This was our year to spend Thanksgiving with Tom's family. However, with Tom's work schedule and having a little baby it was impossible to spend an (enjoyable) Thanksgiving in Appleton, WI because of the travel factor. So, we stayed home. And although we missed our immediate family greatly, staying home on Thanksgiving was some kind of wonderful. My favorite (and often times missed) tradition is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Since we were home I made sure to make breakfast the night before so that promptly at 9 o'clock our whole family was on the couch watching my dearly beloved parade. Everyone made sure to be extra quiet during the Radio City Rockettes because that is my favorite part. Every year I lament about not meeting the height requirement to be a Rockette and every year Tom lovingly tells me the height requirement probably isn't the only thing holding me back from acceptance into their chorus line. :)
After enjoying the parade we got ready to go to Tom's Auntie Carol and Uncle David's house. Since we were thanksgiving orphans they took us in and we love them so. The day was wonderful spent with Tom's cousins. His cousin and best friend Mason and his family was home for the holiday and it was so great to see them along with Nicole, Cait, Mikelene and their families. Auntie Carol lives just one mile from us so that was an extra bonus. Most of this family has plans to move in the coming months so it was a blessing to spend one more holiday in the house that I love with some of the people I love the most. The day was full of thanks and carried a little bittersweetness with it as well. Some lonely days are coming, that's for sure.
Auntie Carol's tradition is that each child write a Thanksgiving essay and reads it after dinner. They boys worked hard on theirs and it's so meaningful for us all to reflect. Uncle David read President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Declaration and this year, maybe more than any other year, I'm thankful for a FREE country. Those first 102 pilgrims who endured a perilous journey with a vision of religious freedom began a gift to all of us that still today is enjoyed and not forgotten. Our blessings are bountiful and not taken for granted. The pilgrims who had lost half their population during that first winter sacrificed greatly and what they gave us is a freedom so many don't have. We are free to worship Jesus Christ each day with no threat to our safety. We are blessed beyond measure.
My goal was to take a lot of pictures and I failed. So sad, especially since this Thanksgiving was the last one in Auntie Carol's home. :(
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| Egg casserole and cinnamon rolls in front of the TV. |
After enjoying the parade we got ready to go to Tom's Auntie Carol and Uncle David's house. Since we were thanksgiving orphans they took us in and we love them so. The day was wonderful spent with Tom's cousins. His cousin and best friend Mason and his family was home for the holiday and it was so great to see them along with Nicole, Cait, Mikelene and their families. Auntie Carol lives just one mile from us so that was an extra bonus. Most of this family has plans to move in the coming months so it was a blessing to spend one more holiday in the house that I love with some of the people I love the most. The day was full of thanks and carried a little bittersweetness with it as well. Some lonely days are coming, that's for sure.
Auntie Carol's tradition is that each child write a Thanksgiving essay and reads it after dinner. They boys worked hard on theirs and it's so meaningful for us all to reflect. Uncle David read President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Declaration and this year, maybe more than any other year, I'm thankful for a FREE country. Those first 102 pilgrims who endured a perilous journey with a vision of religious freedom began a gift to all of us that still today is enjoyed and not forgotten. Our blessings are bountiful and not taken for granted. The pilgrims who had lost half their population during that first winter sacrificed greatly and what they gave us is a freedom so many don't have. We are free to worship Jesus Christ each day with no threat to our safety. We are blessed beyond measure.
My goal was to take a lot of pictures and I failed. So sad, especially since this Thanksgiving was the last one in Auntie Carol's home. :(
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| Getting ready to read the essays. The boys always have a blast with their second cousins. With all those boys in one house they are in good company. From left to right Sage, Aiden, Emery, Grace (behind Emery) Cole, Luke (in from of Cole), Anthony, Malin, and Xavier. |
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