Giving Thanks!

Thanksgiving is the only holiday that we've always done the same way since we got married. Christmas and Easter have varied, but Thanksgiving has always meant a trip home to KY for an amazing spread of ridiculous amounts of food. Ryan's family likes to eat and they like to have fun, so it's always been a great time.

This year, for the first time in 17 years, we haven't been there. I guess that we might as well start our time away with the one holiday that is most engrained and get it over with, right? Anyway, regardless of the big change, we had a great day and we have so very much for which to be thankful.

We love to entertain and the fact that we're the largest family in our training group means we have the largest house (please understand, large is a relative word here.) Anyway, those two factors meant that we got the pleasure of hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year. We actually got the day off from class, even though it was not Thanksgiving here in Canada. So, the 9 other couples in our group along with the 16 children we share, came to our house for a yummy time of fellowship. It was tight, but the company was good and the food was delicious. Someone had even brought us a TV this week, so we were able to watch football. All in all, it was a great first holiday outside of the States.

It was a bit of a challenge securing some of our typical recipe items, but I'm sure it was nothing compared to next year's Thanksgiving. One of the many things I'm thankful for is that God has allowed us to have "step-down approach" to moving overseas. I think he knew I'd need to be weaned off a little at a time!

Most of the food, spread out down the hall. Isn't that your normal serving spot?

Abby wanted to make a dessert and she picked these cute pumpkin cupcakes.

Not to be outdone by her sister, Lizzy made a chocolate cake and iced it all by herself!

I love being married to a man who can take a $3.99 bag of pumpkins and use them in a dozen different ways to make our home seem festive. Even in the humblest of homes, he always makes things look nice!

Most of the desserts

My first attempt at one of those cute pennant banners

Isaac and one of his friends helped with a clean-up project and as a reward, I gave them some of those plastic "hillbilly teeth." I caught them in the bathroom a few minutes later checking out their new look.

Should I be worried that we don't get dental coverage until our first year is complete?