A Thanksgiving to be thankful for!

November 28th, 2013

So many things to be thankful for this year.  It is impossible to capture them all in one blog post.  To start off the Thanksgiving holiday, I was extremely grateful for not having to fly home for the holiday.  For eleven years I have had to fly to celebrate holidays with my family.  Flying around the holdays is no fun, espcially when two very busy toddlers are involved.  I was beyod grateful for being able to pack up some small bags and drive to where the celebrations would take place.  I was the most relaxed this Thanksgiving than I have been during any holday for the past eleven years.  Being so relaxed {which is a relative term when I'm talking about myself} I was really able to enjoy every moment.  I wasn't exhausted or running on empty, it was amazing!

When we arrived to Meme and Papa's on Wednesday, Thanksgiving preprepartion was already in full swing.  Christian was excited to participate

Christian and Meme made a beautiful apple pie together.  He was quite proud!

She may be beautiful, but she's just as smart.  Watch out, world!

A happy baby and tired Meme . Not the best picture of Meme {sorry!} but I had to include it because it sums up the day!  

A little piece of heaven on Thanksgiving Eve.

And onto the big day...

When cooking four turkeys, you need a system.  Leave it to Papa!

The amazing chefs.  Four turkeys, one ham, countless sides and pies, these two make quite a team!

The kids really enjoyed watching the parade on the television.  I've never seen Lindalee sit still for so long.

Table set and ready to go!

These are the napkin holders the kids made.  Christian came up with the reason he is thankful for each person. (Papa's is missing from the picture, but Christian is thankful for playing with him).  Christian also said an amazing prayer before dinner {Proud mommy moment}. 

 "Dear God, thank you for this wonderful food that we are going to eat.  Please bless all my family and keep them safe forever and ever.  Amen".

Making his daddy proud.  Super heros only eat entire turkey legs.

   

Lindalee enjoyed the pie. 

Auntie Pha loving!

Grant-Baker family photo.  Not easy when it's freezing outside and you have two wiggly kiddos.

It makes me so happy to see traditions being carried onto the next generation.  Growing up, my Aunt Judy always put on a "Coloring Contest" for the kids on Thanksgiving.  Everyone who participated got a prize.  It brought back such memories watching Christian and Lindalee partaking in the "contest".  Christian drew a "Big black boulder" and Lindalee drew a "Turkey" and "Dada".   

The prizes were always the best part.  A great way to kick-off the start of Christmas!  Christian won a train track to go around our Christmas tree and Lindalee got a children's nativity set.  With no surprise, "Baby" Jesus is definitely her favorite. 

Missing the rest of our family on the West coast, we were excited to be able to have a little webcam date with them all.  Usually, when we tell Christian we are going to webcam with the cousins, he starts bouncing off the wall with excitement.  This time, he was a little upset.  He asked why Grandma and Grandad where with them for Thanksgiving.  He wanted to know if they were going to spend the night at his cousins' house.  I sensed {quite} a bit of jealously.  He sure does love his Grandma and Grandad, and doesn't seem to enjoy sharing them, even with some of his favorite people!

No better way to end a great day with a bubble bath for the kids and foot soak for a tired Meme.  

Thankful for a day filled with family, food, and smiles.  Thankful for two beautiful, healthy children that make holidays magical.  Thankful for all of our blessings, too many to count!