Thanksgiving 2025 + Catching Up
We had a really full home — 13 folks beneath one roof — and couple that with the truth that the top of November/December can be the busiest time of yr for my work and Ryan’s work and the previous two weeks have felt like full mayhem. However, actually, most of it was so, so good. I LOVE any likelihood I get to weblog and creating my annual reward guides and sharing concepts with all of you is one thing I look ahead to all yr lengthy however I actually do miss catching up with you in a extra chatty means!
Full Home
So let’s again up! My sister and her household have been the largest troopers and hauled their household of 6 (together with 5 month outdated child James) our means for the primary time in a yr for Thanksgiving. (We’ve seen them a bunch in Florida although!) We’re pretty stationary over Thanksgiving attributable to Ryan’s work and have been shocked and thrilled after they mentioned they needed to hitch us, as we all know how intense the primary few months with a child could be. My dad and mom additionally joined us (they’re really nonetheless right here!) and it was a full home however a FUN home.
You understand these household visits that one way or the other really feel semi-chill amid full chaos? That’s how I’d summarize the 5 days all of us had collectively. We’ve had our justifiable share of holidays the place folks have been sick, children have been off their recreation and issues simply felt type of frazzled so this was such a welcomed feeling this yr. Our time collectively was loud, messy and continuous but additionally type of relaxed? I believe we have been all simply very a lot okay with having a home that didn’t look good, meals that have been somewhat extra paired down than ordinary and nil ambitions to do something too concerned.
This regarded like a TON of at-home child crafting (I can not advocate this decoration bead equipment + these $5 light-up ceramic gingerbread homes and snow globes from Goal sufficient!!), household soccer periods, Christmas e book studying, bracelet-making, capturing outdated pumpkins with a paint gun, coloring, cooking and baking with children, Plasma Automobile races, fishing and continuous pajama time.
And our Thanksgiving meal shockingly got here collectively simply!
On Tuesday evening, my sister, Ryan, Ross and I started discussing our Thanksgiving menu (my dad and mom arrived on Wednesday) and all agreed we might scrap the non-essentials this yr. Everybody pitched in and whereas we undoubtedly missed a number of of our favorites, it actually felt so good to simply deal with the fundamentals and really feel extra current with the youngsters relatively than spending all day within the kitchen. There will probably be loads of years forward to make 101 dishes for Thanksgiving however a extra easy menu labored effectively on this part of life.
I believe we’d additionally all agree that one of many highlights from our Thanksgiving got here once we have been gathered across the desk and Chase steered we take turns sharing what we felt most grateful for this yr. Let’s simply say some tears have been shed and a standard theme was everybody feeling so darn grateful for household we like and genuinely love spending time with, our well being, our security and the on a regular basis blessings we don’t take without any consideration for one single second. A lot of the enjoyment I really feel in my coronary heart comes from totally recognizing all I’ve to be pleased about each single day.
Day Journey
On Monday, we stored the enjoyable going and I pulled Rhett out of preschool to take a day journey with my dad and mom to go to my Aunt Laurie and Uncle Drew in West Jefferson, North Carolina.
Their small mountain city is overflowing with Christmas tree farms and it actually felt like we have been in some type of a Hallmark film as in every single place we regarded we noticed tons crammed with evergreens and vehicles loaded up with Christmas bushes driving off to ship the bushes to close by cities, cities and states. Subsequent yr we could need to strive our hand at reducing down our personal tree at Frosty’s Select & Minimize Farm for the final word Hallmark Christmas expertise.
As for this week, we’re thrilled my dad and mom are staying with us via Saturday!
We booked tickets for our complete household to trip on the Polar Categorical collectively on Friday evening and we can not wait.
And now earlier than I log off for the day, I’d be remiss if I didn’t take the time to say how grateful I’m for all of YOU this time of yr as effectively. Once I was reflecting on my blessings and every thing I’ve to really feel grateful for on Thanksgiving, I promise you guys that every one of you have been on the high of my checklist. You’ve given me an outlet to share and join and have proven me and our household a lot help, encouragement and love for greater than a decade. I’m a fortunate girl to have the ability to name this weblog my job and I really feel that deep in my bones.
Thanks, thanks for being right here and to your kindness. It’s extra impactful to me than it’s possible you’ll understand and I want I might hug each single considered one of you… and perhaps simply high-five the non-huggers as a result of Chase has taught me {that a} strong high-five is enough typically, too. Ha!
Have an excellent Wednesday, my mates!!
