We started Thanksgiving early this year with Zach’s entire Henderson side of the family. We had dinner at the Classic Skating in Sandy.  It was Sloan’s first time to the Sandy rink and Zach was begging me to take her into the Blast Zone as soon as we set foot inside.  I quickly fed her dinner and then the three of us ventured into the BZ.  It was just as I remembered it – a child’s paradise – with the slightest foot odor.  Sloan was in HEAVEN.  She slide down the giant red slide, watched the foam balls fly around, and slid down the baby slide for a good 45 minutes.  It’s probably the happiest I have ever seen her – no lie.  Fun Centers are in her blood, I guess.

We ate our dinner and visited with Zach’s extended family.  The Hendersons know how to throw a mean family get-together.  It was great to see everyone and Zach can hardly wait to bring Sloan back to the Blast Zone next year.

Since we celebrated our anniversary early in Chicago, we weren’t planning on doing much for our actual anniversary.  Zach went out of town earlier in the week for a jet convention and when he arrived home he surprised me by booking us two nights at the Montage up at Deer Valley.  The planner in me was a little frazzled trying to get myself and Sloan packed up so quickly – but we made it work.  And it was wonderful.

We were there a year ago exactly with an 11-day-old Sloan.  Except this year was much better because I didn’t have any stitches.  You know what I mean…
A sweet man at reception gave Sloan this stuffed fawn when we arrived.  She wanted NOTHING to do with it.  She wouldn’t look at it or even touch it.  I think it scared her for some strange reason.  We couldn’t stop laughing about it.

We settled in and then ate our chocolate covered strawberries and sipped on sodas.

We put Sloan to bed in her crib [at the Montage the closets are super spacious – so Sloan got her “own room”] after her bath and watched the Mockingjay Part 1 to get caught up before seeing Part 2.  

The next morning we hit the outlets.  Sloan was super enthusiastic about it.   Afterwards we had lunch and hung out in the hotel lounge.  All the wood burning fireplaces were going and Sloan was mesmerized.  She loves the ambiance of a good fire.  

Then we made our way outside for the s’mores.  It’s possibly my favorite part of our stay every time we visit.  Sloan refused to keep her coat on, so I had to zip her up in my coat for the mallow roasting.   Her first taste – she was a huge fan.  

We had some time to kill before our dinner reservation – so Zach and Sloan played pool.

We then made our way up to the St. Regis for dinner.  Zach obliged to my request – the J&G Grill.  It’s my favorite restaurant in all of Utah.  No exaggeration.  Sloan may not look like it, but she loved riding up in the funicular.

Zach let me go to the hotel gym the next morning and as soon as I got back and showered all three of us hit up the pool.  Sloan could live in the water.  All we need to teach her now is not to suck up so much chlorine when she gets excited…

We checked out that afternoon and drove home.  Later that night Zach took me out for an Anniversary dinner, just the two of us, before seeing the Mockingjay Part 2 at the new spiffy Sugarhouse Theater.

Even though I wasn’t expecting anything for our anniversary – Zach still managed to surprise me.  He is too good to me.  I don’t deserve someone THAT thoughtful.

That following Monday we decided to have Family Night at Olive Garden.  I think Zach said, “When You’re Here – You’re Family” ten times.  Maybe more.  I stopped counting.  Sloan loves pasta, like her mother, so she obliged.
Who at corporate at the OG decided it was a good idea to give kids stickers in the kid’s menu??  It provided great entertainment for US not SLOAN…Thursday morning we all slept in.  Sloan woke up around her usual time but didn’t want to stay awake once I grabbed her out of her crib.  So, for the first time since she was very young, she let me hold her and cuddle her for a whole hour.  It was a Thanksgiving miracle!  The highlight of my day, I’ll be honest…We got all dressed and drove down to South Jordan for our Thanksgiving Lunch at my aunt’s house.  Sloan dined via activity center.  Give her a roll and she’ll let you do pretty much anything…She didn’t care much for pumpkin pie – but she was all about that whipped cream!We had a relaxing dinner later than night at home, just the three of us.  Homemade brownie sundaes and a movie is how we ended our Thanksgiving.

Friday morning we packed up our gear and drove up to Causey for the Hendo thanksgiving at Mark and Jeanene’s cabin.  She had it all decorated for Christmas and it looked like a page out of Log and Timer Homes.  

Before we all ate we took Sloan out for her first sledding experience.  We didn’t know at the time, but the poor thing was coming down with a mean cold.  So she wasn’t as enthusiastic as we thought she would be.  In fact – she barely moved a single muscle the whole time.  But we know, deep down inside, that she loved it.  

After returning home we had a long, slow weekend.  Sloan’s cold was in full force so we all hunkered down and took it easy.  My friend Lindsey has me HOOKED on these protein balls – so I made a triple batch during a bunch of our down time.  

Saturday Sloan wasn’t feeling like herself at all.  She rarely laughed and smiled at all.  The poor thing was a motionless blob the entire day.  So, in an attempt to lift her spirits, we took her to Christmas In Color in Kearns.  It is located right near the Olympic Oval and the best part – you don’t have to leave your warm car!  We turned on the coordinating radio station and opened up the sun roofs.  Sloan barely made a peep the entire show – but her eyes were as big as quarters.  It was totally worth the drive to K-Town.

Our favorite part were the tunnels that were illuminated.  It must have taken some serious time and coordination to put this show together.  

Sunday I taught Gospel Doctrine and after church we made dinner and did little things around our house all day.  Even though the smallest of our group was under the weather, it was the perfect lazy weekend after a whirlwind of family fun.  Holidays with a tiny pinch of crazy – that’s the Henderhams for you!