friendsgiving with a side of a thankfulness.

November is all about food, friends and thankfulness and I do my best to embrace them all throughout the entire month. Between sports, before and after school activities, work, preschool and conferences we somehow squeezed in some time for outdoor fun, lots of baking and a festive Friendsgiving celebration at our house. 

Simon got to help prep the pies. Of course he never actually ate any real Thanksgiving food (do crackers count?!?) but he sure looked cute helping with the pie baking. 

School conferences meant lots of extra half days. I actually love them even though it messes with our work schedules a bit. Extra time in the afternoon to have playdates with friends and around the park are really the best. It reminded me of Carter's kindergarten year when he only had half day school. Getting to eat lunch together and go play was the best thing for all of us that year. So I took the boys to a local skate park and sporting goods store one afternoon while Lucy was at a friends house.

Carter had his first basketball game of the season and his team did great! The best group of boys from his school, really great parents and siblings and a lot of true talent. It's going to be so fun to watch the next 10 weeks or so.

And then...Friendsgiving! It was our 2nd annual dinner with 2 other families we love. 6 adults, 9 kids, a 23lb. turkey and tons of food. Our house isn't huge, we don't have a formal dining room or a massive kitchen or a grand entry way. We have 1800 sq. feet of usable space for our family that fits us just right. But it can make hosting a challenge at times. I was determined to not let that stop me though and we honestly had the greatest night of sharing food, conversation and laughter.

These kids have grown up together, with Lucy and her 2 friends playing soccer together since they were 3! It's so nice that all the kids get along so well, even if it's controlled chaos.

We spent the rest of the half days playing soccer, going to another park and making even more pies for Thanksgiving day.

And finally, our 7th annual Thanksgiving hand tree. My absolute favorite tradition of the year. Every day in November leading up to Thanksgiving we each put up a handprint leaf with something we are thankful for. It can be serious or silly but is always a good reminder of how much we really have.

And...the 3 kids I'm most thankful for! They're the best gift ever.