I feel as if my life has been on hold since we have been gearing up for Black Friday at the store. A little insight on the madness...last week I worked 60 hours, the week before was 50 which has been the trend for a couple months now. If I hover around 45, I consider it a great week. This week is going great.

I've been through several holiday seasons in retail but never at the head of the planning and mapping out strategy for it. It was pretty tiring. By Sunday I couldn't think straight. But as we sat down as a family to our small and unassuming Thanksgiving dinner which was very brief since I had to be in the store at 8 pm, I was still very thankful. Originally we were to go out of town but then I took this job and that canceled our plans which was disappointing. But despite hectic schedules and less than ideal holiday plans, this family pulls together and no one complains. They could if they wanted to. We want the kids to be able to tell us how they wish things could be but they know that we try our best. And in the real world, sometimes you have to make sacrifices. The worst of the holiday season is over so now we can go into Christmas full steam ahead...as soon as we get the tree, and put up the house lights, and send out cards, and go shopping...and...we'll get there eventually.

I hope your holiday season is joyous so far.

And one last thing, for all the bad you hear concerning humanity in the world, read this and be uplifted.

xo
Laura

Our 4th

was pretty quiet, minus the fireworks, but we were ok with that. We started the day with a 3.5 mile walk/run and then caught up on some chores. My friend called me lame for that, which was true, but you gotta take advantage of a day off in the middle of the week sometimes.

Jon made us a nice holiday meal and then we dug into a dessert of Watermelon with Feta cheese. It was as simple a day as you could get but so nice to relax with the kids.

Joy for every girl and boy

Lots to tell this week, but first, scenes from a Christmas morning.

Complete with carolers

Bring on the bird

After a few errands today, we will begin preparing mashed potatoes to feed a bunch for tomorrow's big feast. The kids and I will start peeling away later in the day so I'll have a head start in the morning.

We love Thanksgiving around here. It's my kids' favorite holiday.

Right after we married, we moved far, far away from our family. Jon's parents moved to Texas later on so we lived in the same state for about a year before we moved again. Since then all of our holidays were spent with just our little family. Occasionally we headed out West or down South for Thanksgiving festivities. Although I missed big family gatherings, I have enjoyed beginning new traditions with our kids and being able to spend the holiday with friends. Especially friends who will let me go into a Turkey coma on their couch and then go back for seconds and thirds.

Ahhh, the holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am thankful for: (in no particular order)

Family

Friends

Job

Church

Wood stove

Memories

That I found my favorite hair brush

Nice storage unit manager

Happy convenience store clerk

Flexible working hours

That the 2nd auto repair quote was less than half of the first quote

And you.

What are you thankful for?