No David

Thanksgiving 2010

Each Thanksgiving gets better and better as we have more family moving down, or kids to take part of our Thanksgiving traditions.  (don't worry no more kids to take part...the 2 we have are just great, lol)  This year Gabe really wanted to make some chex mix.  I was thrilled to make it because growing up that was a tradition my grandma used to do each year.  She would literally fill an 18 gallon tote full of it.  Along with carmel corn too.  She would always have it on hand to use as a gift or set out for when company would stop by.  It's a great idea.  Who doesn't like chex mix & carmel corn?  Well, I'll be honest Gabe & I agreed that the only parts of the chex mix that we like were the pretzels & the chex.  So, that's how we made it.

We had so much fun!  After we made it all, cooked it for an hour...Gabe didn't like it.  :-(  Oh well, the rest of us did!

Thanksgiving Morning

We obviously kicked off the morning with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade!  I can't wait until the day we bring our kids there.  All that crazy, chaos and excitement looks like so much fun!  One day! 

Breakfast Included

Toaster Strudle/Waffles (my kids are addicted)

Sausage Balls

Ham & Cheese Quiche

Lil' Smokies in an Apple Maple Glaze

Banana Bread

and lots of SNUGGLE time on the couch!

Mid-Day Snacks

Olive/Pickle Tray

Chex Mix

Beef Stick/Cheese & Crackers

Ham Rolls

 the olive monster....ahhhhhh!

 The family also played a little Candy Land and Uno Attack while I 

got things cookin' in the kitchen & Lily took her nap.

This is what our table looked like.  I printed out the leaves for the place cards that I found here.

We all dove into the Thanksgiving goodness!

 don't worry it's just Watermelon juice! :-)

 yummy!

I was proud of my gravy.  I usually get my MIL to make it that way if it comes out bad they can just blame her, ha!  This year I took on the challenge.  I was a little nervous I'm not gonna lie.  But I kept thinning, and whisking, and flouring, and whisking, and thinning, and fretting....until perfection!  I thought it was great & I heard no complaints when they were consuming it.  :-)

 The family's all ready....except my mom was working.  She came and ate later!

Gabe wanted to eat the drumstick like Poppie!  Fine with me!  I like the white meat better!  :-)  He ate just about all of it too!  

We ended our day with lots of laziness, dessert, more eating, deal hunting, and lots of quality time spent together.  We had a great Thanksgiving!  Hope you did too!

Our Super Cool Lunch

So I posted about this great lunch idea a few weeks ago!  We finally decided to give it a try over Thanksgiving break.  My kids LOVED it!  So much fun!  They thought they were so special!  

I served apples with carmel, nuggets with ranch, mac and cheese, and a hershey treasure!

 Gabe and Lily digging in!

So much fun!  Thanks Lunch 360!

Thanksgiving Feast

I haven't been very good at updating my blog this holiday...hopefully I will be a little better at Christmas posts.  :-)  (one can be hopeful)  Gabe had a feast at his school with the whole Kindergarten class.  Here are some pictures from it.  

The whole family came (except Poppie he was working)

 My sweet Gabe

 His creations!

 Lily digging in!

 Seriously, how proud can I be?  

 What we are all thankful for...we did this as homework!

 The tree they made

 Gabe & Addison

 Lily, Addison, Gabe & Isaiah 

Fun times!  Great memories!

Turkey Cookie Fun

I went on-line to scope out what kind of turkey cookies there were out there because lets be honest I have been waiting for the day that my kids go to school & I get to make fun stuff with them for each holiday there is!  I don't know who was more excited about the cookies, me or Gabe!  :-)  I stumbled across these ones!  I couldn't resist!  Just look how adorable they are!

So, I gathered all of my ingredients:

2 pkgs double stuffed oreos

Reese PB Cups

Whoppers

Candy Corn

White Icing

Food Coloring

Of course one cute helper!

 I colored some of my white icing orange with the food coloring.

 You put a little icing in-between the cookies & gently stick in candy corn

(I stuck mine in the fridge until they set up)

 Squeeze icing on bottom oreo & place feathers on top, add the pb cup (slice off a small part of it to make it have a flat surface)

 Add the whopper for the head, white icing for the eyes, and black for the eyeballs, orange for the feet!

 Ta-da!  They are done!

 So cute!

The kids loved them at Gabe's feast!

Thankful

As I stood at my sink tonight doing dishes for I think the 100th time today I thought about the things I was thankful for.  Of course I am thankful for the obvious things like my family, friends, and Jesus.


I am thankful that I can stand at my sink & get the front of my shirt wet every time I do the dishes...that I have milk cups that take 15 minutes to disassemble and clean even though often times I complain about it.  I am still glad I see them in my sink every day.  I am thankful that I can cook & clean for my family....even though I will have to do it all again in a half an hour (at least the clean part).  It makes my heart happy when I finish folding laundry and Lily looks up & says, Thank You mommy.  My heart is grateful that I have that laundry to fold.  I love that I can make special treats for the holidays.  Even if it is just a bag of mixed nuts for my husband to crack open and enjoy.  I am thankful for my mother-in-law and that we all get along & she loves Jesus.  I am so thankful that my parents live here and take the time to invest in my kids life on a daily basis.  Like stopping by just to bring ice cream...so what if it is right before bed.  I love it!  I am blessed beyond measure with Godly friends who take time out of their schedules daily to pray together for our husbands & families.  I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to witness Jesus meet the needs of those around me.  He is forever faithful & our great provider.  I am thankful for a ministry that I am able to be a part of & that God calls me worthy enough to lead.  I am so glad that my kids love being together as a family, doing family things...playing games, snuggling, watching movies.  I am so thankful that they love Jesus as much as they know how and sing praises to Him.  What joy it brings me...I cannot imagine the joy it brings to the Father.  I am thankful God allows me to be creative & that I am able to use the gifts & talents he has given me.  I am so thankful that Gabe is so thoughtful of others.  I am thankful that my husband works so hard for his family.  I am thankful that he loves his kids, spends time with them, and truly invests in their lives on a daily basis.  I am thankful that God loves me more than I will ever know!  I feel like a blessed woman.  God has truly blessed me with great things that I don't think I could ever sum up all the gratitude & thankfulness that overflows from my heart.  I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!  Many blessings!

Take Heart Blog Giveaway

Go on over to my friend Danielle's fabulous Blog, Take Heart for a chance to snag some of these fun giveaways!  Make sure you check her blog out even if you don't know her you will feel like you do.  Her blog is so full of passion and realness that you will get lost skimming through it!  She is so adorable, a wonderful momma & wife, and she loves Jesus with all her heart.  She has the best pictures & music!  I am often envious of her amazing talents God has blessed her with.   Be sure to check back each monday for she always has something new!