Our Homeschool Journey: Happy Thanksgiving

We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

A few pictures of our Thanksgiving Day!

Trying to get everyone smiling at the same time isn't easy, lol.

For the last 31 years I have made Thanksgiving by myself. I had a system, a routine. Making everything on my own required having perfect timing so everything was warm when it was time to eat. When I was younger, I felt like I needed to prove to myself that I could do it. A few years after that and a routine had been established, a method and process that had everything smoothly flowing. But as years passed, it became harder, more of a chore. I missed the big family Thanksgivings when I was growing up, where everyone came and everyone brought a side dish. Part of me hated to have anyone else help out because then I felt like it was saying that I could not do it anymore or that I was letting others down. Finally, this year, and considering we are moving, we made changes to our Thanksgiving. Thirty-one years of doing something a certain way, and a person who hates change. I was worried.

I should not have been. I was needing a change, even if I did not even know it.

The normal routine was to do the pies the night before, and then the oven would be free for the turkey first thing in the morning. However, we decided do wait until the day of Thanksgiving to make the pies. By doing this however, it meant *I* could not make the pies as I was working on all the other side dishes. So as part of our new Thanksgiving tradition, Mark and all the kids made the Thanksgiving pies! And what an amazing job they did!! Having help allowed me to relax and just enjoy being around my family and the kids felt so proud of the pies they made. After the turkey came out the pies went into the oven and cooked while we enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast.

Afterwards, we all watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - and Mark napped, sang and danced to Christmas music, read a story, ate pie, took down our fall decorations and started putting up some Christmas decorations. It was a wonderful day. Everyone agreed that they love the new traditions and are looking forward to next year when we can do it again!

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Making pies

Helping peel potatoes for homemade mashed potatoes

Watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

After turkey naps....

We did not get a picture before we started on our meal but we did get one before we cut into the pies. They did SO good and the pies were delicious!! They even had enough apple filling to make an apple turnover!

I made a few changes to how I do the turkey as well and everyone said it turned out better than it ever has!

Mark fell asleep even with children climbing all over him

One of Gavyn's favorite Christmas things is the Santa that his Auntie Helen made. This poor Santa has been so loved, that his tunic has come off he certainly has been well loved.