Thanksgiving 2012 (in Arizona)

The holidays are so much more fun when you have family around to share them with.  Two years ago we were in Utah and celebrated with my family but last year we went camping since we had no family staying in town (and took some good friends along).  This year, since Poppy and Danny just bought a house, the whole family gathered in Arizona.  So some flew down from Washington and Utah and the rest of us drove from California.

Now, if you know Jamie, you'll know she loves to decorate.  And even if we're driving to another state she likes to have the table decorated nicely in her style.  So, not only were we hauling her china and silver (and some of Poppy's), we also took table cloths, candlesticks, nice glasses, fresh flowers for centerpieces, 2 folding tables, and 6 chairs Poppy wanted.  Jamie also bought 4 new restaurant-style chafing dishes to serve from so it could all stay warm.  (Yeah, you try cramming all that stuff in the van and avoid any broken dishes or glasses without freaking out!)

But it turned out fantastic!  And the food was incredible (of course).  The weather was beautiful and we set up the table in the back yard. 

 

A very kind neighbor let the kids ride his horses (and my girls were in heaven!). 

 

And on Friday we all went to an old cowboy town (for tourists, of course), complete with a staged gun-fight.  It was fun, although it felt a little odd driving around that desert landscape while listening to "Frosty the Snowman" and other Christmas music on the radio.