Thankful Tree 2015

Before I post about a few other things, I wanted to write about our Thankful Tree this year. It started out looking like this:

 And ended like this:

The idea is that each night of November, after dinner, we each write down on a leaf one thing that we're thankful for. Admittedly, we did forget a few times, but it's my favorite Thanksgiving tradition.
Here's a sampling of our leaves. In no particular order.

Dan: Work, healthy bodies, spinning (the kids love to spin him around), our house, games, Eli, Kristen's cooking, Afton, Sam, chairs, Kristen, indoor plumbing, grandmas and grandpas, earth, water, cars, families, food, fun, music, testimonies, and electricity.

Kristen: Chocolate chip cookies, bedtime, blankets, sunshine, when dinner doesn't last forever (my kids can take FOREVER to eat!), ice cream, color, Dan, Sam, Afton, Eli, books, temples, music, Jesus Christ, sisters, mousetraps (literally - not the game), mountains, freedom, Sundays, warm fall days, washer and dryer, chores, peace, honey, Veterans Day, clouds, Saturdays, holidays.

Sam: Minds, cutie Afton, treasure hunts, hearts, omnivores, life, dishes, nature, our bodies, chutes and ladders, mom, family home evening, water/ocean/lakes/stream/river, strength, wildlife, spirits, Mom's wonderful cooking, wild kratts, Dad, wonderful earth, mammals (including Mom), Indians, Christmas, carnivores, friends, each one of these (with arrows pointing to the other leaves).

Afton: (The ones I can read, at least.) House, Dan, sun, beaks, sisters, "teeveeys", world, birds, sunset, grass, Dad, eyes, Sam, crayons, horses, night, pets. (Please note she doesn't have any sisters or pets.) I'll have to ask her after she gets home from school what some of her other leaves say. I can't remember and I can't figure them out!