Happy Friendsgiving!

Everyone knows that Thanksgiving is a time to for family and a time to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives.  When you live so far away from home, the only way to survive it all is to develop friends who are like family, and we are blessed to have done just that.

Friends who are like family + a time to give thanks = Friendsgiving!

We had our first ever Friendsgiving dinner the other night at the Casa de Acosta, and good times were had by all.  

The Acostas with our 2 little Turkeys!

The Hayes (got the photo of Jake before he could protest)

(Somehow, we did not managed to get a family pic of the Malnars...boo!)

Like you do on Thanksgiving, our Friendsgiving was spent sitting around the table, eating delicious food, sharing stories and reminiscing on good times we've had.  

At some point in the night, we were remembering when the Hayes moved here in 2009.  None of us had kids then, and it was just us 6 adults.  Now, we have 5 KIDS to add to that mix!  So naturally, we decided to take a picture of all that cuteness that makes our everyday lives something to be thankful for.  

Here is their best shot...

(I may or may not have just noticed that Jackson and Jillian are holding hands...)

But it took all of these to get there...

Our first Friendsgiving is in the books!  As a result of our Friendsgiving Dinner, here are the things that remind me to "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart"

- The amazing opportunity to our friends' kids grow as spunky, rambunctious, delightful little boys right before our eyes.  We love them so much!  And it is a blessing to know that the Malnars and the Hayes love my kids too.  

- How everyone pitched in to make this dinner happen.  Everyone brought food to make the meal complete, some held babies and played with kids while others served food and cleaned.  They say it takes a village...

- Health and happiness for our 3 little families, and lots of warm thoughts and prayers when one of us needs it

- Christen's chocolate lasagna (y'all...she makes the best desserts in the world.  So good that they deserve to go on this sappy list.  You know that's one good dessert!)

Happy Friendsgiving!!!