Thanksgiving Day!

We had a really nice Thanksgiving dinner.We had my mom and Dan's parent's/brother, my brother and his family and my sister in law's parents all here with us. It was a great day. Everything went so smoothly Mom said, "I keep thinking we forgot something." Because it all came together so easy--We've come a long way from that first Thanksgiving at my house!

In fact, it felt so remarkable that I took a picture as we were waiting for everyone to arrive. Here was the kitchen...everything ready to go into the oven, or have a burner turned on....

And the rest of the day in photos. My brother in law, working his appetizer magic in the kitchen....

Dan and his Dad...

Dan's Mom...

These little ones ate their weight in chips. Oh to be four and have a whole bowl of chips right at your level!

My sister in law's Dad, Dale, and my father in law...

Me and my brother in law, in what I think is our first photo together!

These two made a short appearance to get some sustinance and so I managed to get a photo....

And these guys are forever kidding around....

Being seated for dinner....

Isaiah was really cute at dinner. He asked for "Attention everybody!" and proceeded to explain that we were going to play a game. We all were to state our favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. We went around the room and shared our favorite thing. Next we shared our favorite thing about the day. If anyone said anything especially nice like, "Spending time together as a family" Matthew would say, "Awww, give 'em a hand!" And we'd all clap. They were so cute.

That was my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner.

This little one (yes, wearing a different dress than the first photo--she strangely spit up all over the front of the other one) absconded with a gingerbread cookie when the boys sat down to decorate Gingerbread houses. Does she look a little guilty?

Andrew sat and ate more candy than he decorated with....

Isaiah really wanted to have the grown ups vote to discern the winner of the Gingerbread decorating activity. Shockingly, it was a tie. :) (Thankfully, we had an even number of adults).

And Kaitlin learned that it's sweet to hang with Aunt Michelle as she was spooned freshly made whipping cream from the bowl. It doesn't get any better than that!