Smith Family Thanksgiving

We went to Bentonville to my parents' house on Friday after we finished visiting in Avoca. The girls made blue berry muffins with mom for breakfast. Courtney was way more interested in licking the batter! This has nothing to do with Thanksgiving, but was too cute... Ryan got some new boots and Courtney put them on just out of the blue! So cute! She thought it was hilarious!

I guess the last time they were visiting mom and dad they did the treadmill with Granddad! So, that has become a big treat. He turns it on really slow and they think they are so big! Pretty funny!

Never too busy for a good book in Dad's lap! Lindsey is very into rhyming words, so she really enjoyed "The Cat and the Hat."

Uncle Taylor came! They were so excited!! They immediately wanted him to read and play with them! Amber came too, but had to run an errand first.

This was the best part of Thanksgiving at mom and dad's house for sure!! Mom and her preschool teacher galore had this planned all along and didn't tell anyone! She had all of us except Lindsey and Courtney sit in the living room. They went to her room and we weren't sure what she was brewing up! Then they came out...dressed as pilgrims!! It was the cutest thing I have ever seen! We were trying to get pictures and Honey squatted down, so Courtney sat down! :) Look at Lindsey though...posing away!

Then Lindsey passed out "costumes" to all of us! Me and my pilgrim girls!!

Squanto and his woman indian

Mom had written out the First Thanksgiving story and we each had a part to read. As it was our turn, we went to the "stage" and read! It was pretty darn cute!! Such a great memory! I know it seemed silly to Taylor and Amber (I'm guessing!) but they were great participants! It is things like that that are fun to look back on. Lindsey loved it. Ryan even left his pilgrim hat on during lunch! :)

Again...grat uncles are such a blessing! Amber isn't "offically" an aunt, but to the girls she is! :) We love her! She was playing babies with Courtney (who doesn't have a shirt on because she spilled her diet coke on it).
Uncle Taylor and Lindsey built a train!

Again...annual family picture! We changed it up this year with our spot. It is hard to get all of us short Smiths in with our tall Ryan!! :) So, I think this year has been the best it worked out. We wished it wasn't just a big window and blind behind us, but it is really a great picture of all of us!

IWe have so much to be thankful for! We had a great time with all of our families. It is fun to teach our girls and watch them get excited about things. Lindsey loved helping to set the table this year. She really enjoys being in the kitchen with me, or whoever is busy in the kitchen. Courtney is so much fun. Her expressions will make you roll on the floor laughing! How blessed we are! Thank you Lord for all that you do for us!

Our tree is up, our stockings are hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be here (Lindsey already asks several times a day how many days), Ryan is putting up the outside lights as I type (in the spitting snow and rain---but that is HIS deal. I don't have to have the lights outside, but he likes them!). We are ready! Tonight we will start our family advent reading and wreath. I did that growing up and love that we now do it with our girls! They don't "get" it, but Lindsey loves readin the story AND blowing out the candle when we are finished reading. Next weekend is our neighborhood Christmas Tour of Homes. A few girls in the neighborhood got this together last year and it was lots of fun to see how other people decorate and what they do. We will tour eachothers' (those who participate) on Sat. afternoon, and then it is open to the public on Sunday. It is fun, but sort of stressful getting the house totally spotless...with 2 girls around!

This is my most favorite time of the year though! So, I try to enjoy it while I can!