Happy Thanksgiving 2008

Our Thanksgiving holiday was absolutely delightful this year. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon with our family and I loved making dinner for them this year. Last year, I was so sick in the early stages of pregnancy that we ate out. It was certainly nice to be at home, enjoy some laughs, and some seriously "bomb" (as Darci would put it) food! My favorite part? Oh, yes...Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory! Thank you, Costco, for teaming up with our friends at the Cheesecake Factory--you made one happy woman on Thanksgiving! There were four flavors, I, of course, chose the Godiva Chocolate slice. Before Thanksgiving, I sent an e-mail to my family with the details about the menu and was sure to "call a piece of the godiva" since there were only 3 slices of 4 different flavors. Awesome. Delish. (We missed you Clarissa--I would have set a side a Godiva slice for you).

Darci and I with my two girls and our two nieces. Precious!!!
Darci, Sofia, Allison, Careese, Me, Sydnei

In my family, we have a tradition on Thanksgiving where we each take a few minutes to express what we're most grateful for that year. We've done this since I was very little. When we were younger, my Mom would have us write on a piece of paper one thing we were grateful for during the month of November. I still remember different Thanksgiving holiday "grateful for's" details from back then (like every member of our family writing down "The Simpsons" back when the show first debuted in 1989, I was 12). On Thanksgiving, we would read them aloud. As we grew older, we didn't write them down on paper, we simply shared them on Thanksgiving. Yesterday, was no different. We gathered after dessert and shared what we were grateful for.

Here is what I am grateful for this year:

1. The blessing to have children and be a mother. I especially cherish some very sweet and illusive moments with my girls this year--ones that only happen once, which I'll never forget.
2. My best friend, soul mate, teammate, confidant, Ryan. I couldn't be the person I am without his love, support, and guidance. We have accomplished a lot this year and couldn't have done it without each other.
3. Life lessons. I've come to understand some very key guiding principles for my own life this year, which have reshaped my perspective on things and helped me to mature as an individual.
4. A 180 in my relationship with my sister. The last couple of months' events have brought us together in a way we haven't connected since she was in the 6th grade and I was in 8th grade. It's been a long time coming.
5. To be done with all of our Christmas shopping. We are actually going to enjoy December this year!
6. My Mom's improving health, love, and friendship. I have the best Mom in the world. We have shared some fun and amazing times together this year.
7. My cousins down south. We never really knew each other growing up because of distance. Thanks to blogs, facebook, and e-mail we're connecting with each other one blog post at a time. We've even found some striking similarities--like Meredith and I sharing the same OCD behavior when it comes to folding and stowing clothes. Love you guys.
8. Costco--it just makes my life more simple and my pocketbook more flexible.
9. BFF's. You know who you are. Life wouldn't be the same or nearly as humorous without you.
10. Having a baby that sleeps through the night. Priceless.

Enjoy these pics from yesterday's celebration. Good times.

Gearing up for the feast. Yumm-o.

Cutie patootie to the MAX! She wanted to eat so BAD.

Our baby girl SO EXCITED to chow down.

I love you, Ryan.

Darci has a strong vain streak to her...she LOVES to take pictures of herself. I saw her doing this and ran over to join in. :) Love ya, Derch.

And to top it all off, I found this picture going through our digital files. This is Sofia on Thankgsiving in 2005 (age 17 months) doing a little taste test at the dessert table. Stink Pot.
Like mother like daughter.