Giving Thanks

  Thanksgiving is by far one of my favorite holidays in the year.  Family, food and fun.  It doesn't have the hustle and bustle of most of the other holidays for us.  It's relaxing.  Maybe that is what I love about Thanksgiving.

I always love doing projects with the boys and I don't know how much longer they will love to do them with me.  So, I need to take advantage of it while it lasts.  I found this fun idea in Family Fun magazine a few years ago, had it clipped and saved for later fun.  Now was later and we had at it.  It was a perfect "project" for Alex. 

 He unwrapped all the candies by himself and loved that he could do this (for the most part) by himself.  Our little candy acorns!

Ever since Alex was born we have done the same thing for Thanksgiving each year.  We wake up, play a little and head to the gas station to pick up some donuts and the Star Tribune. After getting back home we enjoy our annual donuts, fruit and juice and then proceed to enjoy coloring the turkeys in the paper and watching the parade.  Alex is getting to be such a coloring-phene.  They were both so excited to see their favorite characters in the parade such as Spiderman and Sesame Street.  They even liked the dancers!

While the boys were coloring and watching the parade, Andy and I watched the parade and looked through the ads for the best Black Friday deals. I also finished up the Thanksgiving pies I had started the night before.  I found a recipe for Pecan Pie and Carmel Apple Pie off the internet, Andy suggested we make them again.  But, the best recipe (in my opinion) was the French Silk Pie recipe.  I got it from a friend, Jen.  It was amazing...if I do say so myself :)

Our number one rule on Thanksgiving (and most weekends when we are home)...stay in your jammies as long as possible. So, after naps we woke up refreshed and ready for the big Thanksgiving celebration.  My Mom made these awesome shirts for the boys...we are spoiled!

Thanksgiving was celebrated at my parent's home this year with my brothers, Aunt Irene, Uncle Jeff and cousin Cassie who joined in on the festivities.  It's nice and low key.  We usually play games, talk, watch some football, drink a little and of course eat.

Cassie brought a crafting Thanksgiving wreath to work on with the boys for Grandma and Grandpa.

Alex loves to help set the table.

The Andersen's

The Guse's

We love having Uncle Pete home.

                  The turkey carver, Uncle Luke.                           Sisters (in-law)

Aiden and his GodMom...She will be an excellent Mom some day!

Grandpa and Grandma Johnson

Let's Eat!  My favorite part of dinner? Yes, the food was delicious, but I would have to say hearing Alex sing the song, "Call Me, Maybe". 

Each night at dinner we go around and state our worst thing for the day and end with our best thing for the day.

About a week ago, after this was done at dinner and I could tell Alex wasn't really listening but quickly moving from person to person I told him, "Alex, if you can tell me what Mommy's worst thing was today then you can have a huge fudge ice cream sundae".  

His response?

Without hesitation, "My worst thing today is that I'm not getting a huge fudge ice cream sundae".
He cracks me up!

Finally time for pie! Aiden and I loved our pieces of french silk. Andy had some pecan pie and Alex went for the caramel apple pie.  Uncle Pete though?  Every year Pete has a bet to each each slice of every kind of pie.  I always want to make more pies just to see if he can eat them.  In addition to my 3 pies, my Mom made a pumpkin pie.  

Leave it to Pete...he did it!

Alex wanted some pictures...

Okay... here comes something completely out of character. If you know me at all that is not how I usually talk because I will actually poke fun at Andy most days and tease him.  I love him in a unique way and I'm sure he is thankful for that ;)

I am so thankful this Thanksgiving for all the love and family in my life.  I am most thankful for such a wonderful, supporting and down to earth husband.  He keeps me grounded and is forever my rock.  How cheesy? Guh.  I am also most thankful for the two little men in my life.  They make me smile just thinking about them.  They have such unique personalities and I am better because of them.  

I thank God for them and Andy each day.