We've had a wonderful Thanksgiving week! Grace and Bethany's vacation started Wednesday, and Travis was off of work Thursday and Friday, which meant lots of fun family time.
Bethany had a "Thankful Celebration" at preschool on Tuesday, where the class read the story of the Little Red Hen and made corn muffins together. They also got these adorable headbands, which I thought looked SO cute on her! I'm so grateful for the wonderful teachers my girls have at both school and Church. We truly are blessed by their loving care!
Since my parents were in Texas earlier this week, we decided to postpone our Thanksgiving dinner until Saturday so we could celebrate with them. So on Thanksgiving day, we took it easy, played at Fair Park, and had a family pizza party, then joined some friends (the Tippets and James') for a dessert buffet. We had a great day, and loved spending a lazy day together with family and friends.
On Friday, we took the girls to Chuck E Cheese to redeem the tokens they had earned during the summer reading program, then out to lunch at Burger King (their favorite). When we got home, we decorated the Christmas tree while Kaylee and Cambree took a nap. Grace and Bethany loved helping decorate! When I asked Grace a couple weeks ago what she was most excited about for Christmas (traditions wise), she had said "Putting up decorations." ;) And while we were decorating, she exclaimed "It's so fun to decorate with my family!" It truly was so nice to be doing it together, and brought a sweet spirit in to our home.
Bethany really got into it this year for the first time:
Hanging up many of her homemade ornaments from the last few years:
Travis and Grace listening to our Charlie Brown Christmas ornament:
We had more of our yummy pizza for dinner, then drove to Kirtland to see the tree lighting for the opening of the historic nativity display. They began the night with a message from a member of the Stake Presidency about how Christ is the light of the world, then we all gathered around the Newell K Whitney store to count down to the lighting. It was fun to count down together, and magical to see the trees light up one by one.
I was blessed to get this shot--I loved how the lights danced so brightly on the wet ground, like a neon Jackson Pollock painting.
Then we headed inside for hot cocoa and candy canes, and let the kids play in the kids room while we took turns admiring the nativities.
My beautiful Grace angel:
Another beautiful nativity. There were almost 1,000 on display this year!
This one was my favorite. I just love the way Mary is tenderly holding Jesus' hand and foot, and the reverent way that Joseph is gazing and acting towards Jesus. So tender and loving.
It was a beautiful reminder of our Savior--who He is and ALL He has done for us.
It was a fun day and a great way to kick off the Christmas season.
Saturday morning, we went to one of our favorite holiday events--Christmas at the Mill.
A highlight of the event is always a visit with Santa Clause.
Kaylee and Cambree were a little unsure.
We love to listen to the local musicians play each year as well.
It was so fun to play the bells and sing along to the music with them--definitely a holiday moment.
And of course, admiring the crafts made by local artists and eating a freshly roasted chesnut--yum!
Saturday night, we ate our long-awaited Thanksgiving dinner with my parents and the missionaries, Sister Pound and Sister Blackner.
New and old favorites: Texas Roadhouse rolls, Boston Market sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and Holloway fruit salad, plus mashed potatoes, stuffing, and homemade pumpkin pie and cookies.
It was wonderful to enjoy yummy food with our family and friends and recognize how very much we have to be grateful for. We truly are SO blessed by our loving Heavenly Father with everything we enjoy, especially the gospel, family, and friends. We feel very lucky this holiday season, and hope that this spirit of gratitude can live in our hearts all year round.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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