Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving didn't go exactly as planned this year. We were planning on combining with another family when, the day before Thanksgiving, I got a call informing me that their baby had the flu. We did the best we could to be flexible and not let that change our plans too much. Both families prepared their halves of the Thanksgiving meal and then we divided that in half and delivered our halves to each other. It made for some really good memories. Thanksgiving is supposed to be interesting, right?

My kids are such hams for the camera.  I don't really mind because I think they're both so darn cute!  Before dinner we goofed around and watched some football (background.)

Robert and I aren't huge fans of turkey so we let our friends take that part of the menu.  We stumbled on a great rib recipe a couple of years ago and that's become our turkey.  This is our second year using ribs instead of turkey and I think we'll keep that tradition alive long after we leave Texas.  I also love the fact that Robert is the one that takes on the protein dish on Thanksgiving day.  I'm one of those people that must have certain sides every year or it's just not Thanksgiving to me.  Unfortunately, there are many, MANY sides I must have.  Robert's ribs turned out great, as usual, and I am so glad he was there to help me out that day.

Ummm, ribs.....

So this was our half of the Thanksgiving meal.  The ribs, as previously mentioned, homemade jellied cranberry sauce (I love it!), yummy yeasty clover rolls smothered in butter and sprinkled with fleur de sel (out of this world!), cornbread stuffing and horseradish mashed potatoes with caramelized balsamic onions.  That was a mouthful!  It was so hard to choose a favorite.  Our friends later delivered the turkey, corn, and green beans.  I forgot to get a picture of that.  Whoops.

The kids and Robert before we dug in.

Robert after polishing off many ribs.  He was a happy man!

Nate and me eating our yummy dinners.  Isn't he cute?

Nate is a professional poultry bone cleaner and was happy to rise to the Thanksgiving occasion.  He took the turkey leg and made quick work of it.  He was a happy boy!  Father and son definitely take after each other.

"Yummm, turkey leg, I'm gonna eat you!"

I love the holiday season because it just gets me back to being grateful.  Unfortunately, I fall into forgetting my blessings very quickly and easily. I feel like I am continually blessed.  What a beautiful Father in Heaven we have!  I forget Him but he still gives me so many wonderful things that I didn't even know I needed.  I am so thankful for my family, good parents and siblings, children who are healthy and imaginative and breath life into me everyday, a spouse who works hard for us and is still so involved,  a warm and comfortable home, a job for my husband, delicious food in our bellies every day, and especially the knowledge of my Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness for me.  How can I not be overwhelmed with gratitude?