Thanksgiving

 We drove up to Rochester on Tuesday for our Thanksgiving break. We normally go up Saturday and spend the whole week but between Nutcracker rehearsal and Brandon's play rehearsal and the fact that my kids missed three days of school for Disney and Josh had a lot to do for church meant that we waited and went later. It meant we didn't get to go to the temple like we usually do on Tuesday and we didn't get to eat all of my favorite foods at home but it worked out fine. We made good time Tuesday and even let Lily drive us up to Annapolis.  We had dinner and just relaxed that evening talking with my parents and KayLee and we played some games too. Then Wednesday Kara and my mom made pies while Josh and I went to Wegmans and then I made my pie and strawberry pretzel Jello salad. We helped my mom take down all of the fall decor because she was tired of it and ready for Christmas. We also went to Abbot's for lunch and it was so tasty. Josh and Curtis also helped my dad with a bunch of TV connection kind of things to get their system all set up. Then we got Pontillos and went to KayLee's to eat dinner and then we went to the mall for a little bit. My kids love the mall; my sweet country kids. Brandon rode up and down the escalator at least four times and my sweet brother-in-law went with him and later asked why we had bothered to take Brandon to Disney when he was perfectly happy just riding an escalator. :) 

Thursday we watched the parade and I made yams and apples and when my mom forgot to make the rolls I reminded her and saved Thanksgiving! We played some euchre and Jeopardy and watched some football and it was a nice, relaxing day. My mom is such a great cook and dinner was so delicious. We always watch a Christmas movie Thanksgiving night so we watched Home Alone and ate our pie and it was great. I have much to be grateful for and I am so grateful for my kids, a husband who loves me so much, health, a good job that supports us so well, family vacations, music, ballet, sports, good food, sunshine, flowers, books, scriptures, prayer, the temple, a prophet, my patriarchal blessing--so much. I live a very blessed life and I know gratitude is an important part of happiness and being a disciple of Jesus Christ so I try to express it often because I do feel it very deeply. Anyway, it was wonderful Thanksgiving. 

On Friday KayLee had to work but Kara came with us to the mall and KayLee came and met up with us during her lunch break. I wasn't really in the mood to spend money (we're still paying off Disney) but we got some good deals on white shirts for Curtis for church and boots for Emma and some clothes for Lily. I also got some sweaters for Josh for Christmas that were only $16 a piece which was a total score. Then Josh took Lily to urgent care because even though she had been on antibiotics for a week, she wasn't getting any better from her pneumonia. She was still so tired and coughing and she still couldn't breathe right. After two hours she got a different antibiotic and now a week later, she seems to finally be recovering. She is still coughing and isn't feeling well but she is definitely better. While Josh was doing that I helped my parents put up their tree and the village and other decor. They are getting up there in age and this time I really felt it. They are slowing down and not remembering things as well and while I am so grateful that they are incredibly healthy, things are different. I love them so much and know our time together is limited and precious so I enjoyed helping them and being with them. 

 

That night we all went to see Moana 2 which was cute and it was just fun to go see a movie together, especially since it was the theater that Josh used to work at and it is always fun to reminisce about the first time we held hands and such. We came back for more pie and games and watching Jeopardy and then Lily went over to have a sleep over with Kara. Saturday morning we packed up and had breakfast and hit the road by 10. It was an easy, quick drive and we made it to Cafe Rio by just after 4pm where we ran into the Rays! I had told Michelle we always go there on our way home so they decided to stop on their way home too and we caught them finishing up but they stayed and talked with us, which was so nice and fun. Then they headed out and we went to get our Christmas tree. It was so cold so we were pretty quick about it and when we got it home we realized it is a bit smaller than we like them but it is still a nice tree. We got back around 7pm and set up the tree and unpacked and got ready for Sunday. It was a nice, quick trip home and I'm so grateful for my parents and my sister and that we got to spend some time with them. It makes me so, so happy that my kids love going to their grandparents' house because I never had that as a kid and I'm so glad they do. I don't know how many more years we'll be able to go, so each time we can, it is a gift.