Thanksgiving 2014

I really enjoyed this Thanksgiving.  It felt much simpler than ones past.  We had all our cooking done on Wednesday night when Will and Hannah arrived.  We stayed up talking to them and the next morning took advantage of having extra grown-ups in the house and ran away for a nice round of disc golf.  And even though I'm not much of a disc golfer, I loved having a break and being out in the fresh air crunching around in the leaf-covered forest with my bff.

Thursday:

pre-dinner wrestles with their cousin Will  (who is a total rockstar by the way.  I can't say enough good things about this boy.... or his amazing wife)

Enjoying the gentle comedy of friends and family

the thankful tree

hmm...I wonder who wrote this one????

I was in charge of the craft and we made candy turkeys -ya know just in case we got hungry.  (maryanne's anatomically challenged turkey)

the kids' color-your-own place mats

will there be enough?  according the caleb we need at least a pie per person.  I think we're close.

2014 Thanksgiving attendees - Johnston Family: Derrick, Becca, Audrey, Bennett, baby Caleb; Will and Hannah Mckay; Annie Pulsipher  (also amazing and fun - will braid your hair as soon as look at you); Wood Family: Josh, Alicia, Emmett, Melynn, Tucker;  Cremeans Family: Drew, Amanda, Josh, Becky (Amanda's mom); Wilsons and us.  (sorry for the hurried, blurry phone pic)

Friday - lounging, eating leftovers, more wrestles, playing DDR and the 3rd annual follow-the-wilsons-into-the-forest-to-cut-down-a-tree tradition.  (although I didn't take any pictures of that??  weird.)

ddr from katiehale on Vimeo.

I'm so thankful for this lovely long weekend.  I'm thankful for a niece and nephew and niece-in-law who will travel far distances to be here.  It totally MAKES Thanksgiving for my kids and us to have these wonderful relatives come and spend time with us.  I'm thankful for a sister-in-law who is busy and pregnant and still is willing to host a beautiful Thanksgiving...with little added touches that make it meaningful and charming.  I'm thankful for a husband who doesn't even hesitate to just roll up his sleeves and start cooking up a storm without being asked.  Because of all these people - a holiday that can sometimes be a stressful, tiring one  - wasn't.  Not one bit.