Thanksgiving and visitors

Dock and his girlfriend Eileen road tripped from Colorado to Texas to spend a few days with us. His car was loaded down. They are moving to California and have all their possessions with them.

We made sure they had their fill of Texas BBQ.

We prepared Thanksgiving dinner at our house. Owen made the pinecone turkey and name cards for our table. 

Collin enjoyed his first Thanksgiving dinner and devoured grandmama's sweet potato casserole and rolls. 

Dock spent a lot of time building Legos with Owen. As you can imagine, Owen loved this. Dock is a master builder according to Owen.

Dock built this cool helicopter for him.

my favorite moment may have been the night before they headed out and we made a fire and roasted marshmallows 

And I had to grab a shot of my mom and her boy. So grateful to have Meme in Texas this week. 

Thanksgiving

We had our second Thanksgiving in Texas this year. David worked the night before and was able to come home Thursday morning and rest most of the day. We planned our big meal for dinner that night.

So we basically put together our Thanksgiving meal all day long. Owen helped me squeeze oranges for the homemade cranberry sauce.

Meme made her famous chocolate pies

and Owen happily helped her clean the beaters.

We went ahead and pulled out the Christmas china and decided to put it to use this year for our meal. 

Our menu included Ina Garten's roasted turkey breasts, Grandmama's dressing and sweet potato casserole, Aunt Lynda's green bean casserole, homemade cranberry sauce and the new addition of popovers. 

I love making my favorite recipes that have become family traditions, but it is always fun to throw something new in the list.

Happy Thanksgiving from our crew to yours!

We truly have so much to be thankful for this year!

highlights of our week

Owen made it back to preschool Thursday for their Thanksgiving feast. Love seeing their little heads bowing in prayer. 

Turkey hats!

Meme's paintings for Collin's nursery arrived!

Owen worked on a painting of his own for his brother's room.

and the ladies in life group had a night out!

Thanksgiving

 There was the preparation.

One new recipe,

the rest... tried and true favorites.

Grandmama's black iron skillet. 

Nanny's silver spoons.

Meme's chocolate pie. 

a table set for four.

a helper in the kitchen.

 Our first roasted turkey, our first Thanksgiving in our home.

This was our first Thanksgiving that we were not back home. The first I can remember not at my grandparents' in Jackson. But it was a beautiful day. I loved waking up with our family here and cooking in the kitchen all morning. No stress, no pressure...peaceful. Time enjoying one another's company and lots of good food.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.     Colossians 4:15

Thanksgiving in Jackson

You would think you would begin your Thanksgiving morning with a turkey....

Well, my hunter brought home this beauty.

What in the world do you think was going on in Owen's little mind?

Well things got a little cuter when we headed into town to start putting the meal together.

 Grandmama pretty much gave over her kitchen this year.

She has taught me for years how to put together Thanksgiving dinner.

Having perfect timing for the turkey, all the yummy sides, the rolls, etc. 

Setting the table, getting out the good china

and most importantly family to share it with.

We were thankful to have healthy loved ones share a meal together. 

God has truly blessed us. Not everyone gets to spend Thanksgiving with her grandparents who are 91 and 94, hear the same good ol stories over and over, watch her son marvel at his great-grandmother, or laugh the sweetest laugh when his Pop "gets him". 

The food was good, but those were my highlights of this Thanksgiving.