Oh so Thankful!

Thanksgiving had arrived! The kitchen smelled of wonderful foods...turkey...mixed with cinnamon apples...mixed with brown sugar sweet potato casserole.....

 Family arrived one by one.....to sit together and eat a meal....

 and be thankful for all that we have.....

 Because truly...we have so much to be thankful for.....

 We are so busy...we don't see each other much...but when we are all together it feels good...

 and I think...every time...why don't we do this more often?

 Just be together.....

 Our family is growing and changing....and next Thanksgiving we will have a new baby in the family! We are so Thankful for baby Maddie on the way!

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at our house!

 Then it was on to Bumpa's for round 2! It was so warm the kids played outside most of the afternoon and we played capture the flag into the night.....

 The meal and the family love was just as good here.....

 and my heart is full of contentment and love as we end Thanksgiving and head into the Christmas season!

 Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! May you feel the joy of Thanksgiving today and always!

Thanksgiving Eve

The kids were off from school on Thanksgiving Eve! After lunch at Chick-fil-A we came home to get ready! I was in the kitchen all day cooking, I had lots of help and lots of taste testers!

 The best $1 I ever spent was on this paper table cloth for the kids' table....it has crayons and games all over it!

 The kids would meander into the kitchen all day to stop by the table for a game...and a chat!

 With as much food prepared as we can and the tables all set I think we are ready for the big day Tomorrow!

I hope you feel as blessed as I do!

Last Watkins Feast

Every Hardy little has attend the annual Watkins Thanksgiving feast every year they were in pre school! Today was Lila's last one...but also the last one ever for the Hardys...sniff...sniff.....

 I am so thankful for this spunky, helpful, precious Native American!

A perfect Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was pretty much perfect.....

I was Thankful at every moment and never felt overwhelmed like I sometimes do at Holidays. I think it was still the lingering effects of Braden's seizure....that calm of remembering what really matters. 

As I finished cooking the littles watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade....randomly yelling with excitement  for me to come look at a float or hear a song....

 When finally the feast was ready....we gathered in prayer to Thank God for all our many, many, precious blessings....

 and then 18 of us swarmed over plates and dishes....fixing plates for littles....and taking in the yummy smells of Thanksgiving dinner

 Finally we settled at Tables and enjoyed our food and our family and friends!

 The little girls had their own table this year.....lace table cloth and all.....I thought it looked so cute.....

 Sarah Kate thought it needed it's own bottle of hand sanitizer to make it perfect!

 After Thanksgiving we celebrated the fall birthdays in our family! Sophie loved us singing Happy Birthday to her! Look at the face!

Madison is turning 18....and that is really hard to believe....I feel for my sister-in-law, Katie....she is having to slowly let go a little more every day. In a blink I will be there too....it all goes by so fast....

 Presents for all the fall birthdays!

 Lila had picked out his special doll for Sophie...and was so proud to give it to her!

 We visited....laughed.....

 and said our goodbyes.....

 Then it was off to Bumpa and Grandpas for more family and more food!

 My older 3 littles have their favorites at Thanksgiving and I love that...for Riggs it is pumpkin pie with whip cream!

Rollins loves my cinnamon apples.....

 and for Sweet Sarah Kate it is apple pie all the way!

 We are all Thankful for another Thanksgiving with Mamaw....she just radiates love!

 As Thanksgiving night fell I bathed the littles and they put on their first Christmas joms of the season!

 and Lila may have discovered her Thanksgiving thing after all....I am pretty sure she was in love with Aunt Katie's fall cupcakes!

It was just perfect and I am so blessed to have had such an amazing day with my family! Love and blessings to you all!