The Sunday before Thanksgiving we left for Palm Desert, California. My kids are such good travelers! We made great time even though we took a detour through the Mojave National Preserve on a dirt road full of pot holes, rocks and no cell service or anyone to bail us out if we popped a tire, for 27 miles. We just told the kids it was a part of California they would never have gotten to see otherwise. Parker's parents and Ryan, Natalie and their kids were already there. We spent 2 1/2 days with the Kemps and then on Wednesday my family got there along with my Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and cousins from my Mom's side and we moved over to where they were staying and Jared, Jenny and kids got there and had our room. The weather was awesome the entire week! We got to swim everyday, go on walks, watch movies, play games, shop, and spend time with family. Parker went golfing with my Dad and brothers (twice), and I got to have some time shopping with the girls. We had a wonderful Turkey dinner provided by Marie Callendars and it was great to catch up with my cousins. While we were there Jackson caught a HUGE toad and a gecko. The ride home was a little harder then the ride there, but my kids did amazing. While driving on the right road through the Mojave desert Parker spotted a tarantula (with his new lasik laser vision) and so we flipped around and Parker not only took pictures, but put him in a cup that had a screw on lid and threw him in the back of the car. The kids named him Harold. We had a wonderful vacation, it was just what we needed!