Thanksgiving 2014 | Grateful

I often find myself making lists - lists of things I want to be when I "grow up." Poor Tison has seen and heard  the millions of ideas I have and the plans I have yet to start, but there is something about this time of year that makes you stop wishing for something you don't have and appreciate the things you do. When I look around at all the love that surrounds us- really, what more could I ask for?

I am grateful for:
- an encouraging and loving husband
- a kind spirited and healthy baby girl
- a mother who doubles as a best friend
- a dad who loves and cares for me everyday. 
- two beautiful sisters that just "get me"
- a loving set of in-laws who are wonderful grandparents
- my friends near and far that are supportive beacons of light
- a lovely home that we have started our family in
- and two precious (and stinky) mutts that have made it through the transition of the baby and still love us

I am loved. I am grateful. I am happy.

We had an early Thanksgiving with the Hudson-Merricks and also celebrated Lauren's birthday.  She's expecting a baby in April. Doesn't she look fantastic?

 Fr. Mike shared in the birthday/thanksgiving celebration too.

Friendsgiving is a tradition that began a few years ago. The night before Thanksgiving we would go out with friends to various bars. Well, with children things change. This year we thought we would kick it up a notch and have a whole meal at the house. It was potluck style and it really came together as a nice little dining experience with friends. We sat down at the dining room table and everything! It is always good to see everyone gathered together during the holidays especially those in from out of town.

On Thanksgiving day, we shared the day with the Tisons. Aunt Maria and Uncle Richard came up from Miami and Aunt Janice traveled from Marksville. It was a special day.

 

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! Sending love to you. xoxo

{past Thanksgiving posts}

thanksgiving 2013: my plate runneth over...

We celebrated an early Thanksgiving with the Tison family because the cousins, Megan, Cody, and Madison, were in from Baton Rouge the weekend before. Mr. Tim made a southern style crawfish etouffee that was the perfect amount of spicy for my palate. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, also known as Friendsgiving, we made dirty rice (our contribution to the Thanksgiving meal) and had a few friends over for a backyard fire chat.

Thanksgiving morning we had coffee with the Tisons and then went over to Mom and Dad's house for the big feast. I had asked Mom to leave some things for me to help her with, but I'll let you guess what the counter tops looked like when we arrived.

{this is literally the most amazing turkey in the entire world.}

{my plate runneth over}

{yes, there I am 28 weeks preggo- we're gettin' big here people.}

{Hudson got a "special treat" from Dee Dee- a turkey sucker - and barely left the village room because of the train. He couldn't take his eyes off of it!}

*return with us now to Thanksgiving's of yesteryear*

a little gratitude...

Thanksgiving vacation - those 5 glorious days and 4 wondrous nights of pure glutinous goodness - was a week ago, if you can believe it. Now I have pulled out the neon lit tree and ornaments, stockings and garland. It is Christmas time! As lights start coming up in the the yards in my neighborhood, I am trying to hang on to every second of this special time. I am pretty sure no time throughout the 365 days of the year  goes by faster than the next 3 weeks. The calendar fills up with parties and get-togethers, the Shreveport streets are at its most congested with lanes of people in search of the perfect gift...and, hopefully, there is a nip in the air. I have no problem keeping my car radio on the local station that plays nothing but Christmas carols 24-7 or keeping Christmas Vacation in my dvd player.

Before I get too far ahead of myself and end up in the North Pole, let's reminisce on Thanksgiving.

{fried turkey, biatches}

{Tison's potato salad was amazing and included bacon,yes, bacon.}

{This was us prepping for the Thanksgiving meal the night before.}

{Hey Miss Bailey!}

{After gorging ourselves with an amazing display of food at the Tison's house, we went to my parents to catch up with them for some post meal card making. My mother is better than Hallmark, people. She is literally a professional. Any kind of card making tool you are looking for- this woman's got it!}

{Mom bundled up some Thanksgiving leftovers of turkey, stuffing and homemade rolls so I could make my all time favorite Thanksgiving dish- the leftover turkey sandwich!}

{We ended the night with some wine and dominos. I wasn't lying about these glorious nights.}

{Friday was spent recovering from a food coma and watching the LSU game, but Saturday was Friendsgiving!!! Beginning at Superior, then Vintage, and ending at Wine Country.}

I want to say thank you to all of the people that come and visit my little blog about my life with my family and friends. This little corner, my tiny sliver of the enormous piece of the internet pie, is one of my favorite hobbies and it makes me so happy that you visit every once in awhile. :) Happy Holidays!

{see previous thanksgivings here}

giving thanks to birthdays and traditions...

I don't know about you, but I feel like I am still recovering from the smorgasbord that was Thanksgiving. With a 2:30 Hudson meal and a 5:30 Tison meal, T and I jokingly went on an all almond diet this week. I am grateful to our mothers that made such amazing meals, as well as the side items Laur and Les made. Tison and I literally just had to show up and grab a fork.

This year Thanksgiving fell on Lauren's 25th birthday. A. It feels like I was just 25 and B. It feels like we were just carving the turkey last year. I have heard that as you get older time goes faster and I believe it to be true.

(Look at Leslie's full face- ha!)

Do you ever feel like time is rolling by so quickly and you don't know how to pump the breaks? As Christmas time approaches I am going to make it my concerned effort to stop and appreciate the little things, take deep breaths, look away from the computer to rest my eyes, practice my favorite sun salutations, say "no" to going out and "yes" to cozying up with my puppies, make a gift list and go
shopping BEFORE December 24th, go to church every Sunday, and listen to my White Christmas Pandora station non-stop! Do you stress during the holidays? If so, how do you "let your heart be light" as the Christmas song says?

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you have the most wonderful,

blessed Thanksgiving.

We have so much to be thankful for!

{photos by Roxanne Harrington}

give thanks...

I am sure every family has their own way of celebrating and sharing the holidays together. Growing up I couldn't imagine spending the holidays doing anything other than helping Mom in the kitchen and having everyone around the dining room table{that is only used for special occasions}; however, times changed, people grow up and traditions are altered to accomodate our lifestyles. This year my brother in law and my sister are going to be with his side of the family for Thanksgiving {which means she will be in town for Christmas-woohoooo!} I will be joining my boyfriend's family in Arkansas where they have rented a little cabin by the lake. Luckily Lauren and David were in town this last weekend and we were able to have an early "Thanksgiving" dinner at Mom and Dad's. 

{I got to see Lauren's growing belly :) and in true Mother form

the house was decorated like the fall section at Michaels.}

{I tried a new recipe: Roasted Acorn Squash and Garlic Mash - It was a hit!}

{Mom found these cute butterfly baby shoes*the baby boy version with trains is coming in the mail}

{there was dancing...}

{and lots of eating! I looove the holidays!}

Leslie wasn't able to make it for early thanksgiving because she was working and is coming in town for the actual holiday! We missed you, Les.