thanksgiving week {thanksgiving day}

luis, kristalyn, aubrianne,
hadley, dad, max, mom, carol ann,
ryan, russ, me, marisa,
brooke, amy, grandma,
mckenna, savannah, bree, mike 

It was a big Thanksgiving this year! It was our year (and Brandon's year) to spend it with my family, and we were also joined by my big sister Brooke and her family. Not only that, but we also spent the holiday with my mom's sister and mom and all the family that goes along with them. There were 22 of us altogether. Kristalyn and Aubrianne are some of my favorite cousins and our families usually do Thanksgiving together.

The meal was delicious. Amazingly, for the first time ever, I did not go back for seconds. I felt full, but not overstuffed like usual. That made pie time better than ever because it didn't make me want to explode! The company was also fun, but it felt like there wasn't enough time together!

One of my favorite moments of meal prep was this one:

Russ is the designated roll-maker in the family, but this year, we had a lot of little ones around the house that wanted to help out! Russ, being the patient man and perfect future-father that he is, allowed it. Not everyone knows Russ the way I do, so let me clue you in: this guy likes things to be perfect. In fact, Russ and I have agreed we will probably never get a brand new car because we'll both be too worried about messing it up at all. So it was a real testament to how awesome he is that he let those kids help him make imperfect rolls. I can't wait to someday see that man as daddy :)

During the trip, Savannah learned to play Catch Phrase (a personal favorite of mine) and she became pretty obsessed with it haha :) So we played it while we were all together for Thanksgiving. Playing Catch Phrase was one of my favorite things to do with Savannah because I loved seeing how smart she was! My favorite clue she gave was, "It's the green girl in Inside Out [Disgust], but without the T!" for "discuss." Haha totally reminds me of a time way back in the day when I said, "It's when you throw toilet paper at someone's house!" "T.P.?" to get "teepee." hahaha gotta get the word somehow when you don't know how else to describe it! (In my defense, I didn't realize at the time that it was "T.P." as in "toilet paper" . . . I thought it was "teepee" as in "give a house a tent of toilet paper" . . . if that makes any sense at all.

One thing that I felt my Thanksgiving lacked was actual thanks-giving. We used to go around the table and each say something we were thankful for, but we haven't done that for a while it seems. And not that that's the only way for me to remember to give thanks, but I know I just didn't dedicate enough thought to it. Even Tomothy the Thankful Thurkey was not very full this year.

So before I sign off, here are a few things that I'm thankful for:

• Russ, always and forever. 
• That my parents let me stay on their insurance. Health insurance is so complicated!
• That Russ has a steady job and he doesn't hate it anymore haha :) Financially it's a great job, so I'm glad that he's liking it more this year than last year.
• Our beautiful home! Sometimes when I think about the fact that we actually own this place and live here, it feels like a dream, but it's real! And I'm so happy about it. :)
• Hadley, Max, and Zander, my only niece and nephews to live near me. It's no secret that I want a baby, so if I can't have my own, at least I have those kiddos to love on. I especially love Max's sleepy snuggles. So sweet :)
• Amazing family. I love every single one of them!
• Closet space :)
• Showers
• A temple marriage
• Fast food. I would probably die if I had to cook every single night.
• Netflix
• A [mostly] healthy body
• Challenges that help me grow
• Air conditioning and heat
• School
• Talents
• Opportunities
• A warm bed
• Slippers
• Footie pajamas!
• A tall Christmas tree [and space for it!]

And I think I'll stop there today :)

**ashleynicole