Count Your Blessings

Last year 3 out of our 4 kids had field trips to the pumpkin patch. This year Cristine was the only one to go. We had a fun time running through the corn maze, seeing the crazy pumpkin art and drinking apple cider. Somehow we never found the time to take the older kids. Much of October and November were spent making apple cider. My stomach hurts a bit from all that I have consumed.

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving. After feasting the kids enjoyed playing on my computer and on the Wii. Forest was right in there enjoying himself.

We also put together a puzzle. This on was put together in record time. We finished it just after midnight. We really enjoy the time spent gathered around the table, hunting for the missing pieces. Everyone helped out, even for just a few minutes.

I wanted to show my fall mantle. The plaque hanging above the fire place says: Count Your Blessings. We made the leaf garland a couple weeks ago. During Family Home Evening we were each given a leaf where we wrote what we were thankful for. Those leaves were then tied on to the garland. Rick's mom, Hana, even wrote on one.

I want to send out a huge thank you to everyone who helped out with our meal. The turkey, cooked by Rick was perfect, so good that we decided to cook another one the next day. Marianne, Dean and Erin were huge helps in the kitchen. Hana was even coerced into making chow mein and tempura shrimp. Someday, really, I will figure out the 3 day process of making chow mein. Actually it may become a lost tradition. But I'm still thinking about those shrimp, yum! I may be able to make the tempura, but someone else is going to have to fry them, that popping oil scares me. What a fun holiday, my heart is full of gratitude.