Thanksgiving Thanks

It is important on this day of thanks to really think about what we have to be thankful for. In the middle of a conversation with Alexa last weekend, where she was listing for me more toys she wanted. I found myself saying, "Why is it no matter what you have you always want something that you don't have?" And as I said those words, I thought, we all do this. I do this. I am doing it right now even as I am telling her not to. I think of things I have lost and things I want and forget to be grateful for all that I have in my life now. So here it is. My list of what I am thankful for this year.

• My children. They never cease to amaze me with their honesty and innocence in life. My will and my drive comes from the deepest love for them and has been there ever since I knew they existed.
• My health. As a chronic hypochondriac and worrier I am thankful for the fact that my physical woes are largely in my head.
• My family. The people who know me best and continue to offer me support and laughter at the points when I need it most.
• A house to live in.
• Wonderful neighbors that help me on a regular basis.
• A job that, on most days, I really enjoy doing that gives me the chance to try to put a little more good out into the world.
• Friends who truly are able to laugh and listen. I am truly grateful to be surrounded by happy and positive people.
• I am thankful that, through experience, I have come to love, let go, and forgive. And that I know for a fact that everything will work out as it was meant to.
• I am thankful that for every door that closes there has indeed been a window.
• I am thankful that things between my ex-husband and myself are very polite and civil. Occasionally boarding on friendly.
• I am thankful that the trash guys drove over in a pick up truck in the snow yesterday to give me a new trash can because someone stole my old one last week. And I am thankful that the new one is WAY better than the old one.
• I am thankful for the food that I can eat.
•  A savings account.
• I am thankful that while I do not get to see everyone for Thanksgiving, we will all be together this year for Christmas.
• Health and dental insurance
• Enough money to pay the bills and treat myself to fun things every now and then.
• That for today, the dog hasn't eaten anything he wasn't suppose to.
• I am thankful that I can give my daughter a birthday party.
• I am thankful that the kids are doing well in school.
• I am thankful for each night that turns into a morning.
• I am thankful that I am getting better at protecting myself and (as my sister says), "Not picking at scabs on my heart." Some things need to be left alone to heal. 
• I am thankful that the woman who walked by me on my way into the store yesterday yelling about farm animals and the greed of the government just kept on walking because I was in way to peaceful of a mood to try to take that in.
• I am thankful that I made to the library before they closed for the holiday.
• I am thankful that my car is still running (knock on wood).
• I am thankful for the Internet and Skype which lets me see my family even if I can not be with them.
• I am thankful for such a fun 5K to run today. What a wonderful cause (benefiting the food shelf) and excellent energy from racers and organizers alike.
• I am thankful that honesty, compassion, and kindness always come back around when you least expect it.

Lastly, I am thankful that Alexa drew this picture for the school art box, but then decided he was too cute and wanted to keep him. Because that means that I now get to hang him up, and I just think he is the cutest turkey ever.

Thanksgiving

OK, so I have been holding out on you a bit. I owe about a weeks worth of posts. Things have been rather busy around our little house. We had a lot of company over Thanksgiving which made for a really fun week. Along with the usual turkey and fixings, there were...

Cute, cuddly, little babies named Sam...

piano playing...

tiara adjustments and princess finery...

dance shows...

a lot of taira wearing factored into things...

butterfly sunglasses...

cute, cuddly dogs...

pathetic mooching dogs...

worn out squirrel chasing dogs...

and more cute, cuddly Sam moments.

We also learned a few things. We learned:

• three girls can all sleep in one bedroom and actually mostly sleep
• two little girls can share one bed and actually sleep, if they are properly worn out from a long day
• making a good case for downsizing the McMansions of this world five adults and four children can actually get along in a house just under 1,300 square feet with one bathroom. Although I wouldn't want to test that for too long.
• Grammie Eva will just keep on knitting things for ever if you keep feeding her and giving her access to new yarn. Her week's work: three hats, three pairs of mittens, and one pair of socks. The woman is a machine!
• snow pants are excellent protection for children going ice skating for the first time.
• a scant 1/8 inch of snow can send three children outside on a quest to build a snowman... not terribly successful, but it cleared them out of the house for a bit.
• Three little girls can take a shower at one time and think it is fun too
• four adults working together do not actually know a lot of the crossword puzzle answers

We really enjoyed having everyone. Alexa told me on Sunday, "I am really sad that everyone had to go home." We miss you and are so glad you came. Next time we will make sure to pack in Aunt Andrea and Uncle Ryan. I know they both look great in tiaras.

Invitations

The girls will be with me for Thanksgiving this year. We haven't spent on together for three years now. They are excited to say the least. We are hosting the dinner and the kids love to have people come to our house. Alexa wanted to make sure people were excited about coming. She drew a picture of all a yummy things we would have for Thanksgiving.

Does that not look delicious? How the real food will compare I really don't know.

All this drawing to get people to come for Thanksgiving made her think about Christmas. She wanted to make sure Santa knew he was welcome. So she drew this Santa.

I thought it was to hang up some where. It turns out it is a necklace.

She said, "Santa will definitely come now. Since I look all Santa-y."

Talkin Turkey

In an attempt to save the dog from any further decorating. I directed the girls to making paper turkeys. We put them up on the front door so Chloe can rest at ease since we are now properly decorated for the holiday.

So now we are decorated for the holiday!

The Forgotten Holiday

The rush to rip down the Halloween decorations is on. Some stores have had Christmas decorations going strong for some time. It may seem that the poor holiday of Thanksgiving is falling by the wayside. Where are all the turkeys and corn stalks marking the season? Well, just to prove the Thanksgiving is not all forgotten Chloe decided to decorate for the event.

Of course she decorated the dog.

I present to you Cabbie the corn stalk. Can't you just hear him sighing?