Thanksgiving McDowell Style!

The McDowell Family Turkey Bowl.

Ty and Kate: Grateful for their sweet cousins!

The entire McDowell crew.
Brady, Ashlyn, Jeana, Ashley and Alyse.
Russ's bum big toe, courtesy of a sprinkler head.
The "girls only" club. Poor little Ty!

Well, talk about the perfect Thanksgiving! We ate, laughed, chatted, played football and even managed to get everyone together for a group shot (no easy task)! Mike and I hosted the event this year and enjoyed every minute of watching the family hang-out and enjoy each other's company. You'd think that with most of us living right here in the valley that we'd see each other more, but it takes a holiday to pull us all to one spot. Luckily, Russ and Denise and their kids were all there with the exception of Garrett, who we missed. Ashlyn came from Idaho, where she is going to college and playing Volleyball (at 6' 1" she's a natural talent), so it was great to see her with her cousins. We were also lucky to have our cousin, Jeanette, come all the way from Arkansas, too. We were pulling them in from all over! We missed Rick and Becky's family and also John, but we understand that you've got to split loyalties sometimes. Thank goodness Cheri and Steve just brought Jack with them, so we gained one instead of losing 6. Regardless, we had a fantastic time with only a few football casualties to report. It was a great day to celebrate and think over the many, many things that we have to be grateful for: our family, our freedom, our good health and of course, the blessing of the gospel in our lives.