Best Thanksgiving EVER!

This past Thanksgiving was one of the most memorable Thanksgivings I have ever had!  Mel, John and the kids drove in from Georgia just in time to celebrate!  I was honored to be the host and to get to prepare (with the help of my wonderful Mother in law) the Thanksgiving FEAST.  If you know me, this was a HUGE task and such an INCREDIBLE accomplishment!  Mel and Mare are incredible cooks and gifted hosts and oftentimes guide me along in my attempts to become one of them:)

I have to say the dinner was GREAT and the company even BETTER!

Our "Tree of Thanks" and blessing our Thanksgiving meal.

Yep, that's Jud at the bottom of the tree that said he was thankful for big muscles.  Way to teach your kids to take it seriously...  :)

The next day we took a family train ride to Glen Ellyn to eat at "2 Toots" restaurant.  It was so cute!

It's a little diner that has a train track that runs through it.  The train carries your food right to your table.  The kids loved it!

John Andrew Batusic…ADORABLE!

Saturday was rainy, but you know what??  Who said a rainy day isn't a good day to head to the zoo??

The "Family Zoo"

A rainy walk to the Dolphin show.

An early Christmas present from my hubby…LOVE it!

Sunday was bowling day!  We had the whole basement lanes to ourselves.  The kids had a blast running around and occasionally knocking down the pins:)

That night Ali was pooped and must've fallen asleep doing her devotions :)

Mel is such a gifted and talented artist!  She would probably say she wasn't but, this is evidence of her brilliant skills:)  She is the best gift giver and the most thoughtful person.  One of her goals while she was here was to make this project and not just to make it but to teach her little sis how to make one too. I am so blessed to have her in my life and don't know where I would be without her.  I love you Mel!

A burlap wreath.  So cute and easy!

Aunt Mel loved walking Ali to her bus every morning!

"Open Gym" at the Wagner center.  It was chilly outside so it was nice to have a place for the kids to run around!

Making turkey cookies.

Sadly, this was the last day of our time together:(  This is also where my sis left her camera not realizing it until that evening.  Thanks to Elmhurst Park District and an honest woman, it is back in the loving arms of a beautiful, kind, loving, and incredibly amazing Georgian…Melissa Ann Batusic.

What a spectacular time we had with the Batusic Clan!  John, Melissa, Andrew, Jacob, and Allie Grace, we will never forget the memories that we made Thanksgiving of 2011.  We love you all and can't wait to see you in a couple weeks!!