The holidays are feeling extra special this year, as we introduce Bella to all of our traditions, to what it means to be with family at Thanksgiving, to the meaning of CHRISTmas, to all that comes with it. And we kicked it all off with a bang with Thanksgiving week!
Each year, we celebrate with both "sides" of our family. Before we headed out of town, though, the kiddos had school feasts and Bella had a follow-up appointment with our neurosurgeon. Both went well - the kids feasted and Bels continues to recover well from her big surgery.
Then, it was time to head to Aiken for our first feast of the week. We stayed with our Nana and Pop for two nights and got in lots of good family time during our visit. One of the things I do everything Thanksgiving is take a photo of my kiddos and me in front of the door at Nana and Pop's house. I cannot tell you how full my heart felt this year to have all FOUR of my babies in the photo!! And it's fun to look back at the years preceding this one, watching our family grow and grow. :)
Anywho, on Wednesday, it was time for the big feast at Nana and Pop's! The kids ran around playing with their cousins all day and we grown-ups had so much fun catching up. One of my favorite memories from this year was after dinner, when we had multiple generations of women sitting around the table together, singing Christmas song after Christmas song. So special. <3
And then, the funniest thing happened on Thursday morning. Before we hit the road, I wanted to get in a little post-feast #1/pre-feast #2 run; so, I jogged over to this park that is adjacent to Nana and Pop's neighborhood...and happened upon the Aiken Turkey Trot. I thought, 'Why not?!' and right then and there, ran my first race! Ha! It was a 5K, and I kept busting out laughing while I was running alongside the other runners (whose family members were cheering them on and videotaping us), having people hand me those small cups of water - it was so funny! I crossed that finish line and couldn't help but snap a few quick pics.
Then, it was time to head to Aiken for our first feast of the week. We stayed with our Nana and Pop for two nights and got in lots of good family time during our visit. One of the things I do everything Thanksgiving is take a photo of my kiddos and me in front of the door at Nana and Pop's house. I cannot tell you how full my heart felt this year to have all FOUR of my babies in the photo!! And it's fun to look back at the years preceding this one, watching our family grow and grow. :)
Anywho, on Wednesday, it was time for the big feast at Nana and Pop's! The kids ran around playing with their cousins all day and we grown-ups had so much fun catching up. One of my favorite memories from this year was after dinner, when we had multiple generations of women sitting around the table together, singing Christmas song after Christmas song. So special. <3
And then, the funniest thing happened on Thursday morning. Before we hit the road, I wanted to get in a little post-feast #1/pre-feast #2 run; so, I jogged over to this park that is adjacent to Nana and Pop's neighborhood...and happened upon the Aiken Turkey Trot. I thought, 'Why not?!' and right then and there, ran my first race! Ha! It was a 5K, and I kept busting out laughing while I was running alongside the other runners (whose family members were cheering them on and videotaping us), having people hand me those small cups of water - it was so funny! I crossed that finish line and couldn't help but snap a few quick pics.
And then, we were on our way back home to the Mill! My aunt and uncle have hosted Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember. It is so convenient now that we live in the same neighborhood. We arrived back to our house to see my sister and her three kiddos (who were staying with us and had arrived the night before) and soon all headed over to join the rest of my "side" of the family (well, those who could make it. There were 2 of the 6 of us sibs who were with the other sides of their families on Thanksgiving this year). Again, the kids ran around making memories with their cousins while we adults enjoyed the apps and bevs and waited for the big meal to begin.
After we were stuffed beyond belief, it was time to catch a little shut-eye so that we could carry on with our big Black Friday tradition the next morning: Every year, my mom, grandma, and whoever else is in town heads out for a little shopping Friday morning (not crazy early - more like 9:00 pm) before heading to lunch that always includes Bloody Marys. My grandma always treats us to this meal, and it is always one of my favorite mornings of the year! Although illness kept a few from being able to participate this year, our small group of four carried on the tradition and had a great time before heading home so the guys could get in their round of golf (also tradition) and we could hang with the littles. By the evening, all remaining family members had hit the road and our house felt so empty!
And then came Saturday, aka the Carolina/Clemson game. We opted to watch the game from home this year, and were all geared-up to cheer on our Tigers! Unfortunately, I caught some sort of nasty cold/sinus infection and was feeling pretty bad all day. :( However, I rested up and was able to watch our Tigers take down the Cocks for the fourth year in a row. Yeehaw! Next up, the ACC Championship game next Saturday (aka Clemson vs. Miami), which is played just 20 minutes up the road in Charlotte. Yeehaw! Go Tigers!!
Finally, as we have done every year for the last six years, we headed to Penland Tree Farm yesterday to cut down our Christmas tree! This is another favorite tradition of mine: we scour the fields for the perfect tree before cutting it down and then enjoying bonfire-side s'mores. We then head home, put on our Christmas music, and decorate our tree and home for the Christmas season. Although the selection wasn't the best this year, we were still able to bring home a lovely Frazier Fir, and spent the rest of the afternoon yesterday decorating it and decorating (the interior of) our home.
And THAT is how we spent the last week! We have big plans coming up this weekend; so, we are hoping to get back in our routine and get a little rest (ha!) before Friday arrives. Last week was a busy one but also a great one. Thanks for the fun and the memories, Thanksgiving 2017. <3
And then came Saturday, aka the Carolina/Clemson game. We opted to watch the game from home this year, and were all geared-up to cheer on our Tigers! Unfortunately, I caught some sort of nasty cold/sinus infection and was feeling pretty bad all day. :( However, I rested up and was able to watch our Tigers take down the Cocks for the fourth year in a row. Yeehaw! Next up, the ACC Championship game next Saturday (aka Clemson vs. Miami), which is played just 20 minutes up the road in Charlotte. Yeehaw! Go Tigers!!
Finally, as we have done every year for the last six years, we headed to Penland Tree Farm yesterday to cut down our Christmas tree! This is another favorite tradition of mine: we scour the fields for the perfect tree before cutting it down and then enjoying bonfire-side s'mores. We then head home, put on our Christmas music, and decorate our tree and home for the Christmas season. Although the selection wasn't the best this year, we were still able to bring home a lovely Frazier Fir, and spent the rest of the afternoon yesterday decorating it and decorating (the interior of) our home.
And THAT is how we spent the last week! We have big plans coming up this weekend; so, we are hoping to get back in our routine and get a little rest (ha!) before Friday arrives. Last week was a busy one but also a great one. Thanks for the fun and the memories, Thanksgiving 2017. <3
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