Today turned out to be wonderfully enjoyable... Sean and I took the girls to see The Bee Movie (not recommended but was great to see Dillen and Roxy, especially, enjoy "the big movie theatre." It's been a while since we've gone. I think Happy Feet was our last attempt with Roxy.) The girls insisted on wearing costumes so Dillen was Dorothy, braids and all, and Roxy Tinkerbell.

After the movie, we came home and I napped with Roxy while Sean and Dillen played. Then around 3PM, we gathered our things and, with dessert in hand, arrived at Grandma Barbara's. Dinner was yummy, decorations were beautiful but most enjoyable was time with family around a warm, candlelit table.

Surprisingly, 7PM felt like 11PM for all of us and the evening ended for what some might consider early. I suppose that is par for the course with two young children. :)

I am thankful for so many things but mostly for my family and friends. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate and need their love and how much I enjoy giving it back.

Today kicked off the holiday season for me. YAY! I just wasn't "feeling it" until today. I am looking forward to decorating our home and wrapping gifts. I can't wait for the girls to give their letters to Santa when they see him and to watch their faces light up Christmas morning. Family traditions are not to be missed! And this year we have a new one: Grandma Susan made a VERY special quilt Avent Calendar for the girls which we will, of course, start on the 1st. (She even made a special bag of goodies to load each pocket up and directions if the goody doesn't fit the pocket. Amazing. I will definitely get pictures to share!)

Tomorrow I am going to brave the crowds in hopes of taking advantage of some of the sales. However, I will NOT be arriving at the stores by 4 or 5AM. That is for the insane.

One last thing: I am so thankful for our neighbor/artist/friend Sara who has painted an unbelievably beautiful mural on Dillen and Roxy's toy room walls. In one area she painted a hot air balloon and a sign that reads "Bon Voyage Friends. We love you." And within the balloon are paintings of Dillen and Roxy's favorite stuffed animals that we lost in the "flood." Dillen insisted Sara incorporate them somehow into the mural. Sara and I agreed that a graveyard was probably not the best way. Sean blogged and took pictures about the process. She still wants to return to do some smaller details but you can see what she has done so far on Sean's site:

Click here.

I do hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.