Thankfulness Tuesday: After Thanksgiving

So I haven't blogged too much about our Thanksgiving, but we stayed in town (my parents and grandparents live here). It's a wonderful blessing to have everyone pretty close. Thanksgiving always makes me reflect on the previous year and all of the wonderful things that have happened. This past year, I'm thankful that E turned two and is so much fun to be around. I'm thankful that my brother had a cancer-free scan after two years post surgery. I'm thankful that my sister-in-law had a successful surgery and a tumor removed. I'm thankful that I've taken up a new hobby (running) and really feeling good about myself. I'm thankful that my parents are in good health and enjoy taking care of E on days that I work. I'm thankful for a great Florida family and sunny days ahead at Christmas. I could go on and on and on...

I think most importantly, we remember throughout the year what we are thankful for. My goal in the year ahead is to be more mindful during the year...especially now that we are getting into the Christmas season.

So here are a few pictures from our Thanksgiving (I really didn't capture many).

 This is pre Thanksgiving day festivities...E was running around crazy...and this is what happened on our way:

 Poor boy was poop...he slept in front of my grandma's house for an hour and a half :)

 E adores my mom and he stole this Wolverine from my grandparents' house.

My uncle has two boys...so he knows everything boy. He took E out for snake, scorpion and dirt hunting :)

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

Xo,

Sunday Snapshots (a day late)

So I'm such a loser that I missed blogging yesterday. It's been a busy week and I just didn't get to it. So today, you get a Snapshot Sunday and a Menu Monday! So I'm so sorry, but hopefully this will make it up to you.

Monday night was one of our best friend's birthday, so we had a nice dinner with him and his wife (one of my absolute best friends). It was so nice to have a couple's dinner and laugh about silly things (okay mostly make fun of me).

Wednesday afternoon E showed off his imagination...I went downstairs for five seconds and came back up to this crown and necklace outfit and him running around saying 'Me Princess E." Needless to say, after I laughed for a long time, I taught him that boys are princes. 

Thursday was Thanksgiving and this was the best picture we got. We had a wonderful lunch at my grandparents with all of my aunts and uncles and cousins. It reminded me that I am beyond thankful for such a wonderful family :)

Friday morning we stayed in our jammies for awhile and baked muffins...E is the ultimate stirer (okay he makes a total mess, but he loves it).

My brother, an amazing photographer (www.dylanwilsonweddings.com) took our Christmas card pictures on Thursday morning. E wasn't quite cooperative, but we got some great shots. It was freezing cold, so that didn't help matters. Pictures to come!

It's a tradition for Jon and me to decorate my grandma's house for Christmas. It's a lot of work to decorate anybody's house for Christmas, but we really love helping her out and E adores her. They played the piano together while we decorated. I'm so thankful that E has THREE great-grandmothers still living and one great-grandfather.

My favorite thing about holidays is that I have the chance to see wonderful friends that I grew up with. Laura. Allie and I had a nice lunch and went shopping afterwards. It was just like old times.

Sunday we decided to cut down a tree (pictures to come) and stop by and see Santa at the tree farm. Needless to say, E wanted nothing to do with Santa (he did give him a high-five) but this is as close as he got.

Hope those pics make up for my tardiness! See you tomorrow!

Xo,

Tuesday Thankfulness: Thanksgiving

How could I not make Thankful Tuesday about Thanksgiving? As I feel every year, I have so much to be thankful for. As I look back over my list that I wrote two years ago (the reason I started this blog), I notice that I am still so thankful for all of those things. I am thankful for health, a wonderful family, food on my table (though I don't always cook the best meals), freedom, religion, a warm house...and so much more. I hope that E can understand through us as his parents that he has so much to be thankful for (even when he doesn't get the toy he wants or a sucker). Every night before he goes to sleep I ask him to name the people he is thankful for. Sometimes this list goes on and on, and some nights it's really short...but I want him to always remember that he has more than he could ever need or want (something that a lot of people don't have). And ultimately he should be thankful for a God that loves him and parents that love him more than anything else in the world.

E opened his card from his Nannie and Poppie. Though we aren't in Florida celebrating with them this year, he was so excited to get a card from them (he literally ripped it open in the car). Thanksgiving reminds us that we love those that are near and those that are far.

Last Thanksgiving we spent in Florida. This is Jon's sweet grandmother who is in her 90s (a lady never should reveal another lady's age ;)). We were so thankful to spend the day with Jon's huge family!

So I hope dear friends, that your Thanksgiving is blessed...that it's filled with great joy and the reminder of many blessings. As you look around the table, thank God that you are with the people you love the most and that you have given much to be grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Xo,