Happy Thanksgiving

When I think back to my favorite Thanksgiving memories, family is the one thing that pops out in my mind. The food ... not so much.

Picky eater = a plate full of bread. 

I'm trying to get better. I am. 

I love my family. I am blessed to have grown up in a very close, large extended family ... and we remain that way to this day. These are the kind of memories I want for my children.

As we sit here this morning, waiting for family to arrive and congregating around the television to watch the parade ...



... I can't help but count my many, many blessings. There is just something about this day that makes me sit back and realize how incredibly full my life is.

I have three beautiful children ... two I gave birth to and one I flew half way around the world to find. As chaotic as they are, I smile every day because of them. They make me laugh when they do the craziest things. They teach me new things every day and I can't even begin to wonder where I would be without them ... without each and every thing the three of them have brought me.

I have the most wonderful husband ever. In two days, we will celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary and I see so many more in our future. Our bond is stronger now than it has ever been ... I am the luckiest girl alive to have a husband that brings so much to my life and to our family.

I have the best support system ever ... friends, family and my Down syndrome community. I have experienced so much personal growth over the years and it is all because of these people I have in my life. The impact each and every one of them have on me is hard to put into words ... and the bond that I have with so many of them is something I never thought possible.

Happy Thanksgiving ... gobble, gobble.

He had the biggest grin ever.

A few weeks back, the kids and I got a package together to send the troops for Thanksgiving. It was part of a massive effort headed up by my friend, Michelle, to get Thanksgiving dinner to her husband and the rest of the troops where he is stationed in Afghanistan.

Michelle got some pictures from Joe of the Thanksgiving day effort ...

It really gives you an idea of what roughing it means ... don't you think?

And seeing them all lined up ... taking part in this feast while serving our country ... it just warms my heart to no end.

Thank you so much to Joe for taking time out to do this ...

I cried when I saw it ... and Mason had the biggest grin ever.

Then he said, "Remember how you had to help me make the stars, because I didn't know how?"

And ... "I got to stay up late that night!"

Yes son, you did get to stay up late that night so we could get our package packed and you could finish your drawing. Ahh, the things that kids remember.

Turkey Day

We had a great Thanksgiving just hanging out with the kids and my mom. We spent the day eating, playing, eating, cooking, eating and most importantly ... looking at the ads to plan our day for Black Friday. More on that later.

One form of entertainment ... pulling sisters around on toys with a string ...
Craft time ... pine cone turkeys!
"This take a lot of concentration, folks!"
Nika playing with her pipe cleaner {and flashing the Cheesy Monkey} ...
The final product ... Mason and Grandma are so proud!
My attempt at trying to get just one picture of the girls both smiling nicely ... um, I think they are in cohorts together ... did they plan these faces?
"Gimme kiss ..."

Happy Thanksgiving

Gobble, gobble, gobble! We are counting our blessings today, that is for sure. We are spending the day here at home with my mom ... everyone else ditched us and left town, but we decided to stay home. Kyle has deemed Thanksgiving his favorite holiday, so the pressure is on my mom today as she cooks the turkey ... I'll be adding my own little touch, too. Ha ... that is coming from someone who thinks she is being Martha by cooking chicken parmesan. LOL.

And ... today happens to be my wedding anniversary! Nine years ago I married the love of my life ... my soul, my rock. For him, I am VERY thankful. Love you babe {he is a blog lurker just like many of you ... maybe I can bring him out of hiding sometime soon ... haha}. I know I totally plagerized that from my other blog, but whatever ... it is my blog, so I can. Ha.