Thanksgiving 2012

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family in Arkansas!  We headed to Arkansas on Tuesday so we could spend some time with Kara and her boys and our best friend, Melissa, and her boys.  We have been best friends since Kindergarten and when we get together it is as if things haven't changed (well, except we now have 8 children between us and a few more wrinkles!!!).  I love that our kids get to play together.  It was neat watching them run back and forth through the woods between Nana and Papa's house and Cici and Pop's house...just like we used to. 

After running around for a while we rounded up the kiddos and took Nana and Papa Doc's Christmas card picture...I think we got a good one! 

We also celebrated Aunt Kara's thirty-something birthday :)

On Wednesday we headed to Little Rock to spend some time with Mamaw Ann, Papaw Don and Papaw Curtis.  The kids were thrilled to see all of them and it was an added bonus that Little Bit was there!  We enjoyed US Pizza and lots of good visiting.  We always love a day with the Williams! Now we are looking forward to our visit at Christmas.

On Thanksgiving Day the weather was perfect.  The kids enjoyed playing outside all day and only came in when it was time to eat!  The food was delicious and the desserts were to die for.  This is definitely my favorite day of the year for eating :)

We took our annual family picture and all laughed because "Blue" (the neighbor's dog) wouldn't stay out of the picture!  We had a wonderful day but missed those that were not able to celebrate with us.  Thanksgiving is such a wonderful day of just enjoying each other's company and remembering what you are thankful for...I truly love this day.

Sweet Papa handed out $2 to each of the grandkids...

...Molly was thrilled!

On Friday we went to visit Mamaw Shelia.  We had been looking forward to this trip and the kids were excited to take her some special things they had made.  As soon as Richard walked in the room Shelia immediately pointed to his ankle...she noticed right away that his "boot" was not on.  The last time she had seen Richard in the hospital right after her stroke he had been wearing his leg boot.  She is so observant with details...nothing slips by her!  While we were there it was so sweet to see how she would reach over and stroke Richard's face...makes me teary even as I write...so sweet.  The kids had fun entertaining her and Shelia had fun playing games with Molly.  We caught her up on everything that had been going on with us and left her with a book of recent pictures of the kids.  It was a special day and we were blessed by her sweet smile! 

As I wrap up this Thanksgiving post I am reminded of how blessed we are to have such wonderful families.  I am thankful for the memories that were made this week and feel overwhelmingly grateful for the blessings in my life...