Happy Thanksgiving!

Will and I are all cozied up on the couch enjoying the quiet now that the kids are in bed and the left-overs are put away. He and I were just talking about Thanksgivings past and how this one stacked up for us. We both agreed, this years feast was one of the best we'd ever had. Usually, we have company or go to some one's house. We split food prep with company and sit down surrounded by friends and family. This year we didn't make arrangements in time to have friends over and our nearest relatives were driving to Montana for the holidays. So, for the first time ever, we had Thanksgiving all to ourselves. After weeks of working long-late hours Will decided to take Wednesday and Thursday off for Thanksgiving. It was such a treat to have all of his undivided attention. On Wednesday morning we all went out grocery shopping as a family. I loved the sail's pace we took on each errand. Normally, I go shopping with the kids and just try to make it out of the store alive. Both Will and I kept laughing at the funny things the kids were talking about. At one point Lorien and Wyatt were carrying on a conversation in earnest regarding the origin of certain words. Lorien responded to one of Wyatt's questions: "Ummmmm, that is Latin--from Latta." When we got home Will took the kids with him to wrestling practice so I could do some prep work for the next days feast. When they got home it was time for dinner and like most Americans, we ordered Chinese food. Will went out to pick up the ordered food and convincing Wyatt to come along said: "Come on Bud. We are the men and we have to go out and hunt the food...that's what the men do." At home we watched WALL-E while eating on a big blanket spread over the living room floor.

Lorien and Wyatt outside the movie theater after watching "Bolt" Clare, Daddy and Momma after the movie.
Thanksgiving morning brought a new Anderson family tradition: donuts for breakfast. The kids had been excited for this tradition and broke into the donuts before Will and I got out of bed. We spent the morning working on puzzles and doing a little meal prep. At 11:00 a friend of Will's from wrestling called. He works at the downtown movie theater and asked if our family wanted to come and see a movie, on the house! We couldn't say "no" and in fact were excited to take the kids to "Bolt" a move they had been clamoring to see for weeks. After the movie we started meal prep in earnest. Wyatt mashed the potatoes, Clare loaded vegetables onto their trays and Lorien worked on a mountain of Thanksgiving decorations. At about 5:30 we sat down to our modest table and tucked into the food we'd all been salivating over. It was such a relaxing meal and quiet day. Both Will and I are thankful for our spunky children and the time to slow down and really enjoy some quality family time. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Lorien's decorations Wyatt and Daddy in the kitchen Momma, Clare, Lorien and Wyatt at the table