Gratitude

It's official; Advent has arrived complete with store bought and toddler-made wreathes, the house is as decorated as it will be minus toddler creations made between now and Christmas Day, a certain little elf has made an appearance. Before I can wrap my head around the moments and memories of preparing for Christmas, I want to take a post (and quite a few pictures) to recall with gratitude the beautiful Thanksgiving holiday that we celebrated this year.

We spent Thanksgiving Day at Nana and Pop's house, and The Sheriff could not have been more excited to drive to "Wee-si-ana" to see his family.

After a morning full of TLC (Tony's Lovin' Care) by our resident turkey baster and various dinner preparations from gumbo making to brownie baking, we sat down to a seriously delicious meal and the Texans on television. Thankfully, our Saints loving brethren know just how much we love our current state's team.

We can't leave food preparation before noting the apron Nana found for Jacob to wear while carving the turkey. It was such a special moment for a family to remember loved ones gone before us. I have never met J's grandmother, but I know in my heart that she was one special lady and smiles down on him from Heaven every day. 

My favorite foodie prepared the gravy and carved up the turkey.

W enjoyed dinner next to the two, perhaps his favorite big kids of all time. He's still giggling about the way he cracked up laughing over the word "back" from Jared and Jordan over and over again. 

The afternoon (and perhaps some of the morning too!) left time for catching up around the table as well as time for J to practice his photography and capture a few belly shots.

I'm not sure that picture could be any sweeter.

We weren't quite finished with LA just yet and stopped to visit Grammie and Grandpa.

Here we learned that two-year-olds aren't so much fans of sitting by the bonfire just hanging out with a sippy cup of milk. 

But a boy's love of helicopters was once again confirmed. 

A piano always looks great adorned with a "jammied" toddler sitting at the keys. 

We had a great visit full of hanging out watching the Tigers, a certain big brother grabbing his pregnant sister and Icee at the gas station, throwing acorns into the pond, and learning the important life lesson: "What's the point of making just one pie?" 

To top off the trip, I am grateful for one awesome father who takes the time on a 6+ hour road trip to pull off to check out the helicopters in Lafayette.

Before preparing my heart to welcome Christ this December 25, I want to take this moment to rest in the thankfulness for the people and moments with which I've been blessed.