Thanksgiving 2014 ♥

Thanksgiving was a little more special this year than previous years. Don't get me wrong, it has always been special but because of the year that we've had as a family our gratefulness for being able to enjoy this time together was deeply felt.

I love being surrounded by my family more than anything. There is a feeling of calm, peace and just pure happiness when I'm surrounded by the people I know love me more than others in this world. I'm aware that not everyone gets to feel this way so I'm grateful that I do.

It was a beautiful day, with freshly fallen snow that just made the day seem even more magical. I, of course, took pictures because I realized that lately my love for documenting days with pictures has actually decreased. The camera is no longer attached to my hip and I can't let that happen because taking pictures is what people expect of me (since they know I love it so much) and when I'm not doing it, it's weird to them. So, I snapped and I snapped and I have to tell you it felt good to do something that I really love doing. Taking pictures and capturing moments and being able to have that particular moment frozen in time forever. There's nothing quite like it.

Every year, we have a system that we stick to. I'm in charge of the turkey, homemade mashed potatoes with gravy, baked broccoli, corn and stuffing with cranberries. My sister Emma is in charge of the baked Mac and Cheese and jollof rice, my sister Priscilla surprises us every year with what she makes. This year it was chicken masala and it was amazing! My little sister Maryanna is always in charge of desserts. It is a little strange that with all the pictures I took, I didn't get all of our spread so if you wanted to see baked broccoli, Mac & cheese, jollof rice, chicken masala or some desserts, I apologize! Any who, I love that we do this every year and it makes being in the kitchen slaving all day so much fun. I can't imagine doing this with any other people but my sisters.

OK, enough of my rambling, here's my Thanksgiving day! ♥


Time to make a snowman!
He was so excited that we forgot momentarily that he did not have a coat on.
Bad aunties.



Completed Lego snowman!

Priscilla wanted nothing to do with it :).
She also got engaged the day after Thanksgiving! Congrats P and Ben! ♥

Emma's birthday is November 11th so Priscilla made her a birthday cake.

I also took Christmas pictures for my sister, BIL and niece.
I won't share any that I think made the cut that way my sister's Christmas card is somewhat a surprise.


My sister then made me get behind the camera that way I could have some fun in the snow with my nephew and Sean.
But not before I snapped the picture on the left of my sister laughing after Sean made a joke.



Then it was my sister's and I's turn to get silly.



I think my youngest sister is the cutest.

OK, let's see some food!
Mr. Sean was too excited to carve the turkey before we ate that I didn't get a before shot.





After we ate, we sang happy birthday to Emma.
Look at my niece and nephew helping her blow out the candles.



Then family pictures of course.





And that's my Thanksgiving in a million and one pictures.
I must say that I am ending this post with a lot more happiness than I began with :).