Thanksgiving 2015

Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays. Not only because I love to eat (haha) but I think it goes without saying that it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on all the many things we are thankful for in our lives. Before I share those things, I wanted to recap our time spent in Meridian with my mom for Thanksgiving ...

While we were skeptical (if you've been to Idaho and experienced the weather, you understand) the weather forecast showed signs of snow on Wednesday and Thursday this week. We'd planned to travel on Wednesday but kept getting encouraged by others that it would be smart to leave at the soonest opportunity and we are so glad we decided to leave on Tuesday instead. First thing to be thankful for, making it there safely because Wednesday did indeed bring snow. My mom had to work Wednesday so we popped into her office to say hi in the afternoon. At the first sound of Liam, her co-workers started popping up from their desks to see him. He just stood there overwhelmed by it all until one of the ladies gave him a stuffed monkey to carry around and then it was all fun and games after that. He found his way into every nook and cranny he could. haha A place full of non-baby toys is always Disneyland to a kid. His favorites being Sita's computer/keyboard and his new love of calculators. I think it is safe to say we know what he wants from Santa this year. His very own calculator! ;)

On Thanksgiving we took Liam  outside to experience snow for the first time in his new boots! We didn't let him go too wild and crazy because it was about 20 degrees outside and his pair of gloves and hat haven't come in the mail quite yet but he definitely loved poking it with his finger from Sita's hand.

Nic's favorite appetizer on holidays is little smokies with BBQ sauce and he got to share a bite with his little sidekick this year. Considering Liam wolfed down 3 or 4 of them in a few minutes flat, I'd say he was a fan. haha

Liam discovered the CD rack at Sita's house and it was game over to any and all toys we tried to draw his attention away with from there!

Through no fault of her own, my mom's turkey wasn't done when it was expected to be so for dinner we gave Liam bites of other foods instead. When everything finally came together, he was too full and showed no interest in a bite of mashed potatoes and gravy, turkey, or stuffing. He sure loved leftover apple crisp and ice cream the next day for dessert though.

^ Nothing but trouble!!! ^

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we've had an on-going second round of sickness at our house that we brought along with us on the trip. I had a sore throat most of the time we were there and Nic started coming down with it by Thanksgiving night so we laid low the rest of the trip. We did quite a bit of online shopping on Black Friday from the comfort of the couch (best way to do it in my opinion!) and kicked off the Christmas season with Christmas Vacation and Home Alone.

I shared a family picture of us on Instagram on Thanksgiving Day saying that you know you are living a wonderful life when every year you are more grateful than the last, my family being one of my biggest blessings of all. I meant every word. I continually feel more and more blessed with each passing year as we near the end and I look back and reflect on all God has given me in my life. I am one lucky woman to be adored by a man as wonderful and selfless as Nic. I am blessed to be a mom to a little boy who takes the world by storm and is my reason to smile every day. I'm lucky to consider myself among the very few these days who get the incredible privilege to be a stay-at-home mom. I adore Rue and the giggles she brings to our family from her quirky, entertaining, and lovable personality. I am blessed to always have my temporal needs met and feel so thankful to be loved by my Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ each and every day despite my shortcomings. Happy Thanksgiving to you all! May you reflect often on the blessings in your life because I promise you that if you do, you will find more joy than you can imagine this holiday season. XO

P.S. Our Thankgiving last year. Look how tiny Liam was!