Turkey Day 2011

This Thanksgiving, we spent a lot of time with good food and family, which is just the way we like it.  (Plus, it was an opportunity to escape our neighbor's barking dogs and pogo-sticking son!)

Here's our Turkey Week in a photos:

Thankful

It's so easy to be thankful, when you've had blessings poured upon you, when your cup is so obviously running over.  Sometimes it makes me nervous when things are so right, because I can't help wondering when something might go wrong.  The best I can do is remain grateful for every perfect day, to thank my Heavenly Father as I kneel in prayer every night.

In less than two years, I:

married an amazing man, 

had an amazing internship, 

graduated from college without any student loan debt, 

got a great job with insurance, 

got pregnant, 

found a wonderful birth center,

had a beautiful, healthy pregnancy,

and best of all...

welcomed a sweet, baby girl to our family.

It's a wonderful world.

Thanksgiving Tribute

This is my very first video.

Don't laugh... too much!

My Favorite Thursday

Thanksgiving night with the little brother.  Yes, that is a sparkling cider bottle.  No, it is not booze.

This is how my side of the family spends holidays...

with lots and lots of cousins, of all shapes and sizes...

our favorite animals, here and there...

and the ones (and the empanadas) we love the most!

Kieren in the Kitchen: Thanksgiving Pies

If you want to know a random fact about me, it is this:

I am the messiest baker/cook in the entire world.

Baking my first pie = not the best time to forget my apron.

This year, we were in charge of making carrots.

Lots of carrots.

Husband made lots of carrots.

He also made a pie, which was much prettier than mine.

I wasn't jealous.

I was proud.

Off to my in-laws house we went.

Yum, yum.



Thankful for the Youth

In preparation for the holidays, I decided to host a Thanksgiving Extravaganza night for my Young Women.

Sparkly, leaf garland and turkey-looking cupcakes are just what we needed.

Thankful for Teachings

My mom taught me:

To believe in myself, to never let anyone bring me down, that she loved me more than her own life, that I am beautiful, that I am talented, that I am smart, that I have to smile and wave back at people, and that the Church is true.

 My dad taught me:

That it’s not okay to be average or second-best, that education is invaluable, how a man should treat a woman, how a father should treat his children, that one must be honest in all things, that I had to be married in the temple, and that he loves me unconditionally.

My brothers taught me:

Patience, to avoid toothbrushes that look yellow (soap), how to forgive, how to nurture, how to smile, and they are still teaching me how to communicate.

My extended family taught me:

How to laugh, what it felt like to be spoiled, how to throw great parties, how to enjoy the holidays, that they would support all of my decisions, and what the world looks like.

My husband taught me:

How to strive for perfection, how it feels to have a best friend, what cuddling should feel like, that I am the only one that he has ever wanted, that a woman’s greatest achievement is raising righteous children, the meaning of true love, and that I am in charge of my own happiness.

My new family taught me:

That big families are exciting and don’t have to be weird, that I want to have a lot of grandchildren when I’m old, and that it feels amazing to be an aunt.

My friends taught me:

That I can be a bad friend sometimes, that good friends are VERY few and far between, how to be silly, how to be spontaneous, how to feel young, and how to trust.


I am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life.  They brighten each day and are always challenging me to better myself.