Thanksgiving 2011

We spent our 2011 Thanksgiving with the Sherwood 7. :)

Of the eight years we have lived in Oregon, we have spent seven Thanksgivings with Matt and Gayle!

This year, a certain baby was the center of attention...

Yes, his little Naartjie one piece (a gift from one of Dan's clients) is super cute. But he HAD a very cute Thanksgiving outfit! Before we could get a picture of him in it, however, there was THE BLOW-OUT of all blow-outs. (For those of you who don't have a baby and don't know what a blow-out is, let me tell you. It is when they poop with such a great magnificent force, the poop shoots out of the diaper, up the baby's back.) The BLOW-OUT of all blow-outs happened on Dan's watch, and it went up Raine's back, around his neck, and down his arms. So there was no way to salvage the cute Thanksgiving outfit. I'll just tell you the brown onesie said "Gobble Gobble Gobble" and he had a turkey on the seat of his brown and white striped pants. Tres chic! Of course, I assumed that there would be a blow-out and therefore put him in a staging outfit, to be worn in case of an actual blow-out (usually they occur mid-morning) and then we would safely change him into the Thanksgiving outfit for the day. So during early morning errands and some video calls with family, Raine had a yellow onesie and ivory fluffy vest on (see below). Leave it to the blow-out gods, though, to teach me that I can plan but never be perfect. He blew out both outfits. :)

   

Our meal was fantastic. Gayle made a spiral cut crunchy glazed ham, two kinds of mashed potatoes, corn, and stuffing. Dan pitched in brown sugar glazed carrots and poppy seed brussel sprouts. In between football games, we ate our lovely meal together and each person went around the table and shared what they were thankful for...!

Garret was thankful for his house.

Emma was thankful for making the basketball team.

Hannah was thankful for our meal.

Abbie was thankful for her family.

Sarah was thankful for friends and family that helped her get through high school.

Matt was thankful for good friends like us and his family---some pretty cool kids!

Gayle was thankful for each of the kids and Matt.

I didn't share what I was thankful for because Raine was hungry and I had excused us to the other room so I could nurse him comfortably on the couch. It is probably for the best because I would have started crying. :) Like Dan, I am also thankful for Matt and Gayle and that they have opened their home to us year after year and let us share holidays together like family. (Watching the kids grow up has been incredible...Garret was only 5 when we moved here!? And now they are old enough to dote upon our own child and will watch him grow. Wild!) I am also thankful for our families in Illinois and their support and love; even though we are apart, I feel it with me all the time. I am thankful for my friends, who are spread across the country...but like my family, they are always close in my heart. I am looking forward to visits from many of them in the new year! We are kicking off 2012 with my dear Sarah!!! :)

Most of all, I am grateful for my husband. Dan has given me a world I couldn't imagine was possible at times. I have a beautiful and healthy son, a warm home with lots of blankets, and a cute cook in the kitchen! What more could I want? ;)

And if you are reading this, I'm thankful for you!

xoxo,

Leah