Thanksgiving in Cadiz

  With Eric's school schedule, we were not going to be able to make the trip back to family for Thanksgiving. Ok, so technically we could have made it back by driving all day Wednesday, recovering Thursday, re-packing Friday, driving all day Saturday...not a super enticing week. So, they made the trip to us...well, 2/3rds of the way to us.  Katie and Robert rented a huge house in a little oasis called Cadiz, Kentucky with enough room for 7 adults and 8 kids to spread out and enjoy each other's company.

The above is the view we all woke up to every morning.  I thought I loved the view of looking out to the Gulf, but the peaceful calm of a lake is definitely a contender.  Plus, the kids could throw countless rocks into the still waters.  Dom even got one to skip a couple of times.

When they weren't throwing rocks in the lake, Will was leading them on expeditions through the nearby woods.  The house is situated on a half mile loop, which we would walk a few times a day so that we could eat a million calories (mostly true), we would often hear some sort of rustling of leaves and then Will and Peter or Will and Dom or Will and Rose would pop out onto the road beside us.  Eventually, Molly, John, and Margaret joined in the trips.  It was that great situation where they could never really be lost because they could see the house clearly...but, we would only catch glimpses of them through the trees...okay, we could catch glimpses of Molly as she tends to wear bright colors.  Will was in heaven.  He would have spent all day tramping through the woods, but he also didn't want to miss out on anything else the cousins were up to.

 Which included old school Nintendo (DUCK HUNT!!!),

 Checkers

Cards....and

Ping-Pong!!!

Naturally, we had a tournament.  We had two tournaments.  Katie won the first (I lost in the first round to Katie and I strongly question the committee's decision to put me in a first round match against Katie), but I won the second....most likely due to Katie's elimination by Mitzi in the first round.  Our bracketologist needs to work a little on his bracketology.  The Buschelmans were wiped out in the first rounds in the initial tournament much to Dom's chagrin.  However, when Katie played One Shining Moment as we celebrated her win, Dom was thrilled.  How has he not thought of this before???  Guess what is making the next playlist!

When we weren't playing games, we were visiting nature.  Namely, an elk and bison preserve about 20 minutes away.

We also took the traditional Thanksgiving weekend hike with L'Opa

Where Mitzi caught this beautiful photo (Ok, full disclosure...Mitzi caught 99% of these photos...I got the ping-pong pic)

Prior to the week, there were many emails and calls back and forth to determine the food situation.

 We all signed up for various food items, and then signed up for clean-up duties.  Ok, I signed everyone up for clean-up duties.  Everyone pitched in and no one was tied to the stove or sink.

 Nana made pies with Margaret and Molly and they were delicious.  I believe Mitzi and I tied for who got more.  Well, we finished them off for breakfast on our last morning anyway.

 It was warm enough for the kids to enjoy their Thanksgiving meal on the deck. 

 And we classed up the meal with solo cups, hand made place holders by Mary Ann, and Molly decorated Eric and my plates.  Any jealousy over this special treatment soon went away when my turkey and mashed potatoes turned a lovely shade of blue...Still delicious!

 No one fell in completely, though John did get his gloves wet at one point.

 I did this a bit out of order, but along with our many walks, the kids ran the fourth Buschelman/Reddig Turkey Trot.  (I think 4th) Mary Ann won hands down.  But, this one had the special designation of being the first Trot where no one cried!  Also, I believe it is the first that all 8 participated.

 I jogged/walked with John.  He is just about my speed.  I enjoyed him constantly asking what we were doing, but he was up for it, whatever it was.  I believe the finish was Mary Ann, Will, Rose, Dom, Peter, Margaret, Molly, and John.  Though, I wasn't there to see the results.  Everyone had a great time, no matter the finish.

 The last morning, we cleaned out the fridge and pantry.  Took sheets off beds, hunted down missing clothes and items, loaded the cars, and spent one last hour in each others company. 

Three generations Keels

 It was really a wonderful few days of just spending time together, sharing inside jokes that have been around for decades, and dominating in cards and ping pong.  #YKTR

 Katie and I discussed how easy it was having the kids together.  We've been doing this for 11 years, and our kids genuinely enjoy each others company.  I don't think there were any quarrels, and if there were, they were quickly reconciled.  I particularly loved watching Molly and Margaret interact.  They shared a room and were generally the first ones awake.  They also decorated the front of their door with many drawings of girls having fun.  Mitzi added to their magical week with similar hair-dos.

And just like that, it was time to get into our cars and drive away. With many happy memories and plans to do it again in the future.

 About an hour before we left, Eric and Mitzi discovered a bourbon distillery on the way to Nashville...Let's get the band back together!

 We stopped for a brief tour of the MB Roland Distillery with Mitzi and L'Opa and Nana.  As it was in the opposite direction for the Reddigs and they had the longest drive, they understandably opted to pass.  Our kids did a good job of following directions...L'Opa not so much.  At one point, we heard a clatter and it was L'Opa disturbing an owl statue.  Typical.  But, all in all, it was a fun surprise trip right when you think all of the excitement is over.

 We drove with Mitzi on to Nashville where she was going to catch a flight later that night.  Walked around the Centennial Park and had ice cream.  It was a nice cap to a lovely week in Cadiz.

We all have a lot to be thankful for.  I am very thankful for this crazy family of mine.