Thanksgiving {2013}

This year we had what we could only call the Hallmark Thanksgiving ... my parent's invited us to join them in Asheville for Thanksgiving at their new home on top of a mountain. It was just the time away our family needed after a very rough few months.

We enjoyed spending time with family {6 out of 9 siblings were at Thanksgiving Dinner} and the kids loved playing with their cousins from Florida. My sister's little ones are just 1 and 2 years old and absolutely adorable.

Even Maggie, our golden retriever, came along for our family holiday ... she enjoyed countless hours outside being walking by many members of my family. She is now depressed after coming home to what she now must realize is a boring life.

And, what a blessing to be able to enjoy snow ... which arrived the day before Thanksgiving. {Pictured above, the kids with my mom and dad and below, my parent's new home}.

Thanksgiving 2011

Great food,

friends,

and fun!

Counting Our Blessings with a Thankful Chain

This year, instead of a thankful tree, we made a thankful chain. Each morning, at the school table, I had the kids get a slip of paper that I had hand-stamped, Counting my Blessings, and write something they were thankful for.
We loved watching our chain grow and grow! We have so much to be thankful for {God, a roof over our head, food on the table, nice clothes to wear, friends, each other, our pets, gifts and talents that God has given us}!!

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name." Psalm 100:4

Happy Thanksgiving ... what are you thankful for this year?

Thanksgiving Party and Operation Christmas Child

Each year our small homeschool group has a Thanksgiving Party. The main reason for the party is for the kids to come together and prepare their Operation Christmas Child boxes.

This year my friend, Jamie, hosted the party. The kids watched a video about Operation Christmas Child before they wrote out their "About Me" sheets to include inside their boxes.

After finishing up it was time for snacks and one of our groups favorite games ...

The Donut Game {which became a tradition several years ago as an alternative to bobbing for apples - which for us germ-a-phobe moms is a nightmare} We normally play the Donut Game at our Halloween Party but, we ran out of time this year so we moved this fun activity to the Thanksgiving Party.Yesterday we brought our packed boxes to church. My kids look forward to packing these boxes each year - we always pray for the child who will receive the box! It is great way to start the holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today I am so thankful for all the way God blesses our lives. The kids and I have enjoyed writing down all the things we are thankful for over the last few weeks and placing those blessings on our "Thankful Tree".

I am thankful this morning that most of the Thanksgiving prep is done - just a few things to warm up this morning and we will be heading soon to our friends' home to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with them - the kids are so excited to play with their friends and that a special "Charlie Brown" Thanksgiving has been prepared just for them (think popcorn and jelly beans) But, first, we will all gather around the television to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade - one of our loved traditions on Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Month for Thanks and Giving

We like to focus each November on Thanks and Giving ... one of our traditions is our Thankful Tree. Each school day the kids and I write out something we are thankful for and hang it on our Thankful Tree. It is so nice on Thanksgiving to read out loud what everyone is thankful for.

Another tradition is celebrating Thanksgiving with our homeschool friends by packing Operation Christmas Child boxes. It is something we look forward to every year. Today was our party and after packing boxes the kids enjoyed craft projects, pizza, and lots of playtime with friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are thankful for so many things this Thanksgiving ... for a roof above our heads, for our family, for our dear sweet friends, for a God who loves us and so much more!

We hope all of our friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Here are a few glimpses of ours ...

Friend Makin Monday - Thanksgiving Edition

I saw this on another friend's blog and just loved the idea ... join in on the fun by heading over to Amber's Blog.

1. Turkey or Ham? Both, a 15 pound fresh turkey - brined then roasted and a 15 pound ham from the Honey Baked Ham Store.

2. Favorite side dish. Has to be my Company Potatoes Dish, bascially dressed up mashed potatoes baked in a large casserole dish in the oven. My family loves the toppings - cheddar cheese, scallions and french fried onions.
3. Favorite dessert. Toss up between Paula Deen's Pumpkin Cake and Pecan Pie.
4. Black Friday: Are you going or not? Absolutely going, this year my husband is joining in on the fun! So thankful for our friend Jen who will be at our home before 5AM so we can head out bright and early.
5. If so, what's on the top of your list? Blu Ray Player, iPod Shuffle, Flip Camera
6. Going out of town or staying close to home? At home.
7. Hosting or helping? Hosting ... ten in all.
8. Name one family tradition at Thanksgiving. Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while preparing dinner. Talking about the things we are thankful for over the last year during our Thanksgiving Meal.
9. What do you do after dinner? Look through all the Black Friday Ads and make a game plan for the next day.
10. What are you most thankful for this year? My husband and kids and our dear friends, who are like family.

Thanksgiving at Home

As previously posted ... we spent Thanksgiving at home this year with little ones who were recovering from upper respiratory infections. A change in plans brought me the opportunity to cook the Thanksgiving meal, which I really enjoyed.

My husband was great and took the kids to several movies during our Thanksgiving Holiday giving me time to cook and also work through my "to do" list. Which I am so happy to report is now completely done.

Here are some photos from Thanksgiving ...

My signature dish at holidays - Company Potatoes:

Lexi's favorite part of Thanksgiving Dinner - getting to eat the turkey leg:

Paula Deen's Pumpkin Cake - my husband said better than Pumpkin Pie:

After Thanksgiving Activity - Decorating our Christmas Tree:

Ava Mae and Maggie taking a nap after all the fun:

It was a wonderful holiday with time to be with my husband and kids and be thankful for all God has provided for us.