of us. I should also add that our turkey this year was The.Best.Turkey.Ever. It was honestly perfect and the most delicious turkey I have ever had. Thanks Mom!

The kids: Isabel, Andrew, Jaime, Doug, Heather, Bradford, Jeremy, Ella V, and Fletcher

Moving on from Thanksgiving, you've got to burn the extra calories some how. Looks like raking leaves is the trick.

Bradford and I made a big pile of leaves in the backyard. He loved it. I would like to add that all of these leaves came from the big oak tree in our neighbor's yard. If it wasn't bad enough that they leave their dog and cats outside 24/7 regardless of the weather or that one of their cats died in our front yard last spring (reporting the cat's mysterious death was the first time we ever met them after living here for a year), they have a giant oak tree that has the audacity to drop all of its leaves in our yard. Oh well.

Bradford likes to carry this bucket around the yard and collect pine cones, sticks, rocks, holly leaves, or whatever the object of his desire is on a given day. This day, he was collecting small sticks which he loved to play with in the leaf pile.

I felt like I needed some cool mom points, so I got into the pile of leaves with Bradford. Now Bradford can never tell his future therapist that he had a rotten childhood because his mother never played in the leaves with him. I have photographic proof that it happened at least once. Technically, Baby Deuce can't say I never played with him or her in the leaves either since I was pregnant when this was taken. Two birds, one stone folks! Truth is, it will be harder to get a photo of Jeremy playing in the leaves. He declared war on Nature last weekend, so I don't think he'll be embracing the fun of a leaf pile any time soon. That's Jeremy's battle with the kids though, not mine. I did my fun parent part.
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Video: In Wich Bradford Plays in the Leaf Pile