Giving Thanks

I was lucky enough to spend time in both Minnesota and Wisconsin around Thanksgiving. I was able to see lots of my best friends, family and family friends.

The first day home in Wisconsin was spent with my lovely mama getting ready for Thanksgiving. My grandparents came over for coffee in the morning and we relaxed and spent quality time together. We baked pumpkin pie! It was the perfect first day home.

Laurel and I celebrated Thanksgiving with my father's family this year. We had a very full house. My aunt, uncle and cousin (and their pup Gus!) came to Wisconsin from Pennsylvania. My father is dating a wonderful woman who has five darling little ones. We had a fabulous meals with lots of great food and company.

 Daddy with pizza dough!

Laurel and Jessie and the pizza party Thanksgiving Eve!

We harvested sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving morning!

We also had a SURPRISE party the day after Thanksgiving for my father for his 50th birthday. We schemed for weeks before the party to get family and friends to come to the farm. He is a really wonderful, kindhearted, generous, funny man who deserves a house full of people celebrating him. My aunt and uncle made homemade sweet Italian sausage and brought it all the way to Wisconsin. My aunt was the genius behind all of the food, the kids did a great job decorating, and everyone did an amazing job of hiding the big secret. We told him we were having friends over, so he would expect the cars in the driveway and all the food. He was so surprised when the house was filled with family and friends! It was a really wonderful evening with lots of our favorite people!

 

 Birthday decorations (yes we did have all of this in the house already!)

 

 Laurel and my friends sitting in the dining room to trick Dad!

The kids dropped balloons from upstairs on Dad!

The next day was spent with my mom, grandparents, aunt and uncle, cousins! Mom, Laurel and I went to breakfast, went craft shopping for Christmas presents, and had a late brunch at my grandparents house. My family doesn't joke around about food. Just two days after Thanksgiving, we had ham, breakfast casserole, biscuits and gravy, salads, and fruit. We listened to Christmas music, ate until we could barely move, played games and Legos, and watched the little girls put on shows. They make me laugh! I love these little ladies so very much. I am already looking forward to our pajama party on Christmas Eve.

I am thankful to have been surrounded by so much love. I can't wait to be done with this semester and be home for the holidays.