Thanksgiving with My Side of the Family

For Thanksgiving, I drove Millie Janalee and Smith 5 1/2 hours south to my hometown.  Unfortunately Russ had to work every day of Thanksgiving and the weekend after.  I debated back and forth on whether I felt guilty leaving him for the first time on Thanksgiving...and so far away.  In the end, we decided to go.  It was a win win.  Except that we would miss each other on Thanksgiving.  He would get to actually sleep and have uninterrupted rest.  I hoped for something similar since my mom usually helps so much with the kids.  Ha!  Russ actually ended up celebrating and having two Thanksgiving meals with different groups of friends and coworkers.

Thanksgiving morning, we woke up and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as we always do.  Millie Janalee and Pawpaw sat on the floor to watch it while eating breakfast, and I sat in the recliner snuggling Smith.  After the parade was over, we all got showered and dressed for the day.  Just in time for a little casual lunch.  Millie Janalee enjoyed her Thanksgiving lunch of grilled cheese!  Surprise surprise.  Ha!

I spent the afternoon helping my mom decorate her Christmas tree while Millie Janalee and Pawpaw spent the afternoon outside playing with Brodie (my brother's chocolate lab).  It was a freezing cold day, but she didn't seem to mind.  Smith rested and did his fair share of sleeping in the swing while we decorated.  He's thoughtful like that.

Kristin offered to host Thanksgiving dinner for us at her house.  Usually our extended families join us as well.  However, this year it was just our immediate family and my grandmother.  It was a nice low-key Thanksgiving with LOTS of yummy food.  My mom did most of the cooking, and Kristin made a side or two.  Let's see...we had ham, twice baked mashed potatoes, corn, green bean bundles, dressing, rolls and the like.  So good!  Kristin had set the tables so nicely...

The adult table

The kids and their parents table.  Ha!

We arrived early to visit a bit, and we enjoyed catching up, laughing, and watching the big babies play.  Millie Janalee and Hughes are just now getting to the age where they will actually play together.  Or rather, Hughes is able to at least sit up long enough for Millie Janalee to crawl all over him. Ha!  While we sat around waiting on the food and visiting, we also had some football on in the background.  Because, what's Thanksigiving without football?!

Hughes, Maw Maw, Millie Janalee, Smith, and Sheila

She loves Hughes!

Bless his heart.  Just trying to do push ups while Millie Janalee pushes him.

A little supervision helps

Sweet cousins!

We didn't bring in all the extra tables and chairs since the extended family couldn't make it this year.  Just with our little family, we still run out of seating.  Lee used Maw Maw's wheelchair.  It's probably quite comfortable actually!

We don't see She She and Buck very often these days.  My brother just bought a house in Starkville and they have been busy getting things taken care of.  We spent a lot of time that night discussing all the Black Friday deals on refrigerators and dishwashers.  Ha!  This makes me laugh because of how "adult" it made Dustin look.  Sheila was our Black Friday shopper, and she was able to find a dishwasher and fridge for a good deal!  We spent all night on the phone with her getting the specifics and Dustin bought them over the phone.  Bless her!

She She, Smith, and Buck

After eating our delicious meal and loading up on desserts, we gathered back in the living room to "play" and enjoy our time together.  Sheila had to leave to meet her Black Friday shopping group in Tupelo, but the rest of us hung around.  I remember when we did Black Friday shopping every year when we spent Thanksgiving in Jackson.  I'm not sure I could handle it right now.  Plus, Russ and I cut way back this year in the event of surprise adoption fees...so I'm pretty much finished with my shopping anyway.  I spent my Black Friday early hours snuggling my babies!

My greatest blessings!

Buck, Smith, Susu

Kristin, Nana, and Hughes

Millie Janalee loves wearing her sock gloves!  She pretends to be Miss Patty Cake.

Cousin love

By the end of the night we were all tired and ready to climb in bed.  Some more than others...

I am more thankful this year than ever as I look down and see my lap so full!  My heart is full too.  Thanksgiving did not pass without me giving thanks for the four people who gave life to my sweet babies and loved them enough to make a sweet plan for each of them.  What a blessing!  We missed Russ terribly, but I am glad he was able to rest and celebrate with friends.

God is good.