knight of thanks

This year for Thanksgiving we went to Noni and Papa's house in Ponca City!! Both of Brandon's brothers and their wives were there too so we had the whole Knight family together this year!! When we first got to Noni and Papa's house we were the only one's there so the boys played with Lego's. Noni had actually found a couple of tubs of old toys that HER boys played with when they were little and brought them into the house for the boys to play with!! It's funny how we have a TON of Legos at home but something about Noni giving them "old Legos that daddy used to play with" made these Legos particularly fun and interesting!! Ha!!

On Thanksgiving Day, one of Brandon's brothers and his wife were spending the day with her family and so we spent the day just hanging out at the house, playing outside and Noni and I baked and cooked food for our Thanksgiving...which we were having the next day. My boys looked so handsome dressed in their cute fall/winter clothes so we took some pics in the backyard!!

We had the Thanksgiving Day Parade on in the living room and the boys would watch it for awhile and then play for awhile and then come back and watch some more. When it was time for Santa to arrive, though, I went and got the boys so they wouldn't miss it...it's their favorite part!! B, on the other hand, was...you guessed it...WORKING!! Surprise, surprise!! Can you see how excited he is!?!?

The boys were so excited for Santa to come down the road. They waited next to the TV anticipating the jolly old man and his reindeer!! It was very sweet!!

I love Ashtyn's face in this picture. He just looks so eager and excited!! I love the innocence of children. Everything is so magical and makes them so happy!!

When Santa finally arrived the boys were super excited!! I was excited!! I don't ever want my boys to lose the joy of Christmas!! It makes them smile and it makes me smile too!!

When Uncle Nay-Nay and Aunt Dana arrived, they let the boys open their Christmas presents from them early. We can't all be together for Christmas so they brought their gifts with them. Of course, the boys were SUPER PUMPED!! They got a Dr. Seuss board game to share...

Maddox got a Lego Star Wars watch...(perfect choice!!)

and Ashtyn got a Lego board game!! It's a really neat game!! You have to build it and then play the game!! It's alot of fun!!

Since we weren't having Thanksgiving until Friday, Glenda and I spent actual Thanksgiving baking in the kitchen. I had volunteered to bring noodles to dinner!! Noodles are a tradition in my family but the Knight family had never had them before so I was excited to offer them for the first time but also kind of nervous that they wouldn't quite fit in with the menu...I was also nervous because this was only my second time to make them so I was praying they would turn out OK...

I was actually texting pictures of my noodle-making-progress to my mom all the way in Connecticut as I cooked to make sure I was doing it right. She said I was but I have to admit I was still nervous..

In the end, though, my noodles turned out really good!! People even went back for seconds AND ate more noodles as leftovers later in the day!! I was pretty proud of myself!!

Thanksgiving Day afternoon, we had to lay the boys down for an afternoon nap. They always con their Noni into letting them stay up WAY too late when we're visiting their house (which, I can't blame them...they don't get to see their Noni often enough...) but unfortunately no matter what time my boys go to bed they still wake up at 6AM!! So, when they stay up until 11PM (or later...) that makes for a long afternoon with two very tired and cranky little boys. So, I took the boys upstairs for a nap. I actually love sitting with my boys while they take a nap. I love watching them sleep and love sitting in the room with them while they whisper funny stores to each other as they fall asleep. Time almost seems to slow down and I try to relish every moment...

After naps, the boys played more Legos, but this time with daddy and Uncle Nay-Nay who helped build some really cool castles and ships!! Honestly, I think the grown-ups enjoyed the play time as much as the boys!!

On Friday, we took family pictures in the morning and then all met at Uncle Tyler and Aunt April's house for our Knight family Thanksgiving!! It was DELICIOUS!!!! We had turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, noodles, green bean casserole, rolls and much much more!! Mmmmmmmm!!

I have to admit that I was a bit sad on Thanksgiving and missed MY family alot. I know I've been married for almost 10 years and so I've spent my fair share of holidays away from my family and the traditions I grew up with but it really never gets easier. I always think back to the good ol' days, sleeping on my Gramma's floor with my cousins all tucked in sleeping bags and eating around the clock in our sweatpants...and I'm hoping for many more of those wonderful memories in my lifetime...but I really did enjoy my Thanksgiving with Brandon's family and we made many wonderful memories. I got to spend extra time visiting with my sisters-in-law, we took fun family pictures and I got to see my boys get excited to see Santa in the Thanksgiving Day Parade!! Oh and I got to bake in the kitchen with my mother-in-law and go to the movies with my sister, her husband and my niece!! It really was a Thanksgiving to remember!!