Thanksgiving faces

This might be my favorite picture so far this holiday season. It's not the clearest shot, but Emma and my mom were spinning around pretty quickly, so I think I did a decent job of capturing the joy on both of their faces!
After all the spinning, they took a little snuggly rest. Emma is so active these days that she rarely lays her head down anymore. When she does it, you soak it up for all its worth (and it's worth a LOT, in my humble, though biased, opinion). :)
My little brother enjoying the Thanksgiving meal (and probably making a joke or quoting some funny show because he is the BEST at imitations and remembering quotes).

Jill does not like me trying to take candid pictures of her so she gave me a cheesy (though clearly cute) grin when she saw me pointing the camera at her.

We found this box and card on our chairs at the dining room table. My parents got James and me (and Kris and Jill) Advent calendars from Starbucks and Starbucks gift cards. Growing up, Kris and I always had Advent calendars to help us count down the days till Christmas. We posted them on the fridge and I remember it was so exciting to open the little doors on the calendars each day. The closer and closer it got to Christmas, the bigger and more exciting each door was to open. It's pretty exciting even now because this particular Advent calendar ... well, it has Starbucks chocolate truffles inside behind each door! And they're not just plain, boring chocolate (can chocolate ever be truly boring?). They're TRUFFLES. Dark and milk chocolate. Yum.

Jill & Kris checking out their Advent calendar.

Emma's first taste of mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving dinner table. She slept through most of our meal because when we ate, it was her naptime. She woke up at the very end and here's Grammy holding her with the sleep sack (i.e., wearable blanket and one of the most helpful baby products we own) still on.

My dad. Happy and at the head of the table. He always carves the turkey and mashes the potatoes. Doesn't he have such a happy face?

One of my other favorite pictures this Thanksgiving. Auntie and niece. Emma was so wiggly and excited to explore (she is this way the majority of the time these days), that I was lucky to get this one shot of the two of them.

Gramma Pam came up to help James and me the day after Thanksgiving. She stayed at our house and played with Emma while we got to get out and have a date night! We've recently started this twice-monthly outing with the help of Emma's grandparents. The second Friday of each month, my parents watch Emma. The fourth Friday of each month, Pam watches Emma. It's a double bonus -- James and I get time to hang out alone together AND Emma gets to spend some quality time alone with her some of her awesome grandparents.

We got Emma a new chair for eating at the table with us. Here she is, clearly not so interested in the food Gramma Pam is trying to feed her (What else is new? Our kid doesn't care about food ... where on earth did she get that trait?).

Gramma Pam brought surprises with her on her visit. She got Emma two new Santa books and this adorable, warm and cozy winter hat! It's the softest, thickest fleece and will be perfect for when Emma goes Christmas tree hunting with us next weekend! It keeps her little ears all warm. She looks so good in hats, doesn't she?

We also made a Babies R Us run (twice in two days ... we love that place) and Gramma Pam got Emma another new farm animals book, a cozy Christmas outfit and some new pants.

All in all, it was a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. So many things to be thankful for and we continually praise God for the great happiness He brings to our lives in the form of family and friends. The holiday season is in full force right now we love celebrating with our sweet little girl!