Back from a Turkey Day break...

Gobble Gobble!

We spent the week in CA with my parents and had a really great time! Some of the highlights...



-- Mom took care of the kids for a couple days so Scott and I could have time all to ourselves! The B&B Scott and I stayed in ("The Grateful Bed") was pure heaven!










-- Lots of relaxing, reading, doing puzzles and playing games.



-- The entire family was happy and relaxed!




-- Hayley made some fantastic turkey hats for all of us to wear!

Family from back left... Joe, Barbara, Scott, Kate, Ken, Will
From front left... Gillian, Sophia, Emma, Hayley, Matthew and Brandon
(Pam was taking the photo. I need to photoshop her in here!)


-- Watching the deer play outside Mom and Dad's back yard! (Hayley took these photos, btw.)


















-- All the kids (ages 4, 5, 7, 8 and 11) played so nicely together!



-- Thanksgiving dinner was delicioso! Turkey, gravy, two different kinds of stuffings, mashed potatoes, green beans, turnips/rutabagas, two different kinds of cranberry sauce, roasted cauliflower, Pam's famous Green Fluff, rolls, pumpkin cake, apple pie and chocolate cream pie. Heaven on a plate, I tell ya!


-- Writing on the Thankful tablecloth... Last year, we started the tradition of everyone writing what they're thankful for on the Thanksgiving tablecloth. Of course, family and friends are mentioned often, but here are some of the more unique entries... cheese (from Emma), the Red Sox (from Joe), soda (from Matthew), my mouse (from Sophia).



-- Schatzie (the dog) stole the turkey leg off the table while we were all taking family photos!



-- We got to swim in the motel pool (and sit in the hot tub) on the way to CA and on the way back.

Are here are just a couple other photos I thought were funny...

Sophia... Just a little excited, ya think?



Schatzie... The picture of patience...
Mom and Me... Isn't this a great photo?


And now we're home again, home again, jiggedy, jig (remember that nursery rhyme?) and it's December!!!!

I love December. Of course, it all the holiday excitement, but also the birthday month for both Scott and I. I relish the traditions, the music, the decorations, the spirit and most of all, the fact that more people are thinking about Jesus.

And contrary to most people, I don't get stressed out because of the holidays. I'm so organized, have my shopping done and packages shipped super-early. There's not much to do except enjoy it all!

Today I'm going to pull out all the holiday decs and get a few things up. The girls love, love, love helping with this, so I'll leave most of it for them. We won't get our tree for another week or so since they don't generally like to survive longer than a couple weeks.

The girls are busy practicing holiday music for their recitals/concerts. Hayley is learning "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Frosty the Snowman". Emma is learning seven (!!!) different songs. They are all fairly easy since she's in a concert with a bunch of little girls who are not as advanced as she is.

So off I go to tackle my laundry list of daily tasks while enjoying the bits of holiday cheer I can intersperse among them all.


Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!