Thanksgiving

Early November I put up our ‘grateful tree’ with a bowl of round papers beside it.  Some nights after Family Prayer we’d write one or two things we were grateful for and add it to the tree.  It got pretty full by the end.

Kitchen décor…

New favorite Thanksgiving quote:  “Not what we say about our blessings but how we use them, is the true measure of our Thanksgiving.”

Grateful posters:

On Thanksgiving day I pulled these papers our for the kids to work on while eating our Thanksgiving Dinner appetizer.  Then I put them up on the FHE wall to enjoy for the last few days of November.  Now they’re tucked away in our Family Home Evening journal.  I love that they show so much personality.

Matthew’s (with a little help) says… “ I am thankful for: Geotrax, chocolate milk, Go Diego Go, Little Einsteins, Luke, Mom, Dad, Ryan, Katie, Emily, Megan, corn dogs, green yogurt, Lightening McQueen and Legos.

Luke’s says… “ I am thankful for: chips, Wii, a pumpkin, food, leaves, my leapster, Spencer, Sammy, Jesus, writing my name, Grandpa, Grandma, more chips, Daddy, Mom, Matthew, our car, Kid History, Buzz Lightyear, woody, the trampoline, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, a banana, church, playmobile, Geotrax and me!”

Megan’s says… “ I am thankful for: my family, food, toys, movies, Thanksgiving, Christmas, playmobil, dolls, blocks, Daddy, Mommy, my brothers and sisters, Grandpas and Grandmas, Jesus Christ, mashed potatoes, turkey, my room, my bed, Germany, Washington, the Holy Ghost, my house, my clothes and shoes, daytime, nighttime, my friends: Brooklyn, Ave, Naomi, Jenna, & Kristen, all the months, school, church, all my teachers, ‘aminals’, seasons, and myself!”

Emily’s says… “ I am thankful for: G and G Johnson, G and G Walton, Dad, Mom, Ryan, Katie, Megan, Luke, Matthew, school, church, TV, Washington, Georgia, Germany, our house, our trampoline, our tree house, learning, my doll (Molly), my stuffed animals, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, food, water, toys, light, Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, earth, sun, moon, love, our Georgia house, nature and animals.”

Katie’s says… “ I am thankful for FAMILY, the gospel, friends, vacations, family traditions, education, LOVE, mashed potatoes, thanksgiving dinner, Thanksgiving, birthdays, feelings, life, breath, bodies, scriptures, hands, feet, showers, peanut butter, baptism, music, London, England, Jesus Christ, heavenly Father, Dad, Mom, books, reading, writing, siblings, Christmas, movies, family visiting, flowers, trees, Germany, Easter, fruit, soldiers, primary teachers and leaders, cars, harry Potter books and movies, bikes, soccer, sports, the piano and other instruments, iPods, babies, cousins and extended family.”

Ryan’s says… “ I am thankful for parents, Friends, Family, Grandparents, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas, good grades, That I am special enough to color corn backwards, this acorn, Mirrors (so I can see how extremely handsome I am) Culligan water (because tap water is yucky) tape, having no homework, My mom and her spirituality and her food and cooking skills, the plat with my name on it, pickles, lasagna, rolls, mashed potatoes,  Italy, Germany, Paris, Matthew, iPads, my cool teachers, BYU cougars, egg nog, presents, music, my friends – Mark, Tate, Bobby  and Carter, halo, books, Harry Potter books, Cars, Toy Story, piano, the star wars theme song, my Heavenly Father, supercalifragalisticexpealadocious, my LIFE, Jurassic Park, Settlers and Dominion, my iPod shuffle, Jesus Christ, and more books.”

Mom says… “ I am thankful for my husband – his help, his attitude, his strength, his church service, his smile and twinkling eyes, his LOVE, his support.    For my kids – their good examples, happy attitudes, love and desire to do what’s right.  For my testimony – of the gospel, of my Savior, of the prophets, of the the Temple.  For my friends who live far and wide.  For the opportunity to live in Germany and experience life in Europe and enjoy great vacations.  For my parents – and their support and great example and LOVE.  For my fabulous brothers and sisters and our closeness despite the distance.”

We ate Thanksgiving dinner around 4 o'clock. 

The menu:

Appetizer 

• Spicy chicken dip and chips (from Elisha)

Salad – (if you could call it that – it’s really a dessert)

• Pretzel Jell-O (from Sarah)

Main Course 

• Turkey
• Mashed potatoes and gravy
• Homemade sausage, apple & cranberry stuffing (allrecipes.com)
• Creamed corn (from a friend in Maryland)
• Sweet potatoes (from Aunt Susan)
• Rolls (Shelley made them)

Dessert

• Pumpkin Bars (from a friend in Maryland)
• Raisin Pie for Chris and Grandpa (recipe from Shelley)
• Pumpkin Pie for Shelley (she made it for herself – no one else wanted any.)

Whew… that was a lot of work – but it was worth it!!

 

Thanksgiving 2011