Thanksgiving this year

This year was so exciting since Bronte, Savanah and Avery were in the Macy' Thanksgiving Day Parade with the American Fork Band.  We brought the tv out into the living room so that we could watch and cheer.  We are so proud of them and all the hard work that went into that day.  

 My mom and I spent the morning putting up the Christmas tree while John toiled in the kitchen.  We've never done the tree on Thanksgiving before but I actually kind of loved it.  It made the day feel extra special and exciting.

 The house ended up taking about 3 days total to decorate.  That's a little ridiculous.  I don't know what I'll do when my mom stops helping me.  John is just more than happy to let the two of us do that job without him for now.

 We finally were ready to eat around 3. 

 Since it was just our little family and my parents for Thanksgiving this year we tried to scale down the meal and not make every little thing we usually do.  Which just ended up really meaning no green bean casserole (snif).

 But it was one of the most delicious Thanksgivings' I can remember.  My mom made the turkey and it was so incredible.  The best I've ever tasted.  Everything else was really good too but that turkey was a.mazing.

 When we sat down to eat I told the kids that what we do on Thanksgiving is while we eat we each go around the table and say what we're thankful for.  So Lottie says, "ME, ME, I WANT TO GO FIRST!"  Then she jumped down from her seat and started listing things she was thankful for while she made laps around the table.  NAILED IT!  I didn't mean we literally walk around the table while we say what we're thankful for!  So then the rest of the meal one person would get down from their seat and walk around the table while they listed their favorite things.  I think we just started a new tradition!

 I'm not exactly sure why but it was just a really special and perfect Thanksgiving day.  It may have had something to do with John dressing up.  I don't know

 After we ate we went for a walk and to play at the skate park.  Ivy took this bone from the turkey with us and knawed on it for the rest of the day.  I have a video of her ripping the meat off this thing with her teeth.  So weird...

 When we got home we got to have John's pumpkin pie.  He makes the most perfect pumpkin pie in the world.  He makes it from scratch from butternut squash and makes his own crust too.  He is such a pie purest.  We're so lucky.

 Then we ended the day watching a movie next to the tree.  We don't usually have a tv in the living room but it's been kinda fun having it out there for now.  We won't leave it because I don't really want to encourage watching throughout the day or eating in front of it but it's kind of a fun thing to have through Christmas. 

 The day after Thanksgiving is always the Spanish Fork Christmas Light Parade.  We've been going to this for years.  Even before we lived in Spanish Fork.  It's tradition. 

 We also got to try out our new hot chocolate dispenser.  John brings the best things home from the mobile home park.  Seriously.

 Charlie was so ecstatic to see Santa.  He was waving his hands wildly and yelling, "Hi Santa!" "Santa, it's me Charlie!"  "I'll see you on Christmas Eve Santa!!"

 It's been a good start to the most wonderful time of the year!