Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend is always a busy one for the Keiper Family. We start off by loading into the car, or this year I should say the van, Thanksgiving morning and driving down to Hillsboro, Oregon to Uncle Chris and Aunt Tamara's house. Here we enjoy a great day of good food and visits with family and friends!

Bethany was entertained by Hershey most of the stay.

Caleb enjoyed some game time with Grandma KeiperBrian got in some extra reading time! In years past we have stayed at their house, but with our family growing we decided to stay in a hotel this year.
Caleb, Pop and Grandma Keiper watching Veggie Tales Bethany and Caleb slept in Pop and Grandma Keiper's room in their sleeping bags.
BethanyCaleb

Aidan slept in the living room area and Brian and I got our own room...I really don't know how we were blessed with such a thing!

Aidan and Dad

Friday, we checked out of the hotel and drove to the Oregon Children's Museum. This was a fun way to wear the kids out for the long drive home.
Caleb driving the boat...There was a great water area...this is usually Bethany's favorite area, and today was no exception!
Caleb and Dad

Caleb, Bethany and Dad

Caleb and Dad

Caleb

Bethany and Dad

Bethany had fun planting flowers in the garden...

Bethany being a ghost...

Bethany loved the puzzles!And wherever we go if there are fish Bethany will find them!

Caleb put these gears into a really neat circle...unfortunately, just as he was finishing up, another little boy entered the room and started pulling them off. After a little, or maybe not so little, breakdown, we were able to convince Caleb that it was okay and that we should move onto the next room.

Caleb and Bethany

Aidan and Pop

Bethany and I found a little cave filled with a variety of animal puppets. It was fun watching her imagination in action!

Caleb and Bethany enjoyed playing music on stage in the Theater Room...

Aidan enjoying Caleb and Bethany in the Theater Room... Bethany being a butterfly on the stage.

I think we have a little entertainer on our hands. Caleb grabbed the mic and just started singing a made-up song for the room full of parents. This included full dance motions and even rocking the mic stand to the side...I really don't know where he gets this from!

Our next adventure was the Tinker Toy Display...

Bethany sifting metal balls.

Caleb and Bethany enjoyed this display. You were able to drop Tinker Toy rounds into the slots and move different dividers to have them go where you wanted them to.

A chance to build with the Tinker Toys is always fun!

Bethany adding on to someone else's creation...

Caleb creating...

Caleb found a design he wanted to make and decided he wanted to do so with Uncle Chris. They decided to build a windmill.

Right next to this building station was a "wind maker". So the guys decided to try to make the windmill actually spin using the wind...

Caleb, Dad and Uncle Chris

Unfortunately, there was too much friction between the Tinker Toy pieces, but they had a blast trying!

Our last stop was the digging area. There was a whole area filled with recycled tire pieces and construction vehicles and tools. Both Caleb and Bethany really enjoyed this room!

Caleb and Bethany Bethany

Finally, it was time to drive home. After such a busy day I expected both, Caleb and Bethany, to crash. Instead, both stayed awake and in mostly good spirits the entire drive!

Now it's time to rest before we get up bright and early to go find our Christmas tree tomorrow!