Thanksgiving 2011

There are many things that are challenging these days in the world of education, but one thing I can't complain about is the holiday schedule.  Five days off to spend with my family and do fun things with my kiddos...

First up, a little pre-Thanksgiving crafting to make sure the "decorations" are fun and festive.  The boys each made a pumpkin turkey to take the Thanksgiving feast(s).  Here are the beginning stages of our craft.

Kayden hung in there and finished his turkey first.  He was so proud of his turkey complete with a beard (which he kept referring to as his "gobbler").

Kimmie had the barn looking great for our Thanksgiving day lunch.  

Sam really enjoyed the mod podge pumpkins and painted gourds.

Cameron picked his outfit out himself.  A checkered plaid blazer jacket, jeans, cowboy boots, and his handcrocheted owl hat.  I'm pretty sure he is our "urban artsy" one in the family.

All the boys made a trip to the corn field to gather corn to feed the birds in the pheasant barn.

Here is our crew feeding the pheasants.  They are a bit skiddish and don't like us getting too close.  When they get nervous, they take flight...all of them.  Sam was surprising cool with all of it.

This year we started a new family tradition of writing what we are most thankful for on the table cloth with pens and markers.  Each year, we will add new items we are thankful for to the same table cloth until it is full of years worth of thanks and gratitude for the blessings in all our lives.  What a great way to remember past years together and preserve these memories.  The kids had a paper table cloth on their table they could color on and draw pictures.  Kayden and Pawpaw made some finishing touches on this cloth while Amanda and I finished planning our annual all-nighter Black Friday shopping trip.

Then, it's off to Birmingham for a Thanksgiving feast with the other side of the family...