A Story in Pictures...

Our Thanksgiving...

Table setting for 18

Our blessed Thanksgiving Family
The O'Briens
Bill, Sandy, Aj, Kelli, Sam, Tim, Amanda
The Cribleys
Steve, Michele, Eric Jorgenson
The Gurleys
Rick, Debbie, Jud, Brie, Laina, Maddie, Adon, Moriah

Spending quality time together

Uncle Tim brought a Nurf hoop for the guys to play

Sam got to shoot a few hoops when the guys were too tired!!

Deep Fried Turkey...need I say more:)

Sushi lunch for Amanda's Birthday (Glad you came up despite getting sick!!)

Sam ate so much Cranberry sauce she had an upset tummy the next morning.

All the O'Brien's came up for the occasion, my bestest Gramsi!!
(sweater and hat courtesy of Grandma Cribley)

Relationships

I just read a wonderful book, on AJ's recommendation, called "The Shack." It is amazing how the Lord can help to provide something that you really need to read in order to bring home something realistic in your current events. It is of most importance that we live in the present. While a lot was emphasized to AJ and I in this book and it touched us, there were certain things that took us back to His Word to help us grow. One thing that was interesting to me was to talk about it with a friend and see the different mind sets of people and how we read what we want to read and how this book, like the Bible, has so many different levels that most people don't even touch in exploration. Like His word, our relationships are multifaceted and complex, but they don't have to be, they can just be about Love.

Yesterday AJ and I hosted a fabulously chaotic Thanskgiving Day. Our family all came over, consisting of 13 adults and 5 children, we are truly blessed by everyone. We were missing Amanda sadly. She drove all the way up here from Albuquerque to spend her day sick in the hotel. She did get some of the chow, after Gravy ate the first plate we made her!!! We also were missing Amie and Albert all non-thanksgiving over in Germany, but we all talked with them over Skype!!! Hope you are feeling better Albert. The rest of our hectic crowd had an exhausting but loving time. If someone was hungry it was their own fault, between the Turkey deep fried by Grandpa Cribley and the Roast masterfully prepared by Poppop O'Brien(and Tim), plus all the extras from the Gurley, O'Brien, Cribley women:)

Most importantly it was a joyous day of just spending time together allowing our blessed relationships to meld together. We really do need to let go to the Lord and be thankful to Him especially for the special people we hold dear to our hearts, mainly Him.

Thankful menu

I was getting a little board with our menus and some weeks it is tiring to search for new ideas. So.......
I went to our mommy play group (and yes it's a double entendre because the kids play, and the mommy's play as well!!) and suggested that we each provide 1 recipe each week. This give 5 recipes out of seven days without having to work hard. We all enjoy healthy eating habits and I believe enjoy new ideas. So far it's working wonderful!!!

Mon - Yummy & Easy Burritos (mommy recipe)

Tues - Autumn Cabbage Soup, homemade tortillas

Wed - Family cocktail party at the Cribley residence

Thanksgiving -
we decided to go big today by inviting 4 families to our house!!! There will be the most rewarding chaos with 13 adults and 5 children running around giving Thanks to our FATHER!!!!

breakfast - Egg and veggie quiche, O'Brien Hash Brown Casserole

Eat Too Much Meal -

Deep Fried Turkey
Slow Grilled Beef
Gravy
Rolls
Corn Bread Pudding
Cranberry Chutney
Green Bean casserole (Tempura Onions)
Spinach Turkey Bacon Casserole
Roasted Veggies (squash, onions, carrots, etc)
Autumn Salad
Sweet potato dish
Mashed Potatoes
Fruit Pies (made by Tim the pastry chef!!!), ice cream, whipped cream

Fri - John Elway's Hamburger Soup w/ a slow cooker twist (mommy recipe) or leftovers:)

Sat - Pinapple BBQ Chicken w/ Quinoa

Sun - Leftovers, of which I'm sure we will have plenty!!!!

Check out other lovely thankful meals at Menu Plan Monday

Sleep

I must have been dreaming about sleep because it was on my mind when I woke up. It has been coming up in random places lately and I was realizing how blessed we are that it isn't a focus of discussion around Samantha any more. She is turning into a little one that can sleep anywhere and loves to go to bed at night.

I bought AJ this new song that he discovered makes him think of Sam, it's Fireflies by Owl City. One DJ described it as Strawberry Bubblegum in audio form, and it truly works. It is very young sounding and has great rhythm and sounds, Sam loves it too. Anyway, it talks about sleep and how we should dream so big that we never want to wake.

In the other direction my friend Jill has been awake so much lately that she, the fabulous mother of 2, actually asked me for sleep advice for her youngest little Katie. I told her that it gave me a good laugh that she was coming to ME for advice. However, this morning I was really reflecting on the blessings that have occurred over the last year, many of which involve night feedings. I feel so pleased that we chose to really listen to ourselves and most of all Sam to decide what she needed. I can never replace those times when she needed me and I was ALWAYS there, graciously enjoying the sacrifice of my own sleep. YES that is right enjoying a lack of sleep because it was for my daughter. I especially look back with fondness now that she is a great sleeper.

Menu

Monday - Take out from Tasty House.....always yummy.

Tuesday - Diner with Gurleys!!! Bring salad and bread.

Wed. - Moroccan Vegetable Hot Pot

Thurs - Baked Pasta w/ Spinach and Sausage

Fri - Leftovers

Sat. - Autumn Cabbage Soup

Sun - Black Bean Burritos