Thankful

We have much to be grateful for this year.  As is tradition, I put together our Thankful Turkey.  I didn't actually trace Clara's hands, so they are a bit off-scale.  : )

David took the whole week of Thanksgiving off, as he was taking the 4th and final CPA exam on Wednesday.  It was sure nice to have him home a lot and get more help with the kids.  

We spent Thanksgiving Day at my parent's.  We ate a delicious meal, wrote and shared some "thankfuls," and played a little Thanksgiving game.

All Eli ate for Thanksgiving was about six little rolls...

He had fun with the leaf decorations on the table.  : )

A beautifully set table full of yummy foods!

Grammie got in some good Clara time.

Even though she was pretty overtired, Clara gave us some cute smiles on the way home. 

Friday we stayed home and decorated the house for Christmas.  Eli has of course had so much fun playing with decorations (he thought they were put up for his birthday), and rearranging ornaments on the tree, and he cutely calls the star on the tree a starfish.  : )

Saturday we headed over to have the Hayes family gathering.  They had built a small hockey set, and Eli really had fun playing hockey with Grandma!  They had also purchased an old children's record player for Eli.  He enjoyed listening to records there, and has loved playing records every day at home since.  Every evening feels like a throwback to the '70s in our house!  All we need is some bell bottoms!  : )

David REALLY took a vacation and went the whole week without shaving.  Hairiest I've ever seen him!  : )

I made my first-ever pie for the Hayes gathering.  (I know, I'm pretty pathetic.)  I chose custard because it's one of my favorites and sounded like it'd be easy enough.  But of course it was ME baking, and I always have to run into a glitch!  I used a recommended recipe, but apparently we have a nutty oven, as after baking for 45 minutes (when it should have been done), the pie was still super soupy.  : (  We were running late so we just had to pack into the car and drive and let it finish baking at their house.  After ANOTHER 30 minutes, it was finally done and thankfully turned out delicious!

Some of our favorite blessings and thankfuls of 2013--

Sweet baby Clara joining our family

David becoming a CPA!!  (more on that later)

Visits home from my out-of-state sisters

Good health

Our testimonys

Beautiful park days

Witnessing sibling love between Eli and Clara

Wonderful ward friends, visiting teaching assignments, and playgroups
David & Laura's getaway trip to French Lick in the Spring
Family outings 
David's budding photography skills
The amazing example of faith set by my sister and brother-in-law as they've dealt with infertility

Our close-to-home extended family and getting to see them often
My whole family coming together for a week-long Christmas reunion

The infinite love of our Savior