Tender Tennessee Christmas :)

My absolute favorite Christmas song is "Tender Tennessee Christmas" because, though we can be assured of snow when we spend Christmas in Minnesota, nothing says Christmas like spending it with our families in Tennessee.  This year I did not have to work over Christmas for the first time in three years and so we both took vacation and traveled back for a week at home.  It was perfect timing really because J was really into Christmas for the first time and both of our families were able to enjoy it with us.

First snowman building

Cute boy in a new reindeer hat

This year's visits (above and below) with Santa were not the success story of last year (everyone needs one of these shots though, right?)  And I wouldn't have wanted to talk to the Santa below either- weird with the Crocs!

First real gingerbread house for the both of us

Loving his new play kitchen/activity table

Helping put Daddy's Christmas gift (a smoker) together

Favorite farm thing- climbing on the tractor twice a day everyday!  This kid needs a farm

Grandaddy with a portion of his grandkids and great-grandkids

Family Christmas pic 2013

Dump truck, train and a farm book!

More tractors and trains

 Hanging out with aunts and uncles :)  My favorite picture of the whole trip!

Little red hat

I was finally was able to get a crochet project 6 months in the making completed in November.  I had been trying to make a hat and blanket for my newest baby cousin for literally over 6 months.  When she actually turned 6 months old- I thought it was about time to get my rear in gear.

Finally finished just in time for the cutest Santa pic ever with the little red hat in the last couple of shots here!  Looks like I'm going to have a busy January and February with lots of orders from various people :) Jackson already got his things with a new pair of slippers and a new hat for the rest of the winter.

Thanksgiving....a few months late

I am a terrible blogger.

Obviously.

But tonight I am out to remedy that and catch up on major events in the Harris family.

Like Thanksgiving (see below).

And Christmas (give me a few minutes).

This year I decided to host Thanksgiving for our family and some friends who were without family in town.  In total we had 10 adults and 4 children and so, given our small 1950 house- we moved the dining table to the living room to eat and then, because we have great friends, we moved the table back and let the kids have at the toys :)

I made my first ever turkey this year- pomegranate-glazed black pepper turkey a'la Bobby Flay.  It was delicious and entirely beginner's luck I'm sure.

Everyone else brought delicious things too.
 

(Note Jackson posing next to the food)  ;)
























We are so grateful to not only have had the day to celebrate our blessings and our family but also to have a great group of friends to share it with.