Giving Thanks!

 Its become a tradition during the month of November to pull out our laminated Thankful tree and write our blessings on laminate leaves and stick them to the tree. This year, I decided to switch it up. I was at the "Wood Connection" with a friend looking for crafts to make one afternoon and found a wooden thankful tree to make. I thought it was so cute and knew that it would be a lot more durable than our plastic one was, so I purchased it and made one for our family. The kids loved it! Each Monday night during family home evening, the kids enjoy writing down their blessing on paper leaves and sticking them to the tree. It has been so fun to hear what the kids are thankful for. I love this tradition and the kids seem to as well.

This year for Thanksgiving, we were all set to head down to Hurricane to spend the holiday with my family. My sister Kamberee (we were going to stay at her home) called me on Tuesday

to tell me that Karev, my cute nephew, was sick with a high fever and cold! Boo! We would have gone down but we didn't want to catch any bugs before we head out this next week on our Cruise. We have had a Caribbean Cruise planned for months for our Christmas present to the kids. We didn't want anyone getting sick before our departure so we decided to stay home. 

It was nice to stay home and do our own thing. We ate yummy food, watch Christmas Movies, decorated the Christmas Trees. Even though the kids were a little bummed they couldn't see their Grandpa and Grandma DeMille and cousins, I still think they had fun being here at home. We even took them to go see a movie (Big Hero 6) and that seemed to make up for not going down.

I sure love my little family.- my sweet husband and darling kids. They are my biggest blessings and I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who has given me so much in my life. There is always something to be grateful for and I truly have been given so much!

Thanksgiving 2013

Our Thanksgiving this year was pretty low key. We have been staying home for the past few years and spend time as our own little family. Mark and I made the decision to do this a couple of years ago. It is always nice to go Southern Utah for a visit with our families but it started getting too stressful and our vacation/Thanksgiving was never enjoyable running everywhere trying to please everyone. Since staying home and not feeling like we have to drive to Kingdom come, we have enjoyed our Thanksgiving Holiday so much more. The kids also enjoy it. This year, Mark and I cooked a yummy meal of Turkey Breasts, stuffed mushrooms, jello salads, green beans with onions and bacon, candied yam casserole, rolls and pies. It was nice to take it easy and enjoy each others company. We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and then spent the afternoon eating and watching movies and playing games. The kids helped set the table at dinner time and we used our fancy dishes. Kaleb and Karmindy love when we pull out the goblets and our Thanksgiving plates. The day after Thanksgiving, we took the kids to see a movie. I didn't get any pictures all weekend except of Karmindy cooking pudding with me for one of our Banana Cream pies. I am so Thankful for all of my many blessings! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Our Thankful Tree

 A few years ago, after hearing about a friends Thankful Tree Tradition during the month of November, I decided to start the Tradition in our little Family. It was a lot of work up front because I drew my own tree, and leaves and then cut it out and laminated them. However, all the work I put into it in the beginning has really paid off. It has been so fun to be able to pull it out each year and get the kids involved. Kaleb and Karmindy reminded me this year to get our Thankful tree out. I truly enjoy this tradition and it makes me happy that they do too! I am so grateful for my two little munchkins. The bring me so much happiness! I am sure Thankful for them....and of course our Thankful Tree!

Thankful Time at Preschool!

Karmindy has enjoyed going to preschool this month. It has been a fun month of crafts and learning about Thanksgiving time. Karmindy has enjoyed learning about the Pilgrams, Indians, Indian Corn, and the First Thanksgiving. Karmindy makes the cutest little Indian. I love my little Sleeping Bear!