Thanksgiving

My eyes have filled with tears many times in the past couple of weeks. The conference, good friends, tragedy and terrible evil in Paris and Mali, frequent travel...I feel like there's an emotional ledge I'm grasping, and I don't want to release it.

But I get to go home, and see J&J, and for that, all for that, I am thrilled. I get to see my nephews and family, and even if the J&Jers are less than thrilled to see their lame old aunt, I get to see them and spend some time hanging out with them. It's the joy of my life, really.

So for a bit, I'll be relaxed and live in the moment. I'll get off this treadmill, and I'll breathe in the cool and crisp air in Michigan. Happy Thanksgiving, indeed.

Thanksgiving Memories 2013

1. J's obsession with his little cousin C. OMG when he kissed his photo on the iPhone...
2. J's cheating at Candy Land and subsequent tantrum. Like father, like son...
3. J's incessant photobombing.
4. Hearing the story of J's paper purses for his kindergarten classmates.
5. JR's cute, sweet smile. So cute...
6. Lunch with mom at Panera and looking at houseware items.
7. My mini-HS reunion. Feels like yesterday.
8. C's big boy outfits. And is he ever a big kid!
9. Kicking as$ at fantasy football with my record 230 point win. And victories by the Lions and Cowboys, a first.
10. Playing blocks and building a village with J.
11. That absolutely amazing Auburn-Alabama finish. 
12. All of boys playing in the basement playroom.
13. Talking with dad on the way from the airport.

So many great memories...

Thankful in Dallas

We spent four days in Dallas over Thanksgiving. We participated in the 8 mile Turkey Trot on Thursday morning. A great race, though crowded. I am sure I negative splitted, considering the heat and the slow go at the start. 1:14:39 is by no means great, but I'll take it. It was the top 1/3 for ladies, and there were some very in shape runners. Slow ones were in the 5K.

Besides hanging out with the nephews and niece, I also did Pinot's Palette with my SILs. I guess it was fun to be artistic and engage in a 6th grade art project, but really, it was not for me. Maybe another time with a less complex piece, right?

Other than that, we ate at the infamous Kuby's where our nephew was kicked out of. We also had lunch at Dodie's, worked out, and ate and drank to our heart's content.

And now we're back to reality. Can Christmas vacation hurry up and come?

One Day More

So I was hoping today would be nice and slow, but with the impromptu car pick up at Dulles and the last minute call to help tonight, not so much. But we'll soon be off to Dallas, and that will be enough to clear my head for a few days. Forget what's election related, work related, house related, financial related, etc. etc. Just be thankful for another year with my family, my job, my health, my friends, despite all of the crappy stuff that can happen. Just thankful.

So one day more. And that day is half over already. Thankful for that, too.

Thanksgiving in the D

Ten Things I will remember from Thanksgiving in Detroit...

1. Lots of nephew moments. "I don't want any more food. Alcohol!" He so proudly pronounced that. He also took a swig of my (empty) Blue Moon and took pictures of all of our beer.
2. And he "played" Apples to Apples.  He also proudly showed me his new bedroom and his new toyroom. Spoiled!!
3. The Daz hug.
4. Shopping at Lakeside with mom.
5. Watching football at B-Dubs with Paul and Steve.
6. And watching more football....Lions lose after Suh rages, the Cowboys eke it out against Miami, the 49ers lose the Haubaugh-bowl to Baltimore, and U-M finally beats Ohio State.
7. Good runs. One with Steve, one with Paul, and one alone.
8. Mom giving me a new prayer book and struggling with the right responses at mass.
9. Watching Jurassic Park with dad.
10. Having dinner with the whole family on Wednesday night at Roger's Roost. It doesn't happen often enough.

Thanksgiving 2010

I feel a bit like I did on Easter yesterday. Missing "my" family who were all together in my original Big D, all of them minus me. I guess Paul will be left out at Christmas, but it makes me sad that we all won't be together.

The Turkey Trot was good but sooo crowded and cold. We finished in 27:16 and 27:17.   And the game was a downer, and we lost after coming back to win.

I am grateful for a number of things. Health, jobs, family, friends.  But this year, I come being bittersweet.  I feel like surviving this year was harder than usual.  And I worry about the next one.

Thanksgiving '09

Thanksgiving was here and gone in a blink of an eye. We had a smooth flight coming in, and Kev picked us up at the airport. Then we had dinner with the whole fam at Roger's Roost on Wednesday. Joey is sooo big and cute. He was shy at first, and then cranky due to lots of missed nap time. But he looks more like a little boy now than a baby, and bigger than his pictures. He adores babies, computers, cheese, mama, that mystery box in dad's office, and shutting the door. He also likes cards, putting the ball through the little basketball hoop, looking like a baby model in his baby Gap shoes, sitting in a big-boy chair, and putting things in (and out) of trash cans. He is too awesome.

I got some shopping time in with mom at Lakeside, Target's, Kohl's. Dad gave me some new books. We watched lots of football. Celebrated L-A's big 30th birthday at Lions, Tigers, and Beers.

Must get home again soon.

What I Am Thankful For...

My husband.

My home.

To have my parents, and my parents-in-law, all healthy and happy.

My brothers and sisters-in-law.

My two awesome nephews.

To be both employed, and decently paid.

To be able to run.

To be healthy.

To have spending money.

To have so many of my friends be so happy.

S was right on Friday night; things are going well for the group, and we are at that sweet spot where we can welcome so many new lives into the world, have our parents be healthy and active, and be able to still get together once in a while. The beach weekend this year will most likely be the last, and I am grateful we have been able to spend five New Years there together, before we all become further immersed in our growing families.

We are very blessed.