Preparing Thanksgiving with 3 sets of helping hands

I love Thanksgiving, it's up in the top 3 of my favorite holidays!  I think the reason I love it so much is because of all the Thanksgivings that I remember growing up..I always wondered how we could always fit that many people in our house and how we always had more than enough food!

This year was a little different in that I was making the food with 3 little helpers all around, and I mean all around, in my arms, around my legs, sitting across the counter wanting to do the crafting project.  It was interesting, but as I sit here early on Thanksgiving morning, I can smell the stuffing in the over, I'm looking at the apple pie (still never looks as good as the ones that my Grandmother, Mom and Aunts made!), the table it set, the "Happy Thanksgiving" handcrafted banner is hung, and our Parade Bingo cards are ready to go!  Miracles do happen!

I miss Bryan terribly, especially when his favorite Pumpkin pie was baking in the oven.  The great thing is, that we get to do it all over again when he gets home!  During deployments we never let him miss the real cooking or celebrations of the holidays, so that is what he tells me that he is looking forward too!

As much as I hate not having our family all together, there is so much to be thankful for:
1.  I am thankful that even though Bryan can't be here, we have wonderful neighbors (friends, really) who will be celebrating the day with us!
2. I am very thankful for all of the wonderful Thanksgiving memories that I have, and they always make me smile.
3.  I am thankful for 3 amazing children, who are the center of my world.
4.  I am thankful for my family who is always there for me no matter what.
5  I am thankful for friends, from childhood, adulthood, and countless duty stations, who have come into my life. 

I could go on and on, but there is still some cooking to be done and 3 kids who need some breakfast before they start grabbing at the bags of butterhorns on the counter!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!