Picking out the perfect tree...a job these girls take very seriously. This year, our tree was the perfect size, but we didn't realize until we got all the lights and ornaments on that it seemed to be filled with little spiders. Yikes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRgPNofVmXI
Our beautiful girls and magical twinkling lights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub9t1Mp41Dk
I love how excited our girls still get to take out the Little People Nativity they've had since they were babies and play with it.
Ollie returns to his Christmas happy place
The most precious moments
Let the magic begin!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbs2tASTO1A
Sometimes when you come home from school you just need to curl up with your puppy and a cozy Christmas blanket.
the first time we didn't travel to NJ in eleven years (10 years of marriage plus one engaged)
our first gluten free Thanksgiving
AND...
our first Thanksgiving with little girls who were old enough to help independently in the kitchen! Abby cleaned and trimmed the green beans while I went in the shower. It was amazing.
As always, Ella was happy to be my sidekick. Abby took care of the green beans and Ella helped me work on the homemade mushroom cream sauce for the green bean casserole.
Aunt Cyncy came up a day early to have a little more time together and kindly offered to take us out to dinner, so I didn't have to think of one more meal to prepare before the big day. The girls soaked up all the time with Aunt Cyncy and talked her ear off throughout dinner on their side of the table.
Then, after bath time everyone snuggled up for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving before bed.
The next morning, things got real. I love to be in the kitchen and cook all the things, but there is something about prepping and cleaning a real bird that always gets the best of me. Mama was on Facetime and Joe was right behind me laughing hysterically at the entire process. Even with all the food that had to be prepared, the morning was so relaxing. The girls were gathered around the TV with their pumpkin muffins and fruit salad for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, while I popped in and out from the kitchen.
The kids' end of the table was the best, complete with our Thanksgiving mascot, Wishbone, in the center.
Grammy, G-Diddy and Papa arrived mid morning. We had appetizers for lunch, including my new favorite Apple Parsnip Soup Shooters.
Papa showed up with a big surprise for the girls and they loved every minute of riding up and down the street together.
Abby and Ella gave some dance lessons before turkey time!
I'm so thankful I had my dad to help me navigate in the kitchen.
Ella loving every minute of having her Grammy and G-Diddy here
Story time with Aunt Cyncy and G-Diddy
I was so so proud of how everything turned out. It was our first gluten free Thanksgiving and we missed nothing. In fact, in many ways it was even better!
After dinner, the big girls went back to the hotel with Grammy and G-Diddy for a swim in between dinner and dessert! It was perfect because by the time they got back we were all ready for some pie.
Thanksgiving was filled with new meaning for our family this year. With each delicious and safe gluten free dish I prepared, I reclaimed a piece of life and joy and tradition for our family. It was a great way to celebrate and give thanks for the challenges and changes our family has walked through this year! I'm so thankful.
