They Came!

We prepared beds and food and activities and....
They came!
Bearing gifts.

A UW sweatshirt for Ezra...

Bracelets for Caroline...
Ah, I don't call them "Mom and Dad" for nothing--they know how to make me smile! Guess who these gifts were for? Well, they are for Tadd too...but he never got the memo : ) Who came bearing these gifts? Grandpa and Grandma Tractor and the Uncles--Brettskis and Heffay. They arrived the day before Thanksgiving and the festivities began.

Thanksgiving day we relaxed and cooked. Grandma and Mommy stayed home to work on the meal while Grandpa, Daddy, the Uncles and the kids drove down on the beach to throw rocks into the reservoir. They didn't stay away long, because it was quite cold. Then the kids went down for naps and the adults enjoyed "the feast" in peace and quiet. I did feel a little guilty about this because after our 3 week Thanksgiving study, Ezra was quite looking forward to "the feast". We left the food out for the kids to enjoy when they woke up. And I needn't have worried. Ezra said with great feeling "Thank you for making this good food mommy, I really like this feast!" And he ate several helpings of the corn he had specifically requested.
A little sustenance to tide us over between breakfast and the feast.


The turkey carver in his dressed-up holiday look.

I still love my china and use any opportunity to bring it out.



Little Miss took the second half of her nap on Grandpa's shoulder.
And then we sat moaning and groaning while the turkey sang and danced the afternoon away in our big fat bellies.
That evening we took this cranberry-pecan pie (the reviews were favorable)...
and this pathetic turkey pinata
over to Uncle Alan and Aunt Heather's house for dessert and games.
The kids were a little disappointed to find that the pinata contained not one piece of candy...but they were happy with the stickers and toys.
And my favorite newborn nephew was alert the whole evening long. I even got to hold him for the better part of an hour. I feel like I know him now.

After all that eating the kids felt the need for a bowl of cheerios.
Whilst the adults nursed indigestion over a game of hearts.
And the Uncles graciously played "Guess Who" with the kids.



Thank you Lord first and foremost for the gift of salvation given freely. Once accepted it leaves us free to enjoy these many blessings You have bestowed upon us. Blessings too many to count. Blessings in the form of the family--born and unborn and friends who surrounded us this Thanksgiving day.