Grateful

Bountiful blessings this year. So many things to be thankful for. For me, it mostly comes down to home and family these days -- and that's more than enough.

Our Thanksgiving Bowl (which I posted about here) was a mixed success. We didn't get to it in the morning, because Nana J was involved with the kids in a craft activity, getting them to glue together some Christmas themed door hanger projects that she'd brought with her. Let's just say the gluing was a bit much for little hands. So it had to be squeezed in between naptime and leaving for dinner at Aunt S and Uncle J's. But we managed it.

BB was clueless about the whole thing, which isn't surprising. Especially since she was still a little cranky and groggy from her nap as I was trying to explain everything. But BJ loved the idea. He immediately sat down with me to draw a picture of what he was thankful for, and while I drew a (very crude) picture of our house and our family, he got right down to work with a blue crayon. I talked with him about what I was drawing, and when I asked him about his picture, he said it was a picture of his toy snake Stuxey and Stuxey's house. So perhaps he's a little unclear on the whole thing as well.

But I was happy to start the tradition -- these things have to begin somewhere, right? -- and I think it has potential. A nice simple ritual but potentially deep with meaning. I put in my picture, a business card from Mama's Magic Studio, a pen, and family photographs. S put in some more photographs, a magnet of a building on his campus (to represent his job, for which we are both profoundly grateful) and a little toy cheetah to represent the cats. Nana J drew a picture and put it in the bowl.

And then we rushed out the door to head over the hill for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm happy to say that the kids were extremely well behaved, and we had a lovely time. Dinner was yummy, company was very nice. As I said, bountiful blessings this year. I hope you can say the same.