What are you Thankful for?
This thanksgiving was like no other that we've ever had.
We had no plans.
We had no where to be and we had no one coming over.
We were spending a quiet day at home together. Like usual I had built the holiday up in my mind but had no real idea of how it would actually play out. We had gotten a dusting of snow overnight and by 7:30 this morning all three boys were suited up and heading outside. They made a snowman, played, and enjoyed lots of fresh air. Next thing I knew the younger two boys were playing next door and Ian and my husband had left to go visit a relative.
I had the house to myself, I was watching the parade, and I was kind of miserable.
It didn't feel like Thanksgiving when no one was around. I tried to enjoy the peace and quiet and be thankful for our laid back schedule today but I was thinking I might have made a mistake in planning a holiday with just us.
It was just about noon by the time everyone came back home.
It really didn't feel like Thanksgiving at all until we sat down to eat dinner today.
Even though, for the first time ever we all snuggled down to watch It's Thanksgiving Charlie Brown last night on TV. We let the boys stay up late and laughed together watching the antics of the Peanuts. We learned about the Pilgrims in It's America Charlie Brown too. Even though we've spent the last week talking about Thanksgiving and even though my husband was home with us it still didn't really feel like Thanksgiving. In fact, Alec appeared not to have realized it was Thanksgiving!
I'm not sure how, but somehow none of my kids knew what I was cooking this year, none of them realized that no one else was coming over, and none of them seemed to get into the spirit of the holiday until we sat down to eat.
When we sat down to dinner I asked each of them in turn to name something or a few things they were Thankful for. They ended up keeping it up throughout most of our meal and we had such great conversations. They all told me my thankful list sounded like a greeting card and was fake because that's what everyone says.
I had said I was thankful for our family, our health and our home. Since that didn't appear to be good enough I said I was thankful for yoga pants. That they approved of!
It was fun, light hearted and over so fast. I felt that this year, more than any others, we really connected as a family. I wasn't spending the whole day in the kitchen or entertaining guests so I got to spend the time with my boys completely un-distracted and tuned in to them and our family.
We read P is for Pilgrim and talked about such heady topics as why Lincoln was shot, where he was and who did it.
How thankful I am for all the time I get to spend with them.
How thankful I am for this amazing journey we're on day in and day out growing, loving and learning together.
How lucky we are to have this amazing life together complete with wonderful family vacations, field trips and lots of great memories.
I remembered our Thankful tree from last year and marveled over how much their answers had changed and evolved from last year. I marveled over what wonderful young men my boys are becoming and how lucky they are to have the amazing role model that is my husband, without whom our life would never be possible.
We are truly blessed and more than ever I felt that this year.
Perhaps because I too am one year older and have grown, changed and evolved or perhaps because I had the added gift of time this year. Time to sit, time to reflect and time to enjoy. It was definitely one of those days I want to store and remember.
We had no plans.
We had no where to be and we had no one coming over.
We were spending a quiet day at home together. Like usual I had built the holiday up in my mind but had no real idea of how it would actually play out. We had gotten a dusting of snow overnight and by 7:30 this morning all three boys were suited up and heading outside. They made a snowman, played, and enjoyed lots of fresh air. Next thing I knew the younger two boys were playing next door and Ian and my husband had left to go visit a relative.
I had the house to myself, I was watching the parade, and I was kind of miserable.
It didn't feel like Thanksgiving when no one was around. I tried to enjoy the peace and quiet and be thankful for our laid back schedule today but I was thinking I might have made a mistake in planning a holiday with just us.
It was just about noon by the time everyone came back home.
It really didn't feel like Thanksgiving at all until we sat down to eat dinner today.
Even though, for the first time ever we all snuggled down to watch It's Thanksgiving Charlie Brown last night on TV. We let the boys stay up late and laughed together watching the antics of the Peanuts. We learned about the Pilgrims in It's America Charlie Brown too. Even though we've spent the last week talking about Thanksgiving and even though my husband was home with us it still didn't really feel like Thanksgiving. In fact, Alec appeared not to have realized it was Thanksgiving!
I'm not sure how, but somehow none of my kids knew what I was cooking this year, none of them realized that no one else was coming over, and none of them seemed to get into the spirit of the holiday until we sat down to eat.
When we sat down to dinner I asked each of them in turn to name something or a few things they were Thankful for. They ended up keeping it up throughout most of our meal and we had such great conversations. They all told me my thankful list sounded like a greeting card and was fake because that's what everyone says.
I had said I was thankful for our family, our health and our home. Since that didn't appear to be good enough I said I was thankful for yoga pants. That they approved of!
It was fun, light hearted and over so fast. I felt that this year, more than any others, we really connected as a family. I wasn't spending the whole day in the kitchen or entertaining guests so I got to spend the time with my boys completely un-distracted and tuned in to them and our family.
We read P is for Pilgrim and talked about such heady topics as why Lincoln was shot, where he was and who did it.
But my favorite part of the day was listening to their Thankful lists.
In no particular order they were thankful for :
- a house that had floors and rugs and walls that kept us warm
- shoes and socks
- video games and all electronics
- "all the technology that makes our lives easier" (that's a direct quote from Alec)
- all the people who prepare good food like today's feast, the people who make the pizzas and the foods at restaurants
- Their family and friends that have helped them become who they are today
- Ian was thankful for the ability to run and use equipment and that he was part of a family that had access to it all
- Ice cream and Italian ice
- that they don't have to work as hard as the pilgrim children did
How thankful I am for all the time I get to spend with them.
How thankful I am for this amazing journey we're on day in and day out growing, loving and learning together.
How lucky we are to have this amazing life together complete with wonderful family vacations, field trips and lots of great memories.
I remembered our Thankful tree from last year and marveled over how much their answers had changed and evolved from last year. I marveled over what wonderful young men my boys are becoming and how lucky they are to have the amazing role model that is my husband, without whom our life would never be possible.
We are truly blessed and more than ever I felt that this year.
Perhaps because I too am one year older and have grown, changed and evolved or perhaps because I had the added gift of time this year. Time to sit, time to reflect and time to enjoy. It was definitely one of those days I want to store and remember.
We're thankful for a safe home and food to eat. Somethings the things we take for granted are the hardest for others to obtain. :( Hope you had a peaceful Thanksgiving - from across the pond x #FamilyFunLinky
ReplyDeleteThat is so very true! I often think of how unaware we often are of the most basic needs we have met that others do not.
DeleteIt sounds like even though it didn't feel like Thanksgiving, you had wonderful family moments that you will cherish for a lifetime. That's the whole point of Thanksgiving though isn't it? To be with family and spend quality family time with each other. And to also be thankful:) #FamilyFunLinky
ReplyDeleteI really did and in the end that is the point of Thanksgiving.
DeleteIts so important to take time to remember what we should be thankful for. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by.
DeleteIt sounds like the day certainly improved once you sat around the table together. It’s always great to focus on the things we are grateful for and I love that your kids made you go a little deeper x
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining #FamilyFunLinky x
It sure did! Once we sat down the day truly began to feel like Thanksgiving.
DeleteThere is so much to be thankful for. I am considering keeping a running list in 2018.
ReplyDeleteWe made a jar last year... I can't remember what we called it but the idea was to put one slip of paper in a day listing what we were thankful for and then I wanted to read them all aloud on New Year's Eve... but we weren't real good with the follow through.
Delete