Thanksgiving

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We spent it at home with all of my siblings that could make it. It was our first year having Thanksgiving with out parents around to make all of the hard stuff! My brother Brandon and I kept saying "Now we're real grown ups!" I think it might actually be true, because I made my first turkey this year, and that is the true mark of a real grown up! 

This Thanksgiving also will always be known, (at least in my mind) as the start of the plague of 2012. It started with Tessa getting a little fever. She was tired and achy, and mostly just wanted to be held. (As seen above.) It ended the week after Thanksgiving with our entire little family being deathly ill with the flu, and the worst illness we have ever had in our family.

 It was fun to have everyone around. We made food and nibbled on things, and laughed.

 The kids were crazy with excitement over being around their cousins. So we sent them outside to play in the park. Tessa went along too. She really didn't seem very sick...

Tessa rolling down the hill.

Brandon and Josh carving the Turkey

Me and Josh-Don't mind the dishes...there were a LOT of dishes.

 Here we are almost ready to eat!

 And here we all are sitting around the table for dinner! Yum!

And of course there was pie. 

We were lucky to have family stay for a few days to play. The boys went shooting (a family Thanksgiving tradition) We played games. We watched movies and just had a fun time. And we ate lots of pie. :) 

This year I am especially thankful for my family. It was so nice to see them. We missed Ben and Shawn, who both live far away, and we missed Dad and Doreen, who had other plans this year. 

Happy Thanksgiving!