Previous Thanksgiving Celebrations

Happy almost Thanksgiving! In honor of the holiday, I'm sharing just a few pictures of our previous Thanksgivings that we've celebrated.

I do always love Thanksgiving week. It reminds me of cozy time inside at home with extended family, almost always celebrated in Vernon Hills, with lots of traditions and just laid-back celebrations. It has a certain excitement and feeling for me- especially on the day right before it, right before all our visitors usually get in town. It seems like all the work chaos settles down (when I was in public schools, I was fortunate that I always worked at a school that took the entire week off) and that the holiday season really kicks off.

Last year, we celebrated at my parents' house in Vernon Hills with some of the extended family in from North Carolina, Missouri, other parts of Illinois, and Iowa. 

When we were in town there, we were also able to go to my Aunt Sue's to celebrate Thanksgiving and my Grandma's birthday with my Grandma for the first time ever!

We also made it down to Louisiana to celebrate with Shane's family last year. Lots of long drives for us last Thanksgiving!

The year before that, it was my first time that I didn't celebrate at home with my own family, due to COVID. Shane's parents were moving out of his childhood home in Virginia soon after, so we spent that Thanksgiving with his immediate family at their house in Virginia.

The year before that, we were back in Vernon Hills as my mom hosted everyone for the weekend! We had the usual crew, along with my cousin Allison and her family that live in Colorado.

The year before that, I think it was Shane's first Thanksgiving that he was able to come to my parents' to celebrate with everyone. It's always so nice to get so much of my mom's side of the family together for this.

One of our Thanksgiving traditions that we do with the extended family in town? We don't do it every year, but every so often we head to nearby Whirlyball. Late night bumper cars while playing on teams to toss a ball into your hoop to score? So much fun!

Once upon a time, I used to go out with my hometown besties to celebrate Black Wednesday. We find a time to get together whenever we're home for Thanksgiving to celebrate now, but our Black Wednesday bar nights have come to an abrupt end!

Love when my neighborhood/childhood bestie, Tim, is also home for Thanksgiving so we can get together for some Home Alone watching to kick off the season or just to chill with the families! This pic was from many years ago.

Because of traveling from so far and never having my own kitchen for the holiday, I have the easy job of always just showing up for Thanksgiving, but I will say that Stephanie and I hosted a Friendsgiving in our Houston apartment way back when once!

Such a special time of family, food, and celebrations. I'm not a huge Thanksgiving food person, and I swear I eat more on any other normal day of the year, but I do enjoy it! What's your favorite tradition or favorite way to celebrate? Wishing you and yours the happiest of Thanksgivings this year. Despite all the struggles and challenges, there is still so much to be thankful for. <3