Thankful

Living nearby my parents is absolutely wonderful. I feel like this time I have with them is a gift, that it may not always be this way, and so I savor every visit with them.

This year we were able to spend Thanksgiving together. While I helped in the kitchen, Rus played the boys at chess. Aren't they such handsome boys?

We had SO MUCH food because we made things that each person wanted. Rus wanted a cherry pie, my dad wanted pumpkin pie, and my mom wanted pumpkin roll. Jacob really wanted to break the wishbone so my parents cooked a turkey. Bekah wanted ham. I love sweet potatoes so I made a casserole that looked delicious (crumb topping, mmm. I practically ate the whole pan by myself, too. Rus never even tried it.) Bekah wanted rolls and helped me make them, and Rus was in charge of the mashed potatoes. Throw in the green bean casserole and dressing that my dad made and we were in full-on feast mode! Needless to say we enjoyed leftovers for the rest of the weekend! The kids were delighted when we declared that pie was a suitable breakfast dish! (Don't worry, Rus is not sleeping or grumpy in this picture...he has just given up smiling for pictures this year.)

 My mom had everything decorated so beautifully, like she always does. She remembered having Thanksgiving with her grandparents and how they would all sit at the same table to share the meal with fancy dishes and place settings, and she really wanted to do that with our family. It made it really special for all of us!
And here is my very own Thanksgiving decoration - the adorable MariTurkey!

Jacob and Beau were able to split the wishbone, and they somehow did it exactly in half! I think that means they both got their wish...

After the meal was eaten and cleaned up and a satisfactory rest time was achieved, we all headed out to the garage to make some wooden toys with the kids. My dad helped them with m&m dispensers and Rus and I helped with catapults. I love spending time in the shop with my dad, and time cooking or visiting with my mom!
And one more picture...The hands-down cutest turkey I saw this year, my nephew Leo!