thanks and giving always

I absolutely love Thanksgiving.

And I love all of the traditions that accompany this glorious holiday.

I love the tradition of family getting together.

The more the merrier over here. I grew up having Thanksgiving every year with only my immediate family. That was cozy and quaint and all I knew, but for me now, extended family, cousins, grandparents and friends- that's what makes it special.

I love the tradition of good food.

Trevor and I wrestled with this bird for 2 days getting it ready for its big debut. I'm telling you brining a turkey is the way to go. Delicious. It deserved a picture. We also had a stuffing showdown as well as a sweet potato contest. The outcome was divided. All recipes will be back next year. You can never have too much food on Thanksgiving.

I love the tradition of the kitchen bustle.

Everyone working together to present the perfect meal. The smells from my house that day were to die for.

I love the tradition of gathering around the table.

Of eating and visiting and sharing what we are most thankful for. I love being together.

I love the relaxed and lazy state after the big meal.

I love that they ate so much turkey they had to sleep it off.

I love the tradition of football on Thanksgiving.

I really do. I love that my family played in 2 turkey bowls in the morning (one with the ward and one with family). I love that the boys played football outside both before and after the meal. I also love that the weather was perfect for it this year.

I love football on Thanksgiving so much that I don't even mind that it is on all day inside, while they are playing it outside. Football is a part of Thanksgiving around here.

I love the ads from the 10 pound newspaper that comes on Thanksgiving morning.

I love looking through them, circling our intended targets and plotting our shopping strategy.
(Although I did not enjoy the sales starting on what my sisters and I have now named "Brown Thursday" Where did my Black Friday go?)

I love playing games that all ages can participate in and enjoy, like an exciting round of turkey races or...

...a rousing game of reverse charades.

I love the competition, the noise and the laughter that fills my home when we all play games together. I wish we did it more often.

I love Thanksgiving.

But mostly I love the people and feelings that go along with this day.

We have much to be thankful for this year.

And this particular Thanksgiving day, filled with family and traditions and food and love did not disappoint.