Thanksgiving weekend with family....

It started on Thursday Morning, making 10 pounds of mashed potato's, butter and sugaring 40 rounds of Lefse and trekking about 20 minutes to My mom & dad's home for thanksgiving dinner. 

 I was thankful for his help.

I believe there were 28 family and one friend that came together on Thanksgiving day

A little photo journal of the day and beyond.....

My older brother Rick and daughter Brianna

Nephew Josh ands son Eli, Nephew Grant (center) my Son in law, Chris

These three always have a game to play

Mom, sister Jodi, her son Sam (Right)  and his friend Tristen

My grand Nephew Jovi, he's loving the pumpkin dessert

My 2 Nieces Jensen & Alex, Jensens Dad Darin in the middle

Grand Nephew Eli (left) and grandson Carson found a quiet spot to play with Pokeman cards

The little brother Randy and a little bit of  his wife Michelle

I wish I had gotten of photo of all the family, so many are not shown here.

My son Brice's family was in Rochester but did Thanksgiving with Jennifer's family this year, 

we were excited to have them stay 2 extra days with us !

I don't ever want to forget this....

Early morning cartoons and snuggles in our bed! 

This has been something that I look forward to every time my 4 grandchildren spend the night. 

.....and making pancakes with grandma

This is the first time Lewin has made it to the counter-top to assist.

All 4 grandkids have spent time mixing pancake batter here.

taste-testing is a must  :)

The "stars aligned" and it worked out this year to have my other two grandkids help decorating the Christmas tree. The timing was perfect with Thanksgiving being so close to Christmas this year.

I just sat and soaked it all in...

Uncle Gavin helped Scarlett get high enough to put the star on top

Daddy (Brice) helping hang the vintage bulb that was mine as a child.

I  LOVE  LOVE  LOVE that the ornaments are mostly hanging on the lower 1/2 of the tree.

Its right where a 3 and 5 year old can reach. It will stay this way for a little while so I can be reminded of the sweet time spent decorating the tree with little ones.

Obvious thankfulness

The rest of my Thankful(s)....

Thanksgiving morning I posted about the not-so-obvious things I'm thankful for, so after a weekend of family and celebration I thought I'd share some of the photo's of more blessings. 

If you missed my 1st post the link for that is below.

https://jackie000.blogspot.com/2018/11/give-thanks-for-not-so-obvious.html

I'm so thankful for my family. 

I do the Turkey and mashed potatoes the day before, especially with a large group.

Thats what crock pots are for, right?

The main table

We had 15 family members this year.

It isn't Thanksgiving without some pie eating.

Our Carson is loving himself some pumpkin pie.

My Birthday fell on the day after Thanksgiving this year 

so we all went our for a birthday dinner Friday night.

Our son Brice and his family came and stayed with us until Saturday afternoon.

the cousins were able to have some quality playtime over the weekend.

My 2 sweet grand girls

All 4 of them  <3 p="">

 Saturday morning, this guy LOVES his ahh-pa (grandpa)

 Lew was "helping" me make scrambled eggs.

It's always so quite when the kids leave, too quiet!

 We sit and relax and reminisce about out grandkids and kids!

We are thankful for our 3 grown children out son-in-love and Daughter-in-love, 

and those beautiful amazing grandkids...... That's just obvious thankfulness.

Give Thanks for the "not-so-obvious"

I have so many things to be thankful for...

The obvious... and the Not-so-obvious!

Sometimes we have to dig deep for the Not-so-obvious, and then it's like an "Ah-ha moment".

Some times the Not-so-obvious are harder to be thankful for, but I am, it just doesn't really occur to me until I really think about it... sometimes it's being aware of the alternative.

This morning I find myself thinking about the Not-so-obvious things I am thankful for ...

~ Never had a car accident

~ Never had a serious health concern

~ Free to go about my day without having to look over my shoulder

~ Free time... to spend however I want

~Our Carson (with Type 1 Diabetes) is happy, strong, healthy.

 Despite this horrible disease, I will be thankful for all that Carson is,

 despite the struggles his body will always face. He is not defined by diabetes....he's amazing!

~ A Job that I love (almost) everything about.

~ Getting to help aging parents, which lately has been often

~ Thankful that we still have all 4 parents, all in their 80's

~ All 3 children (4 grandkids) live in Minnesota (2 in Rochester)

~ Contentment... I'm thankful for what I have

~ A new perspective on aging (learning a lot while helping with our parents)

Have you thought about the Not-so-obvious things you are thankful for?

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, 

His steadfast love endures forever

psalm 107:1

Thanksgiving Birthday....

Thankful to be waking up to another birthday.

My dear husband drove to Brueggers to get me a yummy bagel for breakfast.

I decided a few years back not to complain about my age when I read the inside of a birthday card that said "not all get the privilege of turning another year older"

It is a privilege isn't it! 

Although my oldest brother Rick reminded me that I am now officially in my LATE 50's.... 

Thanks Rick 

Love my husband home-made card and the Elmo gift wrap

But I especially love the gift he gave me for my birthday....

Loon Lake filling station

such a coincidence. 

Our cabin is on Long Lake (but has a lot of loons) and....

On our property where the garage now sits used to be a 

little store with a gas pump, so I love the similarities of this little gem!

on the side sits an old boat, I love that.

Oh, and did you notice the snow..... the best!!!

Ok, so enough about my birthday that happened to fall on Thanksgiving this year

My sweet mom, hosted as she always does.

30 people showed up and she doesn't skip a beat.

Buttering the lefsa

My sister, adds the sugar and rolls....uff da

Tables full of all the people we love

Good food, everyone brings something

It was a beautiful November afternoon,
warm enough to get out doors and enjoy it

My youngest Gavin, kicking the football. 

(Inspired after watching a Vikings, WIN)

Carson and 2nd cousin Eli, playing in the sandbox

Granddaughter Audrey (on fence) and my grand nieces Abby & Runey

My Dad always looks for opportunities to play with the kids.

I love that My grandkids know their great-grandparent well!

My sweet daughter and grands Brought a birthday cookie just for me.

I'm thankful for many things, my family is at the top of the list!

Such a blessing to share this day with so many that I love.

My twin cities kids and grands were at the other family this year, 

but I still got a video chat from them, with 3 year old Scarlett singing a rendition of "Happy Birthday" 

A belated Thanksgiving post...

Rick and I hosted Thanksgiving this year. 

We had some of the Hemmer-side for the meal along with my Mom & Dad. 

Later the rest of the Hemmer's joined us for pie!

4 generations gathered, 

The older adult table

Buffet style for 16 people

Our son Brice helping his G-ma with the fixings

Our newest grandbaby just 4 weeks old, met his great-grandparents for the first time.

Rick's mom seems content with this little one In her arms

My Mom & dad getting to know little Lewin.

 The cousins played

 Our oldest Brianna, hanging out with her Auntie Susan (Rick's sister)

Audrey and great-grandma Mary

 I found Grandpa playing games with Carson in the "grandkids room"

My mom has made all her great-grandchildren cross-stitch blankets. 

Something for them to always cherish!

Our DIL Jenny, seems to love it!

Our Son Brice and family stayed with us an extra day after Thanksgiving, 

we loved having that special time with them to love on the little ones 

and snuggle with sweet Lewin. 

 Scarlett and I have a little tradition of making pancakes together in the morning,
 I measure...she pours it in the bowl

 and stirs!

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving,
there is always something to be thankful for...
wouldn't you agree 

Lots to be Thankful for....

Hope you all find Joy in your families this Thanksgiving 

and in God's beautiful creation.

I love Minnesota and the beauty in all the seasons.

We have been blessed with 3 amazing children, 

an awesome son-in-love and daughter-in-love and three beautiful grandchildren!

What are you Thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends.