Thanksgiving

We have a few traditions around the holiday and our favorite is the Thanksgiving Tree. Mary gathers branches and I cut out leaves. For Family Home Evening that week each of us write things we're grateful for, from the big (family, the earth) to the small (candy, flushing toilets). What surprised me most was how excited the big kids were to write--they even needed more leaves--and to share what they'd written.

The tree--isn't it pretty?

Every single one of us wrote that we were thankful for Katie!

Every FHE someone cries. There's something about Monday nights--I don't know what it is but we can't get all of us happy at the same time.

Not even ice cream and a sisterly hug could console Harrison.

At least he knows he's loved.

Cameron and Mary made hand print turkeys--thank goodness those two were pleasant!

Another thing I like to do is make this trail mix. I gave each of my Seminary students a bag before Thanksgiving. We also played an M&M game in Seminary where each kid grabbed a handful of candy--but the more they took they had to participate! Each color represented a different category; they had to name something they were thankful based on the color. Red--a person or group, Blue--skill or talent, Yellow--item or thing, Green--something in nature, Brown--something related to the gospel, or Orange--free choice. It was a great activity.

The front.

The back, with the symbolic meanings of each item.

For Thanksgiving day we were invited to the Osbornes' giant family dinner at the church. Michele and Shane have 6 kids (including Ceara), lots of grandkids, and Michele's 4 sisters and their families. 

Ceara and her mom, Michele. Love those gals!

 There was tons and tons of delicious food. Harrison enjoyed sampling it all. It was a feast and we are grateful for good friends who invited us to share with them!

Grabbing a carrot.

Judy and Al came from Utah to join us!

After dinner there was lots of basketball and volleyball.

 Every night Grandma Judy read a new book to the kids. This was a highlight of their days!

Captivated.

We also enjoyed playing PIT with spoons (!) and watching The Muppet Movie. Grandpa Al and Mary went rock hunting and found cool treasures.

We had a great weekend and and have so much to be thankful for. I hope I show my gratitude for my blessings because I know I have been given so very much.