Giving Thanks!

I've been hosting Thanksgiving for several years and we really do enjoy it. This year I planned well in advance and cooked and baked all day the day before in order to have a more relaxing holiday. It worked! Only one last minute run to the grocery store for one item too! Thad and I had my parents, my Aunt Margie, our friend Vern and her mom as our guests.

I left Thad in charge of the turkey while I went to a fun 8am Thanksgiving Day Jazzercise class - there had to be close to 100 women there! They did giveaways and 6 instructors took turns teaching, Christmas music replaced several songs and it was all decked out for the holidays. What a fun start to the holiday season!

Thad and I have many things to be thankful for this year. Turning ourselves around after the past couple years of stress is something that has surely added years to our lives and certainly much happiness about life in general. Learning to appreciate living in the present, enjoying time spent with family and friends (and Izzie!), being thankful for our health and that of our families, and thankful that there is hope in our lives for a brighter better future.

Here's a few photos from our day, taken by my Dad (who of course did not end up actually IN a photo!):

All the ladies!

Me, Thad and our beautiful turkey!

Table is all set!

Most delicious pecan pie ever!

Apple Cranberry Pie - almost too pretty to eat!

 Thad and I have been enjoying the long holiday weekend together. We ventured out yesterday around noon to do a little shopping and had a nice lunch out with my parents. Today we each got our workouts in, made a quick trip to Whole Foods, and spent the afternoon at home. I'm making an Advent countdown activity for my niece and nephew that I have to ship to them on Monday, and he and my Dad worked on hanging Christmas lights on the house. Unfortunately several of the icicle lights are not working so we have fewer on the house this year, but we'll make do. Looking forward to finishing up my project tomorrow and decorating the house for Christmas tomorrow!

I hope everyone has enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday!