Thanksgiving and Back

I think, the hardest part about any holiday is the return to real life. When I was teaching first grade I remember thinking on those first days back from a holiday..."IT'S NOT WORTH IT!" You spend four or five days just lounging around, eating, sleeping, talking, shopping and eating some more, and then WHAM! Back to real life. Being a stay-at-home mom, I thought I would be exempt from this holiday evil...no such luck.

This Thanksgiving we stayed with my parents and had no shortage of help with Braelyn. I was able to shower with the bathroom door closed and I could get completely ready with no interruptions. We got to go out one night. We even got to sleep in a couple of mornings! GLORIOUS! Now we're back, and needless to say, I am having a hard time accepting the fact that I am solely responsible for all of Braelyn's physical and entertainment needs. But we're makin' it! :) It is by far, more enjoyable to return home with my sweet baby girl, than to return to a classroom of twenty well-rested, pumpkin pie stuffed first graders.

Grumbling aside, we had a great Thanksgiving. It was my family and Casey's family together. Casey and I feel quite fortunate that we don't have to do the double-stuff rush on these holidays. Our families are great friends and we enjoy spending these big-meal holidays together.

I learned on this Thanksgiving Day that I am horrible at taking pictures of meaningful events. I don't have pictures of everyone, the pictures I do have aren't real great, and the ones that are fairly decent, I didn't take. So...here are just a few.

Here are the centerpieces that mom and I pulled together at the last minute.
Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

The head chef.
I think she looks cute as a button in that little apron!
(That's my mom, by the way.)

I liked this one of Casey and me.

And finally, the Punkin'.