Our First Family Thanksgiving

While last year was our first Thanksgiving as a family of three we did not spend it at home, nor did I cook the meal. This year we decided to have our family Thanksgiving on Wednesday because a certain Mr. would be working all day on Thursday. So I began prepping on Tuesday night and we had a wonderful day on Wednesday. 

 

The star of the show

Raw poultry is not my most favorite thing about Thanksgiving. 

The spread.

Dessert and a few fall decorations. Even though we didn't have people over I still cleaned the house and made sure it looked nice for our special dinner.

Gobble gobble. 

Side dishes. We had stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and a loaf of french bread. Yum.

Hubs got his favorite seasonal beer at the store that morning and was SO excited to open it!

Turkey carver extraordinaire. 

 Sweet baby girl and I right before we ate.

She LOVED the turkey and stuffing. 

This picture makes me laugh. Please note the sticky sweet potato hair and drenched smocked bubble. She was a mess afterwards. 

After she finished dinner I stripped her down and she ran around with her new owl hat. 

We had a great day together and I can't wait to do this for many years to come. We have been so blessed and have so much to be thankful for. It overwhelms me to think about. 

 

While the hubs had to work today Emma Claire and I got to spend time with some wonderful friends. We had a great evening, amazing food, and lots of laughs. I wold say Thanksgiving 2012 was a success.

Gobble Gobble

This afternoon I tackled my very first turkey. Actually the prep started last night when I washed it, took out the innards, and put together a little brine for it to soak  in overnight.

This afternoon I cleaned the brine off, prepared the aromatics, and covered it with garlic butter and orange zest. I even got the buttery mix between the skin. This was a big deal for me. I usually don't even like to TOUCH raw meat. Let alone mess with it for half an hour...Here's hoping all of my hard work pays off!

Gobble Gobble, y'all!

Our Little Turkey

I dressed Emma Claire in an ADORABLE turkey longall for bible study today (is that even the right term even for a girl ensemble? Oh well..that's what it is!) And she looked precious, of course. However, she was NOT having any of the picture taking. She was quite the little blur, literally running around as I tried to snap a picture of her.

She FINALLY stood still. I may or may not have bribed her with a fake pear...

She wore her orange squeaker mary-janes and LOVED them. The last time she wore these she wasn't really walking so she didn't' quite get the concept of them. Today she was a HOOT! She literally RAN around our house squeaking. Probably why I couldn't get a good picture of her! Ha!

After bible study I always let Emma Claire walk around the halls and "chat" with all of the animals from Noah's Ark. The elephants are her favorite. She LOVES them.

She also loves playing in the leaves behind church before getting in the car.  

After we left church we met Daddy at Chili's for lunch.

OUR CHRISTMAS CARDS CAME TODAY! I was quite excited. Emma Claire was more into the crinkly paper the card company kindly put in our box. Read: Those buggars were all over my living room in about five minutes. Also, she was rockin' some pretty awesome post-nap hair this afternoon.

I ended the night on a pretty pleasant note. I lit candle, poured a glass of wine, turned on a hallmark Christmas movie, and started baking.

The hubs only has ONE day off this week. And I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear it is NOT Thanksgiving day.  He has tomorrow off so I made an executive decision as family CEO to move our Thanksgiving to Wednesday. So I spent this evening baking, prepping, and celebrating the many things we have to be thankful for. This is my first real Thanksgiving meal to cook all on my own. I'm pretty excited. It was somewhat liberating to think about. I get to cook whatever he and I want. So together we made a little list of our Thanksgiving favorites and that's what we're having. Perfect!

On Thanksgiving day he doesn't have to be at work until the afternoon (as per usual) so we will get to have breakfast, watch the parade, and have some leftovers before he leaves. I am so thankful that we have made some wonderful new friends and Emma Claire and I have been invited into their home for Thanksgiving dinner. While we will have already had our "family Thanksgiving" it will be nice to spend time with good friends on the official day.

I just love this time of year. Don't you? There is so much to be thankful in our house, it always overwhelms me to think about. I also have a heavy heart during this season thinking of all the people who are lonely, sad, and broken. I definitely lift them up in my prayers each day.

"God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart." Izakk Walton

A Penguin, a Moose, and a Bear

Today Emma Claire and I had a little outdoorsey play date with two of Emma Claire's favorite guys. It was a pretty chilly morning so everyone was bundled up! And despite their faces in this first picture the three of them really did have fun together!

Are they not THE CUTEST?!

My little penguin looking so big lately. 

This picture cracks me up. She loves them, I promise. 

They were all about sharing their leaves with Emma Claire. 

We had a fun morning and I am so glad we have made such sweet new friends. I actually have a photo shoot scheduled with this sweet family in a few weeks and I am SO excited!

A FREEBIE For You!

Who doesn't LOVE free things?! I know I do! I have a fun offer to share with you today courtesy of Treat. If you've never heard of treat you need to check them out!

What is treat? You might be asking yourself that question right now. Well here is what they have to say about themselves...

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I have used Treat to send cards for pretty much every occasion since Emma Claire was born. They ship super fast, are so personal since you can add your own pictures, AND they are excellent quality. You can't beat that!

 Now for the fun part...the FREEBIE! Create and send a totally personalized greeting card from Treat for FREE. Whether saying thanks for Thanksgiving, wishing a best friend a holiday birthday, or simply sharing the holiday cheer with a just because card, Treat lets you create a one-of-a-kind card that is sure to impress.

Just head on over to treat and enter the code:  TREATBLOGR to receive your free card! It doesn't get much easier than that, y'all!

This offer is good for one free Treat card good only on Monday 11/19 & Tuesday 11/20.

This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

A Special Sunday

Today was a pretty special Sunday for our little family. We were able to participate in the baby dedication ceremony at church this morning. The hubs and I vowed before our church family to raise Emma Claire in a Godly home, teach her about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and pray with her each day. I am just so overwhelmed with happiness that we have found a wonderful church to call home with wonderful people to worship with. 

Now you know I took a ton of pictures of Emma Claire in her darling outfit! I was so sad that during the ceremony I left my camera in my diaper bag, which we left in the nursery. So sadly I don't have any pictures of the dedication but I have lots from before we left for church, and at lunch after!

Us with our little angel. She was such a joy this morning. It's almost like she knew it was her day again. Just like on her birthday! Smart girl!

I am OBSESSED with her outfit today. It's from Hartstrings and pretty much the sweetest little dress ever. The little ruffles at the bottom of her dress move whenever she walks. Darling.

She thought she looked pretty cute too. 

It was a beautiful day for a baby dedication. 

When we left church we headed to Cracker Barrel. This was Emma Clarie's first visit and she LOVED their rocking chairs!

This might just be one of my favorite pictures of these two. She wanted nothing to do with us holding her now a days!

She ADORES her Daddy.

Why yes. My daughter can RUN now. 

I love this picture of her so much. I kind of look like a vampire thanks to the window lighting, but I don't care. It's a special picture from such a special day. 

I am bummed there isn't a picture of the three of us from today! I just realized that as I was writing this post. Despite that, we really had a wonderful day. With the hubs crazy work schedule lately I am grateful he was able to be there with us this morning and go to lunch after.

 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-children-25-inspirational-scripture-quotes/#ixzz2CdiAJMmO

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-children-25-inspirational-scripture-quotes/#ixzz2Cdhrp4lg

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-children-25-inspirational-scripture-quotes/#ixzz2Cdhrp4lg

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-children-25-inspirational-scripture-quotes/#ixzz2Cdhrp4lg