Three Times Thankful

The Christmas season is in full swing, but I want to be sure to remember what a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend we had this year.  I celebrated with three different feasts, and my days were all about family, family, family.  What a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season!

On Wednesday evening we had our annual dinner at our house with Nana and the rest of the Young gang.  Lawrence tested out his smoker and prepared a delicious smoked turkey (which was good, because the one I prepared in the oven didn't quite go as I'd planned!).  He did a great job and that bird was mighty tasty.

Iron Chef Lumpy

We had a really nice night eating some delicious food, watching the Cats play and just hanging out.  The weather was unseasonably warm so there was even some late night basketball outside.

Nana samples the feast

Time to relax with some sports

Nana and her grands (missing Taylor!) 

Late night hoops

On Thursday we slept in and enjoyed a big breakfast before watching movies all morning.  I started decorating for Christmas and that evening we went over to Dick's for another delicious meal.  As stuffed as we were from eating a big breakfast and leftover turkey for lunch, that didn't stop us from indulging again!  We had another relaxing night hanging out, playing cards and watching football.

Dick teaching Lawrence to play bridge 

These guys can't wait to have Taylor home
later this month!

Badoo and his grands

Master gamers, Tee Tee and Syd

On Friday morning Shannon, Claire, Sarah and I headed to Russell Springs for lunch with the Lacy side of the family.  There were 35 of us, and it was great to see so many cousins (first and second!).  Mom, Aunt Sherry, Aunt Marilyn and Rosanni fixed such a delicious meal - they mastered all of Grandmother's recipes perfectly.  

The Lacy girls can cook!  Mom and Aunt Sherry did a great
job making our feast all come together.

Papa and Sarah 

Brian and Rosanni, here from Florida with their three
sweet girls 

Grandmother and Shannon

Emily, climbing trees with the cousins 

Time to eat!

Four generations - blessed! 

All the Lacy first cousins, except Ash and Khaki - I knew
I should have grabbed them before they had to
leave (college kids always have somewhere to be!)

I was pretty much ill on the ride home from Russell Springs - three feasts in three days had done me in, but I remember feeling so content and relaxed as Shan and I rolled down the highway chatting and listening to tunes with the girls.  With the exception of not getting to spend any time in Jamestown, I felt like I got to spend so much great time with my immediate and extended family.  It sounds so cliche, but really, what a blessing.  I love having all our parents so close, still so strong and active...I love having so many cousins and that my kids know their second cousins (at least quite a few of them).  I love that while the food is good, getting to reconnect with family is truly what makes Thanksgiving special.  Three feasts not only made me physically full, but also filled to the brim with gratitude for another precious year of living my life with the people I love most.  

Now it's time to bring on the jingle bells!