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Thanksgiving thru the rest of November

Thankful Tree 2020

 

Regardless of what 2020 brought us, we were happy to recognize all the many, many (too many to name!) blessings that we have.  We recognize that all blessings come from a loving Heavenly Father and were grateful for the chance to focus on our blessings for the entire month.

(Also, I got smart, bought some brown felt, and had Molly make me a tree that I can use each year.  Should have thought of that 10 years ago when I started this tradition!)

Thanksgiving looked different this year, thanks to Covid, but some things stayed the same.  It was a Moyes Thanksgiving, which is usually spent at the cabin, but when talking it over with my siblings, the consensus was to have dinner at my parent's house in Plain City.  We thought it might be unwise to gather for two or three days at the cabin.  We were trying to be responsible citizens and follow the governor's new mandate-plus I was worried about my parents getting anything, even though they are healthy in general, or spreading something to someone and making a whole family quarantine.  Some of my brothers-in-law can't necessarily work while quarantining-Jeff, for example.  If he can't see patients, he doesn't get paid.  We also agreed to wear masks unless we were playing outside-and we took them off to eat, obviously.  We did it smart and still had a good time!

My mom had different tables set up-grown-ups, older grandkids, middle grandkids, younger grandkids.  Stockton and Grant were lucky and got a table with Grandma and Grandpa.

Harper, Brynn, Seth, Spencer
Grace, Abby, Chloe, Ben, Gavin, Molly, Tessa
Molly and Tessa
Josie, Lucy, Ivy
Christopher, Erin, Erin, Bryce, Justin, me, Ali, Jeff
Stockton, Grandpa, Grandma, Grant
masked photo, so we can always remember: Grandpa, Grandma, Harper, Grant, Erin, Ben, Gavin, Seth, Bryce, Spencer, Grace, Abby, Chloe, Molly, Brynn, Justin, me, Ivy, Erin, Christopher, Jeff, Ali, Josie, Lucy, Stockton, Tessa
no masks!

When dinner was over and we had cleaned up a bit my sisters, mom, and I were able to sneak out and go on a walk.  The air was crisp but it felt good to get out and walk around for a bit.  When we got home, my mom brought out the Christmas bags for the kids-their ornament, Christmas book, and Christmas pajamas.

Grace, Abby, Chloe, Molly, Tessa
Lucy, Ivy, Josie
Ivy, Lucy, Josie
Brynn and Harper

My mom also had the gingerbread houses for the kids to decorate but we were planning on driving up to Bear Lake that night and didn't want to drive in the dark or get there too late.  Also, it felt like it was getting a little too crazy with all those people in the house.  So, we excused ourselves and left the party.  We had the cabin to ourselves that night.

In the morning we had the kids do their gingerbread house.  My parents drove up and got there around 10.  We killed time with them for a couple of hours before heading out to get our tree.  We were meeting the rest of my siblings at the church parking lot in Garden City to caravan up to the tree-cutting site.  Since we were outside, we were able to be a little more carefree.  No masks!  Lots of time for playing!  We found our tree.  The pickings were pretty slim this year and we got the Charlie Brown-iest tree that we've ever had.  But it sure is a fun tradition that we never want to give up!

Ivy was super excited about her new unicorn ornament

Harper and Brynn
Ben, Abby, Molly, Grace
Brynn and Grace
Tessa, Stockton, Grant
Grace, Harper, Brynn, Ivy, me
Brynn, Josie, Ali, Lucy
Moyes's, Goodrich, Broadbent's, Walkers, Mom and Dad
We went home after that instead of going back to the cabin.  We missed hanging out with everyone at our favorite place and hope that next year we can go back to our normal traditions.  Since everything was set up and put away already, we were able to put the tree up that Sunday.  It had so few branches so wrapping the lights took hardly any time at all.  We let the kids put all the ornaments they've been given over the years on this tree-and we pretty much let them just go for it while we relaxed.
Justin and Brynn set up the train while Ivy gave us a fashion show, first with the tree skirt and then with some dress ups.
 
We loved all the twinkly Christmas lights when it was done-the real tree in one corner, the trees and garland above the bookcase in the other corner, and our Charlie Brown "kid" tree in the center.  With our beautiful windows as a backdrop to it all.  So magical!

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