We're back. And a belated, Happy Thanksgiving all!

Twenty four hours driving in the car with Little Miss Wiggles.

Four full days in sunny Cali.

Two Thanksgivings dinners.

One trip to the LA Zoo.

We survived! We had fun!

Celia was an angel. Considering we drove for pretty much forever and she was surrounded by adults the whole weekend and without a single decent nap.

What a trooper, I love that kid!

I also love my hubby. He drove the entire time!

What a saint!

I'm glad to be back though. It's hard to travel so far for the holidays. I guess that it's just par for the course having in-laws in another state.

Hopefully they will reciprocate the visit next time?

Since I'm a little late... this year among many, many other things, I am thankful for audiobooks. Don't mock. They kept me sane in the car.

So, I just had to laugh when I heard this article during my NPR fix this morning.

Good geeky fun!

Happy Monday everyone!

Thanksgiving funnies and recap...

Can I just say, my family can cook!?! We really do have the yummiest Thanksgiving feast! Pies, roles, stuffing, 2 turkeys. You name it. We had it. And the table looked gorgeous. Mom decorates as good as she cooks!


So, we sit down to the meal and I ask Celia what she'd like to choose to eat. I though that with an entire table laden with food, she would be sure to find something to eat. She wanted a piece of cheese. That was it. Just cheese. I told her she really needed to pick something from the table. So she ate about three bites of a role and was done. Oh well! She had fun running a muck with her cousins. She was super excited when pie was served. And being the nice mom I am, I let her eat pie without finishing a meal. She is truly a girl after my own heart. She loves pumpkin pie!


However, she doesn't eat the crust. What's that about??



Now, on to Christmas. Boy, that came fast! And after weeks of anticipation, the lights are on!

My Thanksgiving Thoughts

So, I'm usually a bit of a Thanksgiving scroodge. It's not that I don't like Thanksgiving. I just don't love it per say. However, this year was different for me. Having so much to be grateful for, changed my normally scroogey outlook. I looked back to where I was a year ago. And where I could still be if it weren't for a loving, patient Heavenly Father and my amazing family. This last year has honestly been the hardest year of my life. I could be wallowing in the depths of my sadness and loss. Instead, I have been guided, lifted and strengthened into a new life. A new life filled with friends and family. A new life full of opportunities and change. A new life where my daughter is safe, secure and most important of all, surrounded by love. Do I have a lot to be grateful for this year? YES! Here are some...
The gospel. I hope to never live without it's light in my life ever again.
Prayer. I wish I had words to convey the sweet peace I am given, the answers I have received and the overwhelming strength that keeps me through the day.
My family. I hope to always be this close to them! They fill my life with laughter and love and have been my strength when I had none. I love having them close and raising our children together. I love that we're involved in each other lives. With all that's happening in the world right now, it makes me realize how much we all need each other.
My sweet Celia. She is my joy and my life. I can't imagine a day without her smile and her munchkin voice! Her little mind always surprises me. She is just so smart! She understands the world in ways I never could!
Daniel. I just love being together! I wish we could have spent Thanksgiving together. Maybe next year??