how sweet it is: Nothing short of thankful

I love Thanksgiving! I really love the food (mmm, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie...) but mostly I love an excuse to be together and to think about being thankful. Sometimes I forget to be thankful, so I'm thankful for this reminder. Also this year, I am thankful for:

my perfect (for me) husband. I couldn't ask for a more thoughtful, kind, patient, gentle, funny, hard-working, smart, generous, tall husband and I appreciate him every day for being in my life.
my sweet kiddos. I know I've blogged plenty about all of their wonderfulness, but sometimes I just look at Ethan and Lilah and tear up because I am their mother! They make me so happy and help me try a lot harder to be who I want to be.
our cozy apartment and cars that work. I think having been on my own, moving around, living in my parent's basement (thank you!), wrecking my car, etc. has made me especially thankful for our own little place that feels like home. And the old truck and smashed-up Civic that get us where we need to be.
extended family. We were able to see all of James' family last Christmas and some of them this year and I love getting to know them and be part of such a big, amazing family. I love that my family is close enough that we get to visit for weekends and holidays and any other time we feel the urge. Can't wait to see Mar and Dave at Christmas! (miss you, Nate!)
James' job and school. I don't know if he's very thankful for it right now (he's so busy!), but I am completely thankful that he works so hard and is in such a good program and that we know he's working for a great degree and good job in the future. And I am so thankful to be able to stay home with my sweet kids. I know this is a blessing and the sacrifices are definitely worth it.

Okay, there are plenty more, but those are the basics. Mostly, I'm just feeling happy and blessed and I love my family!!!

We had a happy Thanksgiving at my mom's house this year. She always makes the yummiest food and it's nice to just go relax and be spoiled. We spent the night so James and Scotty and Ethie could go to the Turkey Bowl in the morning. James has been teaching Ethie how to play football and he was so excited! He got right out there and played with the big boys! (he's in the brown shirt and James is in the black)

Mom, Lilah, and I had fun watching because the weather was beautiful! Crazy warm GA in Novemember.

Mom invited some of her friends and the missionaries over for Thanksgiving dinner. James did the mashed potatoes because he is really good at it and I made an apple pie. Mom made everything else and it was yumm-o.

The best part of the day was just being together afterwards and enjoying Scotty's entertainment. He is so funny and apparently really likes whipped cream.

Lilah had a happy day. I put her on the table in the bouncer while we cooked and cleaned up and she loved watching Harold the bird! She stared at him and talked to him and it was very cute. She is such a happy little thing!

The only time she wasn't happy was when we went outside after dinner to take some pictures. Mom's backyard is so pretty with all the leaves and I thought it'd be a good place to get some pics of our family. But Lilah didn't! I don't know why she was so sad, but we managed to get some fun pictures anyway. Ethie had a great time!