Much To Be Thankful For

I know I'm a little late getting my Thanksgiving post out there, but I had to write how extremely thankful I am. I have so much to be grateful for especially during these present times. I have such a wonderful family. It is really hard to work were I do especially during the holidays and I am so grateful for how healthy we are. I am thankful for how stable mine and Mike's jobs are. I have terrific parents and in-laws as well.

There, now that the mushy stuff is over I will quickly recap my busy Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving morning started out as every Thanksgiving morning has pretty much since Mike and I have dated. I remain sleeping in my bed while Mike meets his brothers, cousins, and friends for their annual Turkey Bowl. I am always so glad when the game is over because Mike talks about the wondrous event for weeks leading up to it. It is hours on the phone with people making sure they are committed to attending and figuring out how to evenly split up the teams. For the first few years, the big game was played outside rain or shine starting at 7am sharp. The last year or so they have been able to play it at an indoor soccer place. I think they are all getting old and appreciate the warm comfort of having the place indoors.

I have always wanted to go and watch the great game, but have never made it out of bed. One of Mike's cousin's wives took the pics seen below.

Mike's team won. For some reason, I want to say that Mike's team usually wins every year. He swears he doesn't stack the teams.

Afterwards I spent the morning browsing the ads. I am sorry, but I am a sucker for a bargain. Then, in the afternoon we went and had Thanksgiving dinner with the Whiting side of the family (Mike's mom's side). My parents love to go out of town every Thanksgiving. My dad gets stir crazy I think so we had celebrated ours a few Sundays ago.

The next morning I was one of the crazy idiots getting up at 4:30 am to go shopping. I get a rush when I get a good deal. I went with my friend Heidi and her husband and we started off at Walmart. Never again will I go to Walmart. Too crazy! Then we hit a few other stores and made it home around noon. Boy was I tired! What's funny is I actually bought most of my stuff off of Amazon the day before for the same or better deals then what was advertised. Amazon has no shipping and no sales tax!

Friday afternoon, we hung out with one of Mike's old mission companions and his family. They have moved all over the United States, but come back to Utah every year to visit their families. We don't get to hang out very often, but when we do it seems like old times. Thanks for making the trip to our house Jeb and Becca! We had a lot of fun!

Saturday we put up the Christmas decorations. I hate to say it but I was kinda dreading it. Gage and Landen love putting up the decorations and I hate having to rearrange everything once they are done. And not to mention Tanner! He is into everything as it is. Last year after Christmas, I bought a small tree thinking Gage and Landen could decorate that this year and make it their own using odd ornaments I had and the ones they had made. However, all they wanted to do was keep taking my decorations for their tree. Tanner just kept chucking ornaments at the tree like he was playing baseball. I was exhausted by the time we were done and I didn't even put all my decorations out.

I wanted a picture of each of the kids decorating the tree. My camera is slow so I had to make them pose. Gage immediately said, "I will only do it if you promise not to move my ornament when you're done taking the picture." Unfortunately, I couldn't make that promise. He posed for me anyway.

Landen is my child that is full of questions. He kept asking if putting up the tree meant that Santa was coming the next day. I can't wait until my kids get the concept of time.

This is Mike and Tanner looking for the ornament he just threw at the tree. I have given him one ornament that he can play with and I have to say he actually has been better then I thought. Sometimes, he knocks a few down when he goes searching for his bulb.

Here are the kids posing by their tree. Don't you just love their matching pjs? $4 at Walmart the day after Thanksgiving. I even got Tanner's for that price. I couldn't wait until Christmas to let them have them.