Sunday Smiles from Thanksgiving part 1

As I look back on Thanksgiving, my heart is full of smiles.

Even though I wasn't completely well, I had a wonderful week with family.
My smiles started a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving when I
put up my Fall decorations.
Decorating for holidays always makes me smile.
(Actually decorating doesn't make me smile but getting it done does.)

I usually decorate for fall by the beginning of October,
but with our 2 week trip to Utah for Calan's adoption,
making Claire's confirmation dress
and being sick, time got away from me.
I always turn our game room into our buffet table room.
It turns out that with a little help, our shuffle board game and our air hockey game make great
buffet tables.
(I started doing this one year when I kept waiting for John to
take the games out to the shed.
He never got around to it so I just covered them up
and made buffet tables out of them.
Hey, it works for me.)

I use one table for the main course.
One for salads and one for desserts.

Getting my buffet tables set early always makes me smile.

Our family has so much to be thankful for.
I feel so blessed.

Erin's family coming early made me smile.

Erin, Patrick and Calan arrived the Monday before Thanksgiving.
Cal played me several original songs that he'd composed on the piano.
How could I not be smiling with such a musically gifted grandchild???

Since I still had a bad cough, I couldn't hold this sweet baby

as much as I wanted

...but...

Just having cute Cal here brought many smiles my way.

Is he darling or what!!!

Doesn't that face make you smile???
He just loved all of the attention that he got from his cousins....
...and they loved taking care of him.

Cooking with Claire and Erin made me smile.

It is so fun to have sweet helpers in the kitchen.

Claire came over Tuesday & Wednesday to be with Erin and family...

...and to help us get ready.

We baked and cooked all day.

(Yes, I notice that this picture is sideways but I am not going to go to the trouble of fixing it so turn your head ...O.K.? good)
...

Claire was in charge of making the welcome sign for Lynell and family.
Claire's anxious anticipation of family arriving made me smile.

Erin helped her put the welcome sign up on the garage door.

We were so excited when Lynell and family arrived.

They were suppose to get here about noon on Wed.

but car trouble caused them to be delayed for hours and they didn't get here until evening.

We were all surely smiling when they finally got here safe and sound.

I am anxious to tell you all about our Thanksgiving Day....

...and share my smiles with you...

...but...

I have rambled on long enough for one post.

I will continue my Thanksgiving smiles on another day.
...

I know that for some of you, holidays can be sad times.

I am sorry for those who do not have family and loved ones with you to share special times.

My heart goes out to you.

I do not take my family and blessings for granted.

I thank my Father in Heaven for each of them every day.
I hope this holiday season is a blessed one for you.

Hugs, Lura