Happy Early Thanksgiving!

 

I got all my Thanksgiving shopping done today and now

just need to get off our electronics and get to prepping.

 When I came home Jordan came out to tell me they had a surprise in the living room.

I instantly thought oh how wonderful Josh got down the tree from the attic

and has it all set up, fluffed and ready to decorate.

I was wrong. He did bring something in from the garage our extra tv

so him and Jordan could have man time playing video games.

So now we are all now currently hanging out in the living.

 I am on my laptop, Josh on the big tv playing Madden

and Jordan on a smaller tv playing Minecraft.

 

We are going over to Josh's parents house to celebrate with his family

and cheer on the Seahawks! I am bring rolls, a salad and a turkey

made from cheese, salami and crackers!

Jordan is also going to make his delicious death by chocolate

Bundt cake in celebration of his Grampa's birthday today!

 

The weekend is looking to be nice and relaxing!

Josh is taking Friday off also. We will not be doing

any Black Friday shopping.  Michelle would LOVE to

but just not my think unless online in pjs, cuddle up on the couch.

I am planning to get the house decorated for Christmas, take the kids ice skating,

and finish up my Decembers Daily album so all I have to do it put pics

in through out the month with my new birthday present!

A printer that I can print photos right from my phone or my camera!!

AMAZING!

 

 

 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow with family and friends!



 



 

Thanksgiving with family

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday!

We spent the morning at home and headed over to my parents

in time for the 1 'o clock football game.

We stuffed ourselves with snacks while we hung out and visited.

It was fun to have all the cousins together to play.

It has been a while since we have been together.

All the boys did great! They made pictures to send to their 

Uncle Johnny who is going to school in Canada and won't be home for a while.

We miss him lots! Love you John!

With the nice but cold weather they were able to play outside lots.

Even the big boys went out for a while to throw the football around.

We then stuffed ourselves some more with an amazing spread of yummy food.

Most the men then took their spots on the couch for a food coma nap.

The cousins all continued to play great all together!

It was a pretty eventful day and it is fun to see how my nephew Cohen

is growing. He loves playing with his older cousins and being a big boy!

He had a blast running around when everyone was playing football 

just loving being a part of the action. Brought lots of smiles to my face.

The kids spent the night at my parents house.

They will be there until while Josh and I head out early today to 

go to Leavenworth for my birthday!

We are celebrated a weekend early but it is the only free weekend we have all month!

things I am thankful for

20 things I am thankful for right now in my life

Above all things I am thankful for a God who given me everything!

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.” Isaiah 12:4-5

• my amazing, hard working, loving husband who loves me even when I can be unlovable
• my snuggly, full of personality, strong willed, imaginative, smart son
• my amazing, caring, loving, thoughtful, awesome friend to others, creative daughter
• when my kids get along and spend time together listening to music, having sleepover and writing letters back and forth to each other.
• that my family puts up with me and loves me not matter what
• a house we can call a home
• family who is always there for us
• having all my family with in five minutes of us so we hang out, watch football, cousin can play together, bbq in the summer and have family get together for holidays
• plenty of food in the fridge
• free time on Thursday mornings to slow down, relax and catch up on things
• a warm cup of coffee 
• weekends were we can sleep in, relax, hang out as a family and snuggle
• being able to stay home and do what I love
• that I get to go once a week and help in Jordan's class
• awesome teachers that care about my kiddos and their education
• my bunco group because I am forced to get out of the house once a month and be social
• my camera so I can capture everyday moments and memories 
Sunshine! Sunshine makes everyday better!
• thankful that we have the time, money, and family {to watch the kiddos} so Josh and I can getaway together often.
• Holidays! There's something incredibly exciting about them and that Josh will go along with all of my ideas even if he thinks they are silly or over the top

I could go on and on because I really do have so much to be thankful for!

*I’m participating in Blogember with A Happy Girl this month. 

Today’s prompt? 20 things you’re thankful for.

blast from the past

i LOVE looking through old pictures.

That is why I take them right?

To capture the moment and memory!

So here is a blast from past Thanksgivings!

I just have to add that as I add these pictures

the kids are upstairs having a sleepover in Michelle's room.

I can hear Michelle reading to Jordan!

I am so thankful for my kiddos.

2001

Michelle's 1st Thanksgiving

with Buffy

2002

Michelle and Buffy again

2003

making green bean casserole with my little helper

{don't mind the look on my face}

2004

Enough pictures mom

I am ready to go

2005

A family picture!

2006

family picture

and 

Jordan's 1st Thanksgiving

2007

family

2008

2009

We hosted at our house this year

checking in on the turkey

2010

{see blog post here}

2011

{last years blog post}

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

i will share the kids thankful turkeys tomorrow!

Thanksgiving Day

This year I have so much to be thankful for.  I think the thing on the top of my list is family!  I love my family so much.  I love my own little family.  I love that I get to stay home and be a working stay at home mom.  I love that Josh works so hard to make sure we have everything we need.  I love that Michelle is becoming an amazing big sister and cousin.  I love that Jordan, though crazy at times, has so much personality.
I love my whole family which includes brothers, a sister, cousins, nephews, parents, and grandparents.  I love that we all live within five minutes of other.  I love that not only do my kids have cousins but friends they get to grow up with playing all the time!

Thanksgiving this year was with my family.  The day started off not very good actually. And it was actually me who was making it not perfect for myself.  When the kids and I got in the car to go to Josh's turkey bowl game.  I told the kids lets start fresh now and that was more for myself.  From that moment on the day was perfect.  We went to woods to grab some coffee and hot chocolate because brrrrr....it was cold out.
Jana and Cohen were there waiting for us.
The boys had started at 10.
Cohen was going to nap so I jumped in the shower.  When I got out I had a text saying master Cohen had woken up already and then Josh called saying he needed mouth guard so gave up on hair and headed over.

{the boys playing....Josh, Joel, & Danny were out there playing}

The kids did great entertaining themselves.  Eli and Josiah showed up shortly after too.  They ran the track, timed each other running and just had fun being with their cousins.

{Cohen was as snug as a bug in a rug}

{Josh representing Tebow}

Before we left I of course had to take some pictures of the kids.  We even got in a self timer family one.  I think Michelle is going to have to start standing by Josh.  She makes me look so short.

{mending dad's socks}

{coloring}

{activity packs Christine made for the kids}

The kids were in Heaven watching a goofy movie on VHS upstairs!

The boys were enjoying watching football, keeping tabs on fantasy football and snacking.

Mean while the ladies were hard at work making stockings for the NICU

Mmmmmm....turkey & stuffing

I am SO thankful for my dad who went out with the boys to play basketball in the miserable rain and wind.  They played a real two on two game.  It was Josiah & Jordan vs Grampa and Eli.  They were having a great time as you can tell from the pics!

I got in a ton of Cohen time.
We snuggled, talked, smiled, and even fed him two bottles.

{feeding Cohen is Thanksgiving dinner}

The Thanksgiving Feast

{kids table}

After dinner Cohen could officially rock his reindeer sweater.

{birthday pie}

{if you know the Rinehart's there is always ice cream!}

There was lots of stocking making through out the day and into the evening.  

Michelle even sewed her first stocking.

I was still cuddling Cohen

Josh and Jordan having some down time before we headed home.

Chuck was the one and only to sneak in an after dinner snooze!

I had a really great day and so glad I got to spend it with my family.
I wish John could have been there too!