Thanksgiving!

I really love Thanksgiving- what a great holiday! A day to celebrate all that we have been blessed with, and a day to relax (well, not if you're cooking and baking like crazy!), enjoy family, and eat lots of delicious FOOD!

I have great memories of Thanksgiving growing up. It was not unusual to have upwards of 20 people at our house- all crammed in with Pilgrim name cards at their place setting. We would make a dozen pies- sometimes more- of all different varieties: Chocolate, apple, cherry, pumpkin. Celery with cheese whiz was a must (does anybody else have that tradition?), cranberry sauce that nobody ever touched  but that was always on the table, homemade rolls, and yams with marshmallows on top also made their yearly appearance. All of us girls would squeeze into the tiny kitchen and get the work done. It was great.

Now, of course, it is different. Not better or worse, just different, and that's OK.

Now we head over to Ben's parents house and I help a little bit with the meal, but Ann does most of the work- and she is good at it. She is definitely a fantastic chef! This year I made rolls, pies, and a jell-o salad for the meal.

For the pies, I went with some simple recipes this year. I made a Banana Cream (which, Heather I., your mom taught me how to make in YW and I haven't made it in 20 years- you should tell her that I still remember that activity and the recipe!), and a Chocolate Bar Pie- YUM! I bought the crust this year because, well, it's easier.

 I make these rolls every Thanksgiving- I LOVE them! I do make great homemade rolls!

 This is a new recipe- isn't it a beautiful salad? I am so excited to eat it!

 Of course, the main purpose of this holiday is to remember all that we are grateful for. Did you know that people who are grateful are happier, healthier, and live longer? It's true.

Anyway, as I thought of the very long list of things that I am grateful for, I realized that I am simply grateful for a good life. Pretty much every night as I end my daily journal entry I end it with "Life is good."


Ben has a job. Our girls are healthy. We are happy. Life is good.

The list goes on and on, but life is good. Yes, there are bumps in the road- and sometimes pot holes and U-Turns and 30 car pile-ups. Yes, sometimes we need a shoulder to cry on, and sometimes we need a lot more than that. But I am constantly reminded that God is near and that there are true angels on this earth. There are amazing people who do amazing things everyday. With all the trials life has to offer, life is good.

Just my thoughts on what I am grateful for this year.

Now for some more pics of our fantastic Thanksgiving dinner:

The feast:

 Claire asking for a roll:

Audra sitting so nicely:

Claire likes to do puzzles after she eats- and today was no exception. Since it takes her about 20 seconds to eat, this is the perfect activity for her. She really is very good at puzzles.

And here we are with Ben's family- full and happy. Except for Audra who refused to look up because she really did not want to be in the picture. I had to bribe her with marshmallows just to get into the picture.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!