Thanksgiving 2009

{Our little turkeys on Thanksgiving morning}

Another year with lots to be thankful for! For each of my children and their individual personalities - they uniquely bring a sweet spirit to our home. For living my dream being a mother and a wife. For being able to stay at home with them and raise them up to be great and loving people - and because of this I have decided to put off school even longer. But I'm honestly fine with that because they need me to be the mother I am and want to be and not stressed taking classes. My time finishing my education can wait. My time with my children can't. I'm so thankful that I have that knowledge to know what is good for me and my family and that what works for us may not work for someone else - and that's okay! For my loving husband who works so I can stay home with our children and who supports our family and encourages us to reach for our goals. Who aspires for us to be happy. For our home and all the projects that have been completed with his time and hands. For seeing family this summer and making great memories with them. For the family we were unable to see due to geographical circumstances - but we love you guys & hope to see you real soon! For our health and happiness. For finding the joy in every day. For strengthening my mind and soul through the scriptures. For exercising as a family and individually - to show our children the importance of taking care of our bodies. For helping and serving others around us - even if it's just a smile to a stranger. For our amazing friends - and those friends that live close by that have become extended family. For those that serve our country with pride and loyalty. For those that serve in harms way by putting their safety on the line to protect us and our families. My list could seriously go on and on - especially for the little things I'm thankful for like doing kind deeds for people without them knowing, reading a good book, sipping hot chocolate on a cold day, donating blood and knowing I'm helping someone in need, my love for music, taking pictures, watching my children smile - we do have MUCH to be thankful for and we're grateful to have this time of year to reflect upon these things. We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you too can reflect on the things your thankful for. Much love to you all!

Thanksgiving 2008

Our family drove up to spend the day at my cousin and her family's home in Maryland for Thanksgiving. We spent the day hanging out, eating food and playing games. I didn't take pictures of the food this year but it was a traditional Thanksgiving meal. It was all SO good - especially Tashi's Pumpkin Crumble that he made! John is still talking about it in fact. :) The girls were also having a blast running around playing with my cousin's 3 year old son - hopping back and forth between games and food themselves. Around 9pm we rolled our way back to good ol Virginia - and passed out into a turkey coma. We of course missed our family back home but we're fortunate and thankful to also have some family nearby and on the same side of the U.S. as we are. We don't see them very often but we always have so much fun hanging out with them when we get the chance. "Thanks you guys for having us over! We hope to see you again after the baby is born!"

{Sisters...with food on the brain I'm sure!}

{Mom & daughters! Yes, we color coordinated. Not on purpose in the beginning but we ended up all wearing the same color in the end. :) }

{Our family on Thanksgiving - Me: 9 months pregnant with Andrew}

{My cousin and her family}

{The three amigos - pausing for just a moment from playing to please us with a picture}