I have really grown to love Thanksgiving. Christmas was always my favorite and still is by a slight margin, but I love all the extra time you get with family and friends Thanksgiving weekend.
Of course there is always preparations to make,
the making of menus and list,
the shopping,
assignments to carry out,
and getting a jump on the cooking.
If all that could be left out(I could really, really embrance Thanksgiving).
In order to bring in some non-foodish traditions to our family on this food filled holiday, this year I instituted a Family Turkey Trot. Adam took a picture of the temp to prove to the world that I am cruel. But he went along with me.
It was a blast.
We only did about 2K, but we'll increase it next year.
The kids did super.
It's a keeper.
Then it was home again to pull all the food our of the oven.
No one(me) ever remembers to actually photograph the final ensemble nor the eating, but it was glorious. So much good, good food.
Then the after party with dominos and gingerbread houses.
Friday was our NYC day. Its been a while since we've taken the whole family down. We spent the day with our friends the Shaws. Rebecca and I left early to fit in a temple session before the boys came with the kids. We spent the next few hours at the Natural History Museum before heading home by way of the Rockerfeller center and Apple Bee's for Alexander's birthday dinner. It was a nice day in the city. It was properly cold, but not horrible. All that hiking we have been doing really helped us out too. No one complained of sore legs or feet.
"Dumb Dumb, bring me some Gum, Gum."
Saturday night was Light up the Town, a favorite tradition.
The kids had fun with the hola hoops, live nativity, Santa parade, and bumping into school friend after school friend.
A little Christmas decorating.
I never know how many decorations to put up.
We were leaving super early this year for AZ, and of course I didn't see the point to drag all our stuff out, but my kids were not up for that.
So out came the count down calendar, a few special items, and our new chalkboard traditional "kids" tree(inspiration found on pinterest somewhere).
And that brings one of my favorite weekends in the year to a close.
