Happy Thanksgiving!

Hosting a Thanksgiving feast for our extended families has become a tradition for Dan and I since the first year we moved into our home almost 4 years ago.  We provide the layout, the main dish (TURKEY!), and everyone else brings a side or two and voila - the table is set!  Many hands make light work.  Today's feast was another exceptional collaboration, and was an animated scene with babies and children and baby bumps everywhere - not to mention enthusiastic grandparents.  Beginning last year, I began to incorporate a craft for the kids to do to put all that energy to good use and because these kids like to craft!  At last year's Thanksgiving, our niece and nephews made apple turkeys, which featured a jujube tail.  I made the mistake of doing this activity before dinner.  Many jujubes were consumed, and one nephew (who shall remain unnamed:)) finished his craft, went outside to play, then came in and told us he had thrown up on the rocks in the backyard. This year it was construction paper hand/footprint turkeys - less mess.  Looking forward to many more delicious gatherings in years to come!
Enjoy the show:

T'was the night before Thanksgiving dinner, 

And all through the house,

A creature named Ariel was stirring in her PJs,

Scampering around like a mouse (who didn't want to go to bed!)

the scene is set

up from her nap, greeting Mr. Frog, and ready to party

Grandpa & Grandma McFarlane, Grandma  & Granddad Purdham with Ariel

Brad & Stacy (notice the cute baby cousin in her tummy - just 2 weeks behind me!)

Dan & I (almost 32 weeks pregnant)

sister bumps

cousins at play

classic Ariel pose, note the spy in the background

Oreo joining the fun (about to get a little whisker pull)

Isla sits and plays like a pro

Julian posing for the camera

Stacy and Kianna

Sumo up close and personal with Aiden

big kids having some backyard fun

getting some good reactions from her big cousins

loves playing with the big kids

Ariel the bun thief.  She took Kianna's bun right off her plate and ate the whole thing.  The kids were in cahoots with laughter.

going back for more - so eager to be a part of the crowd

one good-looking family

SmIsla upside down, giggling at her mommy

Out with a bang!  Isla enjoyed being mommy body-slammed onto the couch - you've gotta see it to believe it.

Looking back briefly at last year:

4 month old Ariel tipping the scales - what a difference a year makes!

last year's craft with much younger looking cousins

Apple Turkeys!

Dan with baby Ariel

 I can't help but look forward to next year, and the new babies who will be joining us!