the first of five thanksgivings.

yesterday, we hosted thanksgiving for my mom's family. which means around 2:30 pm, our doorbell started ringing, and within the hour, our home was full of people, food, and lots of hustle and bustle. all holidays can get a little hectic with a family as large as ours - especially in the kitchen, which is why i was very glad that my only three jobs were 1) chocolate acorns, 2) throwing together some centerpieces, and 3) taking pictures.

isn't that picture of my uncle and my grandma the cutest?! love that she was the official gravy taste tester. :) while the finishing touches were being put on our dinner, everyone snacked on appetizers and watched the sunday evening football games. when it was finally time for dinner, we all gathered around in the family room to hold hands and offer a prayer of thanks for all the blessings that god has graced our lives with this year.

and then... it was time for food.

by then, the sun had disappeared, so we sat at our candlelit tables, under twinkle lights still left up from my birthday party (procrastination DOES come in handy sometimes!) and we feasted. 

my dad also figured out how to hook up the tv to the projector so we showed the football game on our outdoor screen. and all the boys said amen.

we really missed my cousin rachel, since she's going to school up north and couldn't come down this weekend, so that is her in that bottom left picture, via facetime! she made her way around the whole party and even though she missed out on the food, hopefully she felt like she was joining us... at least a little bit. :) 

thankful for my family, my home, and the privilege of living so close to my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

and for apple/pumpkin pie which is a total pie game changer.

can't wait for round two.