Thank You Thanksgiving

The start of the holiday season and really one of my very favorite holidays was another great one for the books in 2017.

I was off the whole week this year and I really just love having that time off to unwind and recharge.  I was able to conquer my fear of making pumpkin pie this year.  Many years ago I made one that didn't quite set up and I have been reluctant to try again until this year.  It turned out beautifully and tasted great too!  Yea!

We went to Southern Indiana for Thanksgiving - nothing new about that.  The kids' first day off was Wednesday so we loaded in the van bright and early and set off.  Our first stop was at the Olsanski's house in New Albany, Indiana, only about 10 minutes away from Keith's parents.  We met the Olsanskis in California and they moved to New Albany a couple of years before we moved to Ohio.  We hadn't seen them in several years so it was great to catch up and the kids quickly became friends and had fun playing.  After that we headed to Georgetown to stay for a couple of nights with Keith's parents.  Jeff, Erica, Macy, and Elliott were all there too.  They go to Erica's parent's house every other year for Thanksgiving so we're always glad when it is their turn to be in Georgetown!  We did all of the normal stuff at Grandma and Grandpa's - crafting, watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Christmas specials, perusing the Black Friday ads, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and of course watching Planes, Trains, and Automobiles after the kids are asleep.  Another tradition that has been rekindled the past couple of years is running in the Fast Freddie's Festive Five Mile Foot Feast race on Thanksgiving morning.  It is a small local Turkey Trot with some pretty competitive runners that participate.  Last year I ran it in right about 40 minutes which was a personal best so my goal was to beat that time this year.  Keith and I ran it together and finished in 37:50 so I definitely met my goal!

We found Aunt Jenny at Fast Freddie's!

Thanksgiving dinner was delicious (like usual).  We even did a little caroling in the neighborhood afterward which was a first.  I started to feel a little run down later in the day on Thanksgiving so I skipped going out to Target and Kohl's with Grandma and Erica.  I got to watch football with the guys instead!

Grandma reading The Night Before Thanksgiving

Making table favors for Thanksgiving dinner

Caroline, Macy, and Julia...triplets?

Colin helps Elliott make some toast for his bus ride!

On Friday after an awesome leftover lunch we headed over to Meme and Pop Pop's.  The big excitement at their house was Meme's new Ladybug.  They got a Chuck Wagon which she calls the Ladybug because it's black and red.  We were all excited to ride around in it and it didn't disappoint.  The adults took turns driving it all around their property and the neighbor's.  Very fun!  Friday evening we took our second annual drive out to the boonies to see a house that goes all out with Christmas lights and decorations.  The kids wear their jammies and we set out after dark with Christmas carols and cookies.  The decorations were even better than last year!

Meme and the girls in the Ladybug

Jammies on and ready to go see some lights!

Coen Tush house -beautiful!

On Saturday we did some hiking and more riding around in the Lady Bug and then Uncle Bub and Aunt Jenny came over with a feast of Cuban food for our second Thanksgiving feast.  We had fun visiting with them and eating some delicious paella and empanadas.

A very Cuban Thanksgiving

On Sunday morning we headed home after breakfast.  We have a children's Thanksgiving book called "Thank You Thanksgiving" which sums up how I feel about the holiday pretty well.  I'm grateful that it exists because it's always a wonderful time to spend some low-key time with family and friends and eat some delicious food to boot!