Thanksgiving 2013

We had a great Thanksgiving this year.

It truly is one of my favorite days.
A day all about food, spending time with family & watching football?
Yes, please.

Dress (got mine a few years ago at Loft, but similar one HERE)

Boots {HERE} Denim Jacket {HERE} Necklace {Stella & Dot}

Me & Luke. Glad he was a happy guy...he is still waking up a ton at night because of those darn teeth he is getting.

Luke sweater {HERE}

I am kind of obsessed with the leaves on our Japanese Maple:

Kev & the kiddos:

Claire's skirt {They are out of cream, but still have black & pink HERE} Sweater  {HERE}

Kate's dress {HERE} 

The girls shoes {HERE}

Our annual Thanksgiving tradition is to head to Golden Gate Fields to see the horse races.

One of my favorite things is the breakfast we have in the Turf Club (where we watch the races)

I love watching the races & also watching football on my mini TV :)

I love their Eggs Benedict. And bacon & sausage. I eat 2 meals on Thanksgiving. This brunch & then dinner. YUM.

You gotta kick off the races with a Bloody Mary.

This kid kept me busy. He is on the go!

Our whole family on Kevin's side. Love these people.

An "attempt" at getting a pic of all 3 of my kids. #fail

Last year on Thanksgiving....Luke was only 3 months old. 

 

Kevin's grandparents started this tradition of going to the horse races on Thanksgiving about 50 years ago. So much fun!

Every Thanksgiving, they have a race in their honor. This year it was the 5th race.

 So, for the 5th race, we got to go down to the race tracks & watch the horses up close.

We get to be almost *too* close to the race tracks.

Lucky kids.

Cousins!

After the races, we headed to my parents house for dinner & to watch more football.

 My mom's table:

My dad Jimmy carving the bird.

So much good food.

And, good wine (my brother in law's wine!)

Luke's first "real" Thanksgiving meal:

My younger sister spend Thanksgiving with her husband's side of the family, and her little guy Jack accicendtly face timed us from his car seat when they were driving home. Hysterical.

 Dessert was Pumpkin Cheesecake. Recipe {HERE}

 It was a wonderful & relaxing Thanksgiving spent eating good food and spending time with both of our families.  Feeling very thankful this holiday season.

Do you have any fun Thanksgiving traditions?  

(Or random ones like us going to the horse races?)

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

Did you know today is Giving Tuesday?
Friday was Black Friday, Saturday was Small Business Saturday, yesterday was Cyber Monday and today is Giving Tuesday.

Here are some organizations that I trust and that we give to:

Charity:Water - a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations fund water projects.
Heifer Project (donate an animal to give a family a source of food for a year. A few years ago, one of my students donated a goat in my name.Best Christmas present from a student. EVER.Compassion International - sponsor a kid for $42 a month to give them food, shelter, education, health care and the opportunity to learn about Jesus in a neighborhood church program.Adopt a Family, Feed the homeless,Make a Blessed to Bless Bag,Angel Tree, Operation Christmas Child,Donate cans to a Food Bank

Do Something. Give Something.

I love starting off the Advent Season giving. 
It's not about the gifts (although those are fun).
 It's about the birth of Christ.
Make this CHRISTmas season meaningful!

What organizations do you give to? Would love to hear more ideas!