Give-Thanks-ing

Ok, I am super behind but determined not to lose the last few months...so bear with me for a bit of catch up!

A few months before the holidays, knowing that we couldn't afford to go home for Thanksgiving with Christmas so close, we called Landon's family and half-jokingly invited them to Seattle for the holiday. Little did we know that they would accept!!

We had a ton of fun celebrating with them. It was nice to have a bit of home here for Thanksgiving.

The kids loved having them here, of course - Walt knows just how to get spoiled, and the uncles Burgener are always favorite playmates.

We had a bit of everything on the menu: turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, stuffed mushrooms, baked barley, cranberry sauce, rolls, apple pie, wild blackberry pie, and pumpkin cheesecake. Yum.

We were also lucky to have two of Landon's good friends from school over. They are both from mainland China and this was only their second Thanksgiving in the states. According to Hao it was "the best Thanksgiving ever." Of course, he's only been to two. :)

We have so much to be grateful for, and even when things don't go our way, we always have enough - and we have amazing people in our lives, not least of all our beautiful children.

This year we memorized a scripture together as a family:

"...Live in Thanksgiving daily for the many mercies and blessings which He doth bestow upon you." Alma 38:34. It was a lovely way to focus on the good things in our life this month.

We also did a thankful tree again, and Walt came up with some great things (no prompting by parents other than to tell him he could not repeat things from one day to the next): trick-or-treating, family, cousins, grandparents, candy, leaves, Zuzu, Jesus, Heavenly Father, the Book of Mormon, neighbors, and Tavin - a good friend. I know there were more, but those are the ones I remember.

Thanks Burgeners, for making it a Thanksgiving to remember!