Thanksgiving!

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with my mom's family at my Grandparent's house. This photo is of me, my mom, and my grandma. I love having Thanksgiving there because it is just like Thanksgiving was when I was young - totally chaotic, yummy, loud, and crazy. There were about 40 people there, which is a little shy of what it usually is.

This is Levi hanging out with my Grandpa - who just had open-heart surgery. We are so grateful he is recovering so well! The men usually try to wrangle the kids while watching football after dinner.

The women skip out on football and do a 'project' every year. This year we made blankets, book bags and backpacks for the Women and Children's Shelter. It was so fun! We had sewing machines everywhere! Daisy was all about it and got right in on the action. She actually turned out to be quite the seamstress.

I got to go shopping with my mom and sister on 'Black Friday' (and eat at In 'N Out Burger - hooray!) but the trip was cut short because we had to be back in town for the Annual Christmas Festival, and I was in charge of the Craft Show. We got back late Friday night to set up tables and chairs, and I was up at 6:00 Saturday morning to bake and get ready. The Christmas Festival was a great success. In addition to the Craft Show, Tree Festival, Pageant, and Santa (above) we added our first ever Christmas Light Parade. It was so great! Jeff and Levi rode on our ward's float and Daisy and I watched with some of the cousins.
Last night was our ward Christmas party. This year instead of having Santa, the activities committee did "Back to Bethlehem." Everyone came dressed up in bible era clothes (yes, there were a lot of people in their bathrobes.) Each family was given a small drawstring sack of coins after they were counted for the 'census' by Caesar Augustus. We went around to several 'shops' in the 'market' to buy our meal. You can see some of the shops in the background of the photo. We all sat on blankets on the floor to eat. Each family brought 'taxes' (canned food) which were collected by Roman Soldiers (in fantastic costumes) for the food bank. There was singing of Christmas carols and a live nativity. I couldn't believe how much work they went to! It was such a great opportunity to talk to Daisy about why we have Christmas in the first place. Her and Levi were both so excited to dress up - she thought she was Mary. It totally put me in the Christmas spirit!