Thanksgiving 2013!

We hosted in Toledo this year!  Lots of prep work but so worth it. And so much fun.

Tried a new homemade cranberry sauce recipe from my favorite lady (The Pioneer Woman).  Love her stuff.  She really is my favorite (ask Doug).  And I will never buy the canned stuff again!

Some festive head gear and fun turkey spirit....
Wednesday night at Venturas with Aunt Juli, Uncle Al, Uncle Tim, Aunt Amy & Luke.  So much fun!
Turkey Trot 5K Thanksgiving morning through our neighborhood.  It was a cold, cold morning but I was so proud of Ava - she completed her first 5K!
Then home for table setting and dinner preparations.  My dad smoked a turkey and I cooked one in the oven (again...Pioneer Woman's recipe)!  My mom, Aunt Amy & Aunt Juli pitched in and were HUGE helps as always.  I think this is why I never stress about having my family in for a visit...everyone loves to cook and help...and they are fantastic at it!  The kids made our place mats (hand prints made to look like turkeys) and when we weren't cooking/place mat making - we relaxed on the couch. 
And then of course we get to enjoy and be thankful for each other, dinner and focus on blessings from the last year...
And then...dance party.  Of course.  With Aunt Lindsay spinning the kids on the floor and Uncle Rob giving leg rides.
Such a great weekend with family.  And even at the end of a bumpy year...so much to be thankful for!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ava's First Day of Kindergarten!

Image
Ava woke up and looked at me with her big brown eyes and asked..."is today the day I get to ride the bus to school?" She beamed when I said yes. Her countdown finally complete! Good nights sleep. Lunch made. Bag packed. Favorite dress from Grammy on. Favorite shoes from Grandma - check.  Breakfast eaten. Hair brushed. Eager kindergartner - check. Hugs for sisters.  And for Mom, Dad & Grandma too.  Ready to take on her first day of kindergarten.  I have never seen a little girl more eager to hurry down to the bus stop and determined to climb bus steps.  I barely got that hug!  I have always envisioned her first day of school to be harmonious - taking our time eating breakfast together, strolling leisurely down to the bus stop - lots of room for photo ops.  Harmonious?  3 under the age of 6...it was more of a pleasant frenzy...and went by faster than I would have liked! I am not going to pretend and say I wasn't a wee bit sad...I think the fast morning was a bit
Read more

Funny Kate.

I never knew what people were talking about..."terrible two's" when Ava was two/three (and before I write any more...I'm going to preface this...I absolutely love all my girls for their unique growth and personalities...they all bring me joy in different ways. I wouldn't change a single thing about any of them). If we told Ava "no" or not to touch something or do something...generally...she listened and followed through. Sweet little Kate however is very different. She is curious, determined differently than Ava, and knows what she wants. I could tell her 100 times not to do something, and she'll still do it. I never trust her alone...if she's quiet I know she's up to something (and she usually knows she's up to something too as she hides...but continues to do it anyways). This has all been challenging to say the very least, but consistency has been key, and we're working through it! Combine normal two year old antics with a wit that
Read more

Words...

...Can't describe how much I love to hear my little munchkins speak their first words. Kate's been speaking new words every day...sentences (her favorite..."I got you"...followed by a cheeky grin and laugh). It really is one my favorite things about being a mom...watching them learn new things, speak new words, do new things. Not much can compare. Even Ava's 50 billion questions in a row..."Mommy...how does the sun go down?" or "Daddy...how does it rain"...followed by 50 more "why's" and "how's". I don't think I could ever get tired of that! We snapped a quick movie of Kate's speaking her word for Grandpa..."Pee-paw". Yes...she calls him "Pee-paw".
Read more