some thankful moments from our thanksgiving break.

1. getting to spend so much time with family. it was such a blessing to watch my girls with their cousins, watch jessa play "hide and peek" with papa, enjoying time around the table with an endless bounty of scrumptious food.











2. my quality shopping time with dad...and then again with mama. this is always a special time to 'catch up' with just us. a time to meander and stroll, and then quickly realize that we've been out for entirely too long and book it through the last two stops to get home to hungry people.
3. being told some of the most fabulous news these two ears on the side of my head could hear. ready for it? i was informed by grammy 'o' that it's "my turn" to be taken to england/france with her. we are planning a strategic trip towards the end of april/beginning of may. just the two of us. i will have the privilege of meeting some wonderful people that i've only seen in pictures and heard stories about. i will get to visit my auntie and uncle, and cuz', who live in france. i will get to see beautiful sprawling landscapes and be in pixel heaven. i might need to go buy camera #2 for back up. you know, just in case. *wink.

4. realizing my husband was in vacation paradise. i think he could have been on a tropical island and it wouldn't have mattered. the simple fact he was off work and not doing homework was vacation enough. the best part? hearing him explain how special his time had been with the girls while i was gone shopping. i'm glad that my shopping could create a treasured bond between the girls and their daddy. *smiles.











5. much needed date #2. jacob and i got to leave jess and myles with grammy and papa and took ourselves out to chinese - again. but this time, it was the best chinese on this side of...well, anywhere really. i worked at panda woks for 3+ years and try and stop in whenever i can. as i was visiting with my former employers and coworkers, we realized that it was twelve years ago that i started my first job at their establishment. the customers always guesstimated my age to just peak twelve. they encouraged me with the idea that i at least look eighteen now. i would have to respectively disagree. thanks for the effort, guys. i appreciate it. after dinner, the hubby and i grabbed starbucks for dessert and walked around hastings.

6. just being reminded of the simple truth that we are blessed beyond belief.