HOW WE ENDED UP HERE...

...AND OTHER THINGS WE ARE MORE THANKFUL FOR 

I'll start from the beginning...

We picked up Cole, on Wednesday, at the Long Beach Airport on our way up to Valencia. He looked great but a little tired from his studies in San Fran. When we got to mom and dad's house Cannon said, "Oh Tara and Tucker are here..... and (confused look on his face) Uncle Hadyn." Uncle Dirty had been away so long that Cannon and Roman didn't even recognize him.

To keep our active nephews entertained we went to Valencia Lanes for a riveting hour of bowling.

Ro was very serious about his bowling. By his body language you can tell that this was a good roll down the lane.

That night we went to see Ryken's cute little face and have dinner with his mom and dad.

Kim and Dustin are the best and planned a gluten free dinner for me. I was to bake dessert, dairy free for Dustin's dietary needs, and of course I missed the milk chocolate chips ingredient in the batter. Therefore, I'm officially the worst house guest ever.

The next morning we rose bright and early for the annual Turkey Bowl. After waiting with Michael for the Triple A guy (it was so early I'm surprised that I didn't lock my keys in the car too), I saw the norm on Hart's football field.

The boys playing football (Tucker played quarterback and is seen to the right of the picture with green shorts).

The little ones were bundled up eating doughnuts.

I cuddled baby Boden tightly because I can't get enough of him.

Then, just as the second half was getting good we learned that one wrong step on the football field can wind you up here...

Yep, a ruptured Achilles tendon on the right foot. For a stressed, worried, and anxious wife I held it together pretty well.

As the ER (no urgent care was open in the area on Thanksgiving) doctor explained the injury and the recovery Tucker quickly realized that his snowboard season went out the window and that it would be even more difficult to track down his clients at work. After the ER, I dropped Tucker (and mom) at the house where Cannon and Roman promised they'd take care of their brave uncle. Cannon even sympathized with Tucker by pretending his swords were crutches.

From there I fled to LAX to pick up my pretty cousin, Danielle, in town from DC.

I had a great time with my side of the family at my grandma and grandpa's house but was so worried about Tucker I knew I had to get back to the SCV. Tucker is so sweet he even pretended that he was deeply saddened about missing out on Thanksgiving at my grandparents house.

Back at the Cannon house we had a fabulous feast filled with all the fixings of a perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

We then played Turkey Bingo with the whole family (except for Griffin, who didn't fly down from Utah this year).

On Friday we celebrated Mom Cannon's birthday. Her birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year. Since she wouldn't let us move Thanksgiving to Friday and she couldn't convince us to just skip her birthday this year we celebrated it on Friday.

First things first, I packed up Brendan (since Tuck was out of commission) and headed to grandma and grandpa's house to set up all of grandma's Christmas decorations. Grandma decorated the tree, Brendan set up the Snow Village, and Danielle and I set up everything else. Pictures coming!

Danielle stayed with us in Newport Saturday night, I drove her back to grandma and grandpa's to drop her off Sunday, where I picked up Cole, drove him back to stay the night with me and Tucker, then I dropped him off at Long Beach Airport Monday. Feeeeewwww!



Tucker was such a trooper with all the holiday festivities. I was so grateful to be able to take him to the orthopedic surgeon today and set up his surgery. The sooner my hubby is as good as new the better.