It Was a Homecoming Thanksgiving

So Thanksgiving has never been just a huge deal around our house.  I mean we celebrate it and all, but we just don't pull out all the stops like we do at Christmas.  However, this year was different since it was our first Thanksgiving away from home.  All of a sudden, this holiday took on a whole new meaning for me.  I don't know if I ever fully got how much my gratitude is tied to my family.  I mean, think about it.  Remember back to when you were little, or even now, and you'd go around the table and tell what you're thankful for, and what's usually the first word out of people's mouths?  Family. 

Well, it just so happened that the timing of our D.C. trip allowed for us to fly back into Memphis and stop off in Oxford and see everybody for a few days.  And what a joy it was to be with our family for Thanksgiving!  This year our Thanksgiving was indeed characterized by thankful hearts, along with the realization that being with our family brings us a joy that no other thing can---well, except for Mom's chicken and dressing, maybe.  I'd say that comes pretty close!

Ethan and his best bud, John David.

This is my grand-niece, Grace.  Isn't she just so stinking cute?!

Ethan and Mary, my niece, work on putting out my mom's "little houses", as she calls them.

My sister Pam puts the finishing touches on the Christmas tree.

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE this picture!!

I love my Daddy-O!

Our D.C. Trip..

OH MY WORD!!  Has it really been a month since my last post?  Well, in my defense, we have been traveling a lot, and I've got the pictures to prove it!  And as my sweetie pie was so apt to point out, I have as of yet put up any pics of the boys, so in lieu of a lot of verbage, we'll just get right to the good stuff!  Have a look-see at some of our photos from our trip to D.C., a great vacation courtesy of the boy's great granddad.  AWESOME!!

 So cool!  This was a "wishing tree" in one of the sculpture gardens.  People would come and hang their wishes up.  Now if we could only find one made of money!

This was the baker for the White House for many years.  Here, he's putting together a gingerbread rendition of Mount Vernon.  Wow!

 This is one of Frank Loyd Wright's houses that we toured on our Mount Vernon day.  Really neat.  The boys thought it very interesting.

 This building to the right is the Native American Museum.  I just thought it's design was so unique.  This building also housed one of the most amazing "cafeteria-style" restaurants I have ever eaten in, a must dining experience if you're ever in D.C., but be ready to spend the moo-lah!

Granddaddy surprised us all with a trip to the National Building Musuem where there was housed a Lego Architecture exhibit...outstanding and astonishing! I mean I can't even put together one of the those little models from the instruction pamphlets!

Busy creating after being inspired from the exhibit!

We were surprised to find out we were being given a tour of the dome of the Capitol, a rare treat!  The guys enjoy the view on the way up.

 Here we are outside on the tippy-top of the dome!  What a view!

And here we have the White House!