Thanksgiving 2015

I love Thanksgiving!  It's the official start to the holidays (in my book).  I love getting together with family, eating good food, looking at Black Friday ads, and thanking my Heavenly Father for my abundant blessing. 

We decorated for Christmas on Thanksgiving Eve.  We went to Stephanie's house for Thanksgiving and knew we wouldn't have time that weekend to decorate.  Christmas seems to go by in a flash and I like leaving the decorations up as long as possible!  While going through the decorations I found our stash of plates we used for years and years.  I didn't have matching plates until two years ago!  Seeing the plates caused me to reflect on the little sacrifices we made to become debt free.  This was one of them!


In my town the Thanksgiving paper comes out on Wednesday.  Nice for the people at the paper and those doing the paper routes!  I brought my paper up to Steph's so we could all look through it.


Thanksgiving was so much fun!  And relaxing.  And busy with lots of shopping!  Stephanie treated us to scrumptious food the whole weekend.  We arrived about an hour before dinner.  Darrell and Lois' families were there too. 






The outside kid table.  Great weather on Thanksgiving day! I bought all of the plates and such, and everything was disposable.  I am not crafty, so no cute centerpieces like Deb did last year! What was so fun about this table though was after the kids all left and were playing, Lee and I gathered up the ends of the plastic table covering, tied it up like a bag and threw it away.  Easy cleanup at its best!










Every Thanksgiving before we eat, three popcorn kernels are placed on each plate.  Everyone each takes a turn saying three things for which they are thankful.  Not sure where the tradition originated, but we did it growing up as kids and I think all of us siblings keep the tradition going.  (Right guys?!)




Saying what we're thankful for.






SO many yummy pies!  20 in all!


That night we hit up some stores for shopping. So much fun!


This window display was hilarious.  The store was about to open...it was about midnight when I took this picture.  The mannequins weren't thrilled about the holiday sale, apparently.


The next day after more shopping that morning, we all headed to a park for the afternoon.




Even I got up to the middle two different times using my arms!


Cousin time is the best!




Near the park was a soccer field.  The kids played dodgeball and then we had our annual Thanksgiving Day race....though a day late.  The winners get their own whole pie.  Reed won the 8 and under group.  Cal won the 9 and up group. 


Steph yet again was awesome and had homemade gingerbread all prepped for us to make houses!  I was thinking about getting together with friends this year to make houses, but since we did it at Stephanie's house I am going to count that!  Yet another family tradition....making homemade gingerbread, then houses, every Christmas season.  Love it!






























Haley created a cute reindeer and sleigh.


That night we shopping again to one store in particular.  Do you know which one? Stacie, Steph, Lois and I went.  I know I am putting myself at risk by posting this...I may delete it.  It was so fun!!!  That night after the kids were asleep Lois, Steph and I showed Lee all the things we bought.  We were all squealing at the merchandise and Lee was laughing at us.  Too funny.  One of my favorite memories from the weekend! I think I am more excited about Christmas morning than my kids!


We headed home Saturday afternoon to get some things done before Sunday.  What a great holiday.  Thanks Stephanie for all your hard work!  We loved being there! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!