P.S.

P.S. AND then we had some friends over when it was time for dessert! I made Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie. It was a great Thanksgiving. The only way it would have been better was if we were able to be with family, but counting our blessings, it was great.

Thankful Thanksgiving Thursday

Where to start....
Honestly the first few thoughts that formed in my head were;
~waking up this day, warm and comfortable after a good nights rest
~being able to go yesterday WITH my 3 younger children (plus the little punkin I babysit for part of the time) to buy our Thanksgiving Feast. While they wheeled up and down the aisles in their Heelies and grabbed things for me, we found all we 'needed' and just a couple of extras, like Sparkling Cider and cute little Pepperidge Farm GingerPeople!
~And ever so much for my beautiful, wonderful, healthy FOUR children! I am SO blessed by them and LOVE them SO MUCH!!
~And I wouldn't have them with out their Daddy! What a guy. I was telling the girl I worked with yesterday, we are coming up on 17 years this January and its just starting to get really good! Not to say it was bad but it wasn't all pretty, some of it was dang hard. I am thankful for our commitment to our God and our marriage, otherwise we might have been just one of the more common broken marriages, rather than what we are and will continue to be, 'still married'. One of the things that stuck with John in the beginning from marriage counseling or Weekend to Remember, was the goal of giving 100% in the relationship and having an expectation of 0%. Not doing things with the motivation of what you want to get out of it, just to bless the other person and honor the Lord. Ideally, if both are working this way, things go much more smoothly. It took me much longer to soak in this concept than John. Thankfully, he has had much patience and forgiveness for me over the years!
We have much, much, MUCH to be thankful for. One of the things John prays almost every time he prays, is that 'we can't thank Him enough' and its true. We can't. Even if we tried, there are so many things we don't even realize He has done! 
Thank You my great God. Thank You.

The girls set the table.

(L.E. made us some place cards)

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love is everlasting!

This is the Bird. I have only made one other turkey and was thus lacking full confidence, however, I am overjoyed to announce (Because I would have hated to ruin a 13# hunk of dinner meat!) it turned out moist and pretty darn tasty! YAY!

I cooked a turkey!

The Man is always ready, willing, and more than able to help in the kitchen. (secret: He is a better cook than I am. Not a secret from my children, they usually ask, did you make this or did Dad? They have to steel themselves for my cooking. :P)

Pics of the some of the people I love and thank my sweet, generous God for.

Phoebe gets the funny Thanksgiving quote. I was talking over with John the menu and he said yes to stuffing and yes, he loves StoveTop (whew!) so I made Stuffing and we had the kids take a taste test, Phoebe tried it and said, 'Mm, this filling is good!'

P.S.The Man cleaned up Thanksgiving dinner for me!!! That's what I'm saying!! :)

Dear Family, We missed you this day so much as we do often. We hope we will be able to sit at the table and feast with you one day again soon. We are so thankful for each and every one of you and pray your health, happiness, joy and peace. You are so beyond precious to us. We look forward to hugging you tightly and kissing your dear cheeks again soon! Love, Love, Love!!

XOXOXOXO

Mom and Dad, Nick, Amy, Madi, Mason

and all of the Mason, Johnson clan!!

Mom and Dad Mc, Jake, Mike, Amber, Isaac, Anna

And all of the McNamara, Barber clan!!

Getting a picture of Nate

Worth it?

Yes. 

However, I think I may have called him a ... something at one point. And had to threaten to have Dad hold him. But there it is.

He went to the store with John and Jacob Saturday, and found his new hat.

Put back a new Wii game to get the hat.

Interesting.

Speaking of Nate, John and I went to his junior high dance Friday night as chaperons. (This is the spelling Spell Check gave me, but it looks weird to me!? OK, I looked it up and that is right, and here is the definition just for fun: any adult present in order to maintain order or propriety at an activity of young people, as at a school dance.

Yes, we were there "to maintain order or propriety" and believe me, it was... interesting. I leaned over and yelled in John's ear at one point, "The girls are not coming to one of these. Ever."

You can hold me to that in about ...4 years, when Ellie is in junior high. Or at least, as I begin to recognize the possible naivety of laying down a law 4 years early, at the very least we will most definitely not have to be asked to chaperon, we will be there.

ANYWAY...

I watched my baby, my firstborn son, dance with a girl, slow dance. Can't really explain how I felt. Surprised, relieved, sad, happy, upset stomach, not really an upset stomach but a definite tightening in my gut. 

So, yah, watching your children grow up, while wonderful, is also hard.

Caramel Apples

Somehow, in our craziness, we didn't get to the pumpkin-carving this year. We were battling illness that week, but anyway... I asked Ellie how it would be if we made caramel apples to make up for not doing the pumpkin thing. She was very excited about that!!

Had to have a silly-face pic! :)

How beautiful is this pic.

Date night for Macky and I! :)