Thanksgiving 2016

The weekend stirred a lot of emotions as we hit the one year anniversary of Murdock's passing.  I ended up getting just one photo with my camera all weekend {this is the phone version of it, as it's still on my camera waiting to be uploaded}  

After work Wednesday, we loaded up the car and headed to the lake. We had our annual Friendsgiving at the lake that evening.  We decided to forgo our typically potluck thanksgiving and make sushi instead since everyone would get their fill of turkey the next day.  It was the best decision ever, except we bought way too much of everything!  Seeing fresh seafood go to waste breaks my heart.  But the evening was so fun.  My heart fills every time we get together.  The conversations are effortless, the laughs are endless, and our kids are making memories at the same time.  We are so incredibly blessed to get to live life with these friends!  Who would have thought that Adam's highschool friends would grow to become some of my closest friends.

We take turns going to Thanksgiving, and this was the year with 'Adam's family'.  We spent the morning watching the Macy's Day Parade with the kids at the lakehouse before going to Adam's sisters house for her Thanksgiving day lunch.  We show up with a side, eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal, and spend the rest of the afternoon lounging in the living room as a family.  I typically play games while others watch football.  This year I did more online 'Black Friday' shopping than I'd ever done before. I'm 100% done shopping for my kids, 25% done with my nieces and nephews, and about 5% done with our parents -- they're always the most challenging for me!

Friday started early!  My mother in law picked me up at 4:30a and we spent the next 12 hours shopping! :)  That was pretty much the entire day other than an impromtu family dinner to the pizza resturant in town.

Saturday and Sunday were a perfect way to round out the holiday weekend.  A mix of sleeping in  and staying up late.  Meeting up with friends and staying in with Adam.  Eating a homemade meal as a family and sneaking out for late night Mexican food with friends. Hunting for him and painting fingernails for me.  Packing fall decor up and pulling out the Christmas books. Hanging exterior lights for him and trimming the tree for the kids and I. A sleepover at Grandma and Grandpas for the littles and a night of wine, charcuterie, wrapping presents, Jeep rides and the first indoor fire of the season for Adam and I.  Lots of football for him and the start of Christmas movies for me. I even found time to read.  Long weekends spent at home will forever be my Love Language!