A little bit of Thanksgiving.

Aren't baby cousins awesome! Gommy had been waiting to see her "cute little baby cousin -- what's her name again, Mommy? -- " Nia again for months, and was very excited to "play" with her over Thanksgiving. She thought Nia was wonderful! Nia thought Montgomery was interesting at best...and objected loudly to being so thoroughly smotherloved. I can't wait to see the fun they have together as they grow older. By the way, the cute grown-up is Nia's mom, my cousin Aneisha, who has her hands full raising Miss Personality!

(For the record, I realize Christmas is just around the corner, but I feel very successful and quite accomplished to be finally getting to posting from our holiday turkey trip junket!)

While Gommy was joyfully smotherloving Nia, the girls' older brothers were happily engaged in an epic Star Wars Edition Monopoly game battle in Grandma's sunroom.

Job was the banker (or the equivalent Star Wars role) and was really enjoying the game with his younger brothers and little cousins Kevin and Justin. Life is usually so busy on the homefront that he rarely has time to just fully engross himself in a board game...it was great (and rather...sorry, Job...endearing) to see him having a good time with the younger guys. And they really loved the time with him too!

We were so glad our cousins (and Maia's godparents) Tracey and Jamel stopped by on their way to the airport heading back home to Chicago. We haven't seen them in awhile and it was great to catch up. Maia caught them up on Bedford family details while Job tried to pull himself away from the game.

It was hard ;o)

But we managed to grab him for a quick photo or two. I think his head might have still been in the game though...

I love that whatever Job involves himself in, he tends to give it his full attention and "be" in the moment. Wish I could learn to do more of that!

Also on our visit, we got to hang out with another of Gommy's future aces, my cousin Shanic's 2-year-old daughter Zoe! Gommy couldn't wait to go visit Zoe, and hung out by the carport door, baby in arms, repeatedly asking if I was ready to go yet...

...until my "in a minute" responses became almost unbearable!

I can't believe I forgot to whip out my camera and take a picture of the two of them playing together later! They are so cute and funny together!

On the way down a few days earlier, Maia led the crew in an impromptu exercise routine when we stopped for a bite. It's a long drive and that really helped to get the wiggles out...thank you Maia! But we did get a couple of funny looks from other restaurant patrons in the parking lot! (Not sure Gommy has the movement quite right :o)

And I just can't resist...

earlier that week Gommy tried to pose nicely for me after a day at school in her fun Thanksgiving week stripey orange attire (YES, it was a bad hair day!)...

...But, as usual, the sillies attacked and we ended up something like this...

...and before too long, like this...

   

Thank goodness for ice packs :-) !

Other Thanksgiving break photos (with Grandma, Carol Anne, Aunt Gret, Najema...) are still enjoying a long vacation -- or rather, incarceration! -- in my phone camera. When they are freed I will post them too.

Much Love. Take Care.