Thanksgiving 2015-AZ style!

Although it was "nip and tuck" about us going to Arizona due to a winter storm coming in on Wednesday and Ben's health being up and down.  Finally on Monday night Gary said we are going no matter what as it was unique time and opportunity to gather with some of my Giberson family and share some time.  More about that later.

Because of the storm, we left earlier on Wednesday that we had originally planned so we had dry roads all the way.  This is the sunset as we were traveling SW on I-17 to Mesa.  It was gorgeous and as usually pictures don't do it justice.

Ben and Kylie playing Tommy and Jena

Ping Pong and game playing are necessary parts of a Giberson holiday celebration.

The ping pong table worked both for playing and also for eating on.

Here is a serious expression by Liam.  Jessica and Elessia with Liam had arrived in the Mesa area on Monday to spend some of the holiday with Elessia's family.  However they were kind enough to spend the actual Thanksgiving meal with us as it is very rare for so many Gibersons to be in one place for Thanksgiving.  I think we had 35 people plus some babies. (I might be off on that number.)  My dad and Karla were there, my two sisters, Robin and Lynette from Amarillo, my sister-in-law Andi, plus nieces and nephews, in-laws and out-laws--as we say.

Thanks to Valerie and Lance for hosting this big crew for the holidays!

Getting one of the three tables set for the meal.



 The reason that this Thanksgiving was extra special was because two of my nieces and their families were being sealed in the Gilbert Temple--Lisa and Paul Neerings with Audrey, Owen, and Allison (Friday morning)and Landi and Lance Johnson (Saturday afternoon).  These pictures were taken on Saturday.  I didn't take my phone at the temple on Friday.

Landi and Lance Johnson and Dad and Karla Giberson

Paul and Lisa Neerings and Landi and Lance Neerings

Ben came to the temple on Saturday and got to see the Gilbert Temple.

The only thing that would have made this weekend more perfect is if all of the rest of the Gibersons and their families could have been there.  Happy Thanksgiving!

The Gilbert Temple