Yes, growing up we heard the stories of how our grandparents and parents walked uphill in the snow to school, both ways. We have proof that this can and is true. Gabe and Avery walking to school.
After school we started our preparation for our dinner. We found a little turkey crown that fit perfectly into our oven. Our menu included turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, corn bread muffins, dinner rolls, corn, and cole slaw. Then we ended with pumpkin pie with whipping cream. 
Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without family. This Thanksgiving we are so thankful for technology! So, even though we are thousands of miles away from family we got a chance to skype and wish our families, "Happy Thanksgiving." What a blessing! 
We were also blessed to have a co-worker of Cam's who teaches sciences at St. Lousie's who happens to be an American citizen as well as Irish join us in our celebrations. It has been awhile since she has had a Thanksgiving dinner. The kids especially loved having Deirdre over and welcomed all the attention that she gave them. We are blessed to have these experiences here in Northern Ireland and even though it feels different to celebrate the Holidays without the friends and family that normally surround us we feel God's love as He cares and provides for us in a strange land.
On Tuesday and Thursday of this week the Primary 3 class (Gabe's class) invited me in to teach them a bit about an American Thanksgiving. We learned a little of the history and the why behind Thanksgiving. Then we made autumn place mats to be laminated and taken home. 
We finished with coloring sheets of the different Thanksgiving foods and then ate some corn bread muffins which was a new taste to many of the students. 
I had fun teaching and learning a little more about the classroom environment in Northern Ireland. They are a great bunch of learners and very accepting of an American accent.
There is nothing like pumpkin pie and snow on Thanksgiving Day! Our first time to experience snow on a Thanksgiving Day. Of course it's our first to experience going to school on Thanksgiving Day also! We woke up to just a bit of snow on the ground with ice crystals on top of that. The kids were thrilled and walking to school only added to it. We glided (stroller included) into the school yard right as the bell rang. Elise and I will head back up to Gabe's classroom this afternoon to teach a little bit about an American Thanksgiving and then we will head home to prepare our little "feast". 
Here are some views from up top of Scrabo Hill. This area overlooks the Strangford Lough and on clear days you can see Scotland and the Isle of Man. The word Scrabo is said to come from the Gaelic words for cow pasture. There is evidence of what used to be a Dominician monastic estate on the hill. The tower was made as a monument for a well known and respected Marquis in 1857. 
After the tower was built, William McKay, a foreman at the quarry lived there with his wife and eight children! The tower stayed in their family for 100 years where they ran a very popular tea room. It is now a part of the Country Park for Northern Ireland.
There were many trails around the hill which gave us breathtaking views of the countryside.
