Thanksgiving 2015

This Thanksgiving was so much fun!  Robert and I recounted our previous Thanksgivings from our married years: a meal with another newlywed couple (2012), Alabama with R's dad's side of the family (2013), and church friends (2014).  This was our first Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family.  We were so thrilled to see the usual crew of my parents, Memaw and Pepaw, and Jim and Taylor, but it was also great to have my aunt, uncle, and cousin in town.  Sarah's first Thanksgiving was a success!

Robert, Sarah, and I headed to town Tuesday after work to have a meal with friends.  This was Michael, Keegan, and Monica's first time to meet Sarah.  It's weird to see friends that you haven't seen since before you became a parent.  The circle of life, man.  It's weird.  Time marches on.  The plan was for Sarah and me to spend the night with my parents and for Robert to go back home so he could work on Wednesday.  Robert got back home only to realize that he had forgotten his house key.  Wah wah wah.  I met him halfway and gave him his key.  Since I was already out late I decided to stop by Leigha and Elise's duplex to hang out more with Keegan and Michael and to see Grant for the first time.  It was such a great time!  I can't say that I've stayed out til midnight since Sarah was born, and I probably won't be doing it again until the same crew is in town for Christmas, but it was so great!

Sarah, Mom, Dad and I hung out Wednesday morning, and we girls ran some errands to Walgreen's, Wal-Mart, and a flea market.  Fun!  Robert got to the house in the late afternoon, and we enjoyed a trip to the park to see our friends.  Emily had gotten in late the night before and was able to join us.  I'm so so so thankful for faithful friendships that have lasted decades.  I fully recognize how rare that is and don't take it for granted.  There's just something to be said for having such a rich history...and being able to tease each other for something funny that happened in 4th grade.

Meeting a Barbie for the first time

The rest of the family crew got in Wednesday evening, and it was another late night of chit chatting.  I'm not sure I've talked or laughed this much in months!  Daily conversation with Sarah is somewhat (completely) one-sided.

First cousin once removed, Michael

Thanksgiving was a day of family time.  Sarah and I joined the boys for frisbee golf at the park.  After that, Sarah and I went over to Memaw and Pepaw's house to hang out and eat lunch.  The big Thanksgiving feast was held at my parents' house.  The food was delicious, and the house and decor looked great!  We played a few rounds of the traditional family game: Catch Phrase.  Still note tired of it!  Watched some football and had another late night.  That seems to be a theme here.  It's worth it when you're getting to spend time with people you rarely see!  Sarah is such a great sleeper that we knew we'd be able to sleep in.  She's been clocking 12 consecutive hours lately.

Reading about Noah with Grandma

Today was full of more friend time.  We saw the regular crew as well as Jen and her husband, Garner.  We wrapped up friend time by singing about 50 Christmas songs around the piano.  This is weird, I know.  It's also totally awesome.  Robert's dear friend, Josh, and his wife, Christina, stopped by to meet Sarah on their way home to Oklahoma from Illinois.  Another friendship for which to be thankful!  The whole fam (minus Michael) ate pizza and played spoons at Memaw and Pepaw's house.  We wrapped up the visit and enjoyed a quiet, rainy drive back home while Sarah slept the whole time.  I'm thankful for so many things - a healthy baby, the opportunity to watch my daughter grow, a husband to share my days with, living close to family, food and home, laughter, faithful friends - but most importantly I am thankful for God's never-ending, unchangeable love and that He loves me enough to send His only Son to die for my sins so I can live eternally and have a personal relationship with the Father.