'Tis the Season to be Thankful

It's hard to believe that we always look forward to the holidays all year long...and when they're here...they're gone in a flash!  Thanksgiving is no exception!  We enjoy all the good food and being with family, and it's too bad that it happens so fast!  One day just isn't enough!

We had a nice gathering with Dan's family as well as a few special family members from Idaho!
I'm thinking the house is going to burst at the seams one of these days!

after-meal hangout!

We're ready to go!

my favorite three turkeys!

 

I know the meal takes so long to prepare...yet it's consumed in a matter of minutes!  But it's always nice to sit back, relax and watch the kids play and catch up with the family!

Mommy and Ellie...she didn't leave my side!

Emily telling Uncle John about life!

Taking it all in from the safety of our chair!

Pretty cousin Hannah

Unlce John is always teasing the kids!

Ellie finally warming up, saying Hi to Great Grandma

Ellie and cousin Shelbie

all the cousins- we were happy to get to spend time with Kendall, Emma and Cameron's cousins from Idaho too, Eva and Ella!  What a great group!

warm enough to play outside with no shoes and shorts on Thanksgiving Day?!

Unlce John and Ellie

Three of the E's- Emily, Eva and Emma

Emily

Ellie hasn't quite warmed up to Unlce Jeff just yet!

But she has no trouble warming up to cousin Bethanie, when getting an early birthday present!  Ellie loves Elmo!

Everyone loves Elmo!

Alex hanging out with Great-Grandma Martha, Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle John

The kids had the best time with a package of plastic cups...better than any toy you can buy!  They loved being timed and beating their own record at stacking them high!

Sweet Eva and Ella opening early Christmas gifts from Alex, Emily and Ellie! 
We hope to see them again soon too!  Such precious girls!

 

It was such a beautiful day to be with family and we are truly thankful to be with them and blessed that even though we don't see them enough, we are very close to them and all the cousins!

such a great and goofy group!

The Family!  Love!

And...because one day just isn't enough...we had our own special Thanksgiving at home, just our family of five!  Dan and I know that one day, we may not have the pleasure of showing up to Thanksgiving Day, only to have to sit down and eat...we want to be able to cook for our own growing family one day...when the kids come home to us!  {gulp...that isn't really too far off...sob!}

 

And we all enjoyed helping in the preparations, with no stress, taking our time, in our pj's...and uncombed hair!

breaking up the bread for the dressing

Love Ellie's bedhead!

two swEEt helpers!

Great job peeling potatoes!

Great job looking cute!

Making mashed potatoes, my favorite!

Alex and Daddy were in charge of the dressing, Dan's favorite!  Great job!

Is it time to carve the turkey yet?

Almost ready, Ellie, stand back!

So tasty!

 

We had a pretty good spread for our first Thanksgiving meal!  It was all edible!  We had so many leftovers, but we enjoyed every bite!

Turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, dressing, green bean casserole, macaroni 'n cheese, rolls, crab dip, pumpkin and cherry pie!  Oh my!

Ready to eat!

Happy {day after} Thanksgiving! 
It was delicious, and we all enjoyed being in the kitchen cooking and spending time together!

Emily and the first slice of pumpkin pie!  Mmm!

It was another memorable Thanksgiving full of favorite traditions and making some new ones!  We look forward to the next time, and seeing how much the family grows in a year! 

 

Now we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa and all the joy that comes with the Christmas season!  We love the music, lights and decorations!  And we always have fun getting out our tree and looking at the ornaments the kids have made when they were little and all the fun ones we've picked out over the years.  We love to pick out a new ornament each year...and this year we've added a little tree in our living room adding two new favorite ornaments...a Minnie and a Mickey Mouse as a reminder of our first trip to Disney World this fall!

Ballerina Barbie ornament, reminds us of when Emily took ballet

It's looking good!

Emily's Kindergarten ornament

And it's not complete without the Polar Express!  I love it!

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."

Happy Holidays!  The countdown is on!