10 items of Thanks

Thanksgiving started with a bang.  Literally.  I woke up.  It was dark and I proceeded to walk into a door.  I managed to both hit my face and scrape the top of my big toe.  I collapsed to the ground, moaning, in a fetal position.  It was not the start to the day that I envisioned.

1st thing I am thankful for this year: my kids' love of reading
Luckily, the morning got a little better.  Around 6:30 in the morning, I heard noise next to me.  I looked down and found this.

I am thankful all my kids love reading.  Robin has developed an affinity for Calvin and Hobbes.  Eventually, I rolled out of bed and got myself coffee, ready to start the day.  

2nd item of thanks: my husband's family
The Dimocks are an easy going, flexible group.  I was not planning to host Thanksgiving this year.  We were supposed to go to my in-laws.  However, both my sister, Sally, and sister-in-law, Jenna, were due with babies in November.  Jenna had already announced she would not be at Thanksgiving.  I didn't want my sister to have the responsibility of hosting with a baby on the way, possibly a newborn.  In October, I asked everyone if they would be open to not doing Thanksgiving this year.  Everyone agreed.  No big deal.  My mother-in-law was happy to lend me her electric roaster once again. I am thankful for the wonderful family I married into.

3rd item of thanks:  Babies!

On Thanksgiving my poor sister was 10 days past her due date.  Jenna was about a week before her due date.  I spent the day messaging with both of them, wondering just exactly when I would become an aunt again.  I love babies so much.  Few things make me as happy as holding a baby, especially a newborn.  I'm thankful that these women in my life have shared their pregnancies with me.  Sally and Gino came to Thanksgiving, a surprise to all of us.

This morning (one day post Thanksgiving), I awoke to my message from my sister-in-law.  I have a new baby niece! She is beautiful.  I shocked myself by beginning to cry when I saw her.  Motherhood has made me a complete sap.

4th item of thanks: Target

I got both an awesome pilgrim hat and turkey hat in the Target dollar bins.  Robin spent the day "stuffing" the turkey hat and seasoning it with pretend sprinkles.  It was awesome.  I think I can rock a pilgrim hat pretty well.

I love so much of the new Target styles, both clothes and housewares.  Sometimes I wish I had a completely empty house and unlimited funds, just so I could redecorate with Target. 

5th Item of Thanks:  my fun family

Dinner this year was entertaining.  Yoon enjoyed his first Thanksgiving feast.  Turkey was his favorite.  Robin's favorite part of cutting food with a knife.  He did eventually cut a hole in a roll, stuff it with turkey and cranberry, and eat it.  Really, pretty ingenious.  Linus, Dave, and Eileen the Elder had their own idea of fun.

In addition to pies, my aunt, Eileen, brought a classy soup tureen which I opted to use as decoration versus having to wash another dish.

6th Item of Thanks:  Pinterest

I am thankful for Pinterest.  I was not a very good cook when Dave and I got married.  Pinterest sparked a desire in me to learn how to cook.  I've gotten better at improving/adjusting/merging recipes.  I've ventured outside my comfort zone to try making new things.  If it weren't for Pinterest, I would still be making most everything out of box.

Side note: my turkey rocked (as well as my other dishes)

7th Item of Thanks:  my kids love of costumes

I recently had the kids costume box.  It was hard to say goodbye to the amazing toddler size costumes, but I was able to give them to a friend who would definitely get use out of them.  My kids have always played with costumes. Even as they get older, all three still love to dress up. Thanksgiving was no exception.  

A forlorn grim reaper (not pictured is his ball and chain).

8th Item of Thanks: my husband

Dave is a truly good guy.  I love that he plays with our kids.  In the morning, he took all four kids to the park for an hour so I could prep food in peace.  Afterwards, he played board games with the kids.  I couldn't host Thanksgiving if I didn't have him quietly by my side, supporting me.

A lot of board games have been played in the last few days.  I finally got to sit down and play Ticket to Ride with them today.  Dave demolished all of us.  It was not even close.

9th Item of Thanks: my situation in life

This year Dave took a job at Blue Origins.  While the commute is less than ideal, it's an awesome job and makes Dave happy.  I like my job, the people I work with, and the students.  We have a nice home that is big enough for me to host holidays relatively easily.  Even if life is not always easy, I am grateful for what I do have.

10th Item of Thanks:  the nap I got today

Seriously.  The 3 days before Thanksgiving were parent-teacher conferences.  It is mentally exhausting.  Add in hosting Thanksgiving, sports practices, and multiple doctor appointments, and I was exhausted.  I asked Dave if he would mind if I laid down.  I then promptly fell asleep for an hour and woke up feeling 10 times better.

In the next few days, I hope to meet my new niece and nephew and we'll start to get into the Christmas holiday season.  I doubt I will ever have another Thanksgiving where I'm eagerly awaiting the birth of two babes at any moment.  It added a different feel to the day and for that I am thankful.