Thanksgivings Past

When John and I moved away for Med school, we didn't have to experience the holidays without family until our second year. In 2005 we had Thanksgiving dinner with our GREAT friends...

The Hoyts (Who then had no little ones, and plenty of family in Tilamook, but Sonja had to work that night! So glad we got to have them!)

And our GREAT friends the Bowcuts! (Who also had family around, but we some how got lucky enough to have them! Look how Wittle Grace is!)

(And just for memory purposes, this was what our little family looked like.) I am so Grateful that Scott cooked the Turkey and Rose made that cute pie! GREAT memories!

The next year we had dinner with FAMILY, just not blood family. Bryce and Bren will be FOREVER Friends, and Wilma & Dick are amazing Surrogate grandparents to my kids! I don't remember who cooked the TURKEY that year (not us!), but I remember...

Who was more than willing to help with the stuffing! Miss you!

And although I miss all of those wonderful people very much, right now what I miss most is this! COUSINS!

Last year I got to be with more of my family then I had been with in FIVE years(that is the last time we were all together)! Only one brother was missing! There were plenty of cousins to go around! We had a great time even though it could be a little crazy!

My SIL, Haydee facilitated the making of these hats. The kids absolutely loved them, apparently so did John!

We are so grateful for friends and family all year round, but especially at this time of year. We are trying to EMBRACE this year of doing things by ourselves, because come next year it will become a thing of the past(at least for three years!), but when the actual day comes, it is a little hard to not be HOME for the holidays!

Here's wishing ALL of our LOVED ones, wherever you are, and whoever your with, a

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!