Thanksgiving...

This Thanksgiving was extra special since it was (obviously) Emery's first! We woke up and watched the parade together. We always eat a very small breakfast as a warm up, but we never eat too much, so we will be able to fill our stomachs to maximum capacity with Thanksgiving food :) Here in the Collins Family we are strategic with our Thanksgiving eating! Anyway, I digress...
We then went over to Brad's parents house for Thanksgiving with his side of the family. Aunt Ramona did not disappoint with her corn pudding, and neither did Boo with her sausage dip, nor did Lauren with the ever delicious pumpkin dump cake!! I always try to eat lots of those three things, because its something that we don't have, or have differently at my family's Thanksgiving meal. Again, strategy people, strategy :) And again, I digress food has a way of doing that to me...After eating the girls all sit around and peruse the sales ads (like I actually thought I would be early morning shopping with a 5 month old at home, and like I actually thought I had the money to do any shopping...haha). While we do this, the boys...well actually I'm not sure what the boys do...I think Uncle Terry fixes anything that has broken since the last time he's been to Boo and Alan's and the rest of them probably just unbutton their pants and watch some football?? Who knows...And then we head down to the lake...for Thanksgiving with my family.I can always be sure that Grandbess will have the most grandiose table of all on any holiday, and this year was no exception. How beautiful is that?

As part of our blessing, we all hold hands and say what we are thankful for.

This year I said I was thankful (obviously for Emery) for parents and grandparents who have shown me by example what it means to be a good parent. You can always guarantee that Dad and Mom will tear up, Haley will say I'm not sure, then eventually come out with an I'm thankful for Jake (yes, he is the family pet), Grandbud will complain about being hungry yet know he has no choice but to go along (and I think secretly enjoy this tradition), and Grandbess will roll her eyes :)

Predictable, predictable...And then we will eat, and talk about memories from past thanksgivings, and laugh...and this year we cried a little and were a little sad that this was our first Thanksgiving without Nana. Then the boys go watch football, and the ladies stay huddled around the island and talk, every once in awhile having to go tell the kids to stop wresting, or to not be so loud. More memories are made, to talk about next year...

Yes, Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday, and not just because the food is good either, even though it is good, so so good :)