Thanksgiving Day

John and I started the day off running in the Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot is a 10k run (6.2 mile) that they put on every year down in Mesa. There were over 2000 finishers this year.We were trying to get pumped up despite waking up early to rain and a chilly 52 degrees outside (super cold for us Arizonans).WE DID IT! John ran it in 49 min. and I ran it in 55 min. We saw a lot of our friends running the race as well and cheering from the side lines - it really was a lot of fun!We were on our own this year for Thanksgiving. We decided to take it easy and go out to eat at Lucille's BBQ. They serve a special Thanksgiving meal but of course our picky family opted for the usual favorites of cassadias, ribs, steak, and pulled pork sandwiches. I love the JAR of soda they give you. Royce was fascinated with the guy turning all the ceiling fans off.Snickers pie... our kind of pie. Thank goodness for the Turkey Trot, it made indulging in this scrumptious treat gilt free.mmm deelish!The boys were intrigued by the flashes of lighting streaking across the sky... an amazing lightning show right outside our window. The best part was leaving the mess at the restaurant and coming home to a clean, peaceful house. We continued our tradition of putting up the Christmas tree.
The kids all pitched in but I think Myla was the only one who really accomplished anything.

Although we miss having family around especially on holidays, I am so thankful for my little family and that we are able to have so much fun together even when it is just us. I am thankful for my loving, caring, hard working, sensitive, funny, handsome husband who treats me like a queen- he is my best friend forever. I am thankful for our 4 beautiful, healthy, energetic, funny, smart children - they are my life. Even though I don't always see this as a blessing, I am thankful that I am able to stay home and be a mom to my kids while they are young - I just hope that I can realize the joy of it before they all grow up. I'm thankful for John's job which provides for all of our needs and then so much more - we have been so blessed. I am thankful for my family and for John's family - they love and support us in everything we do. I'm thankful that my moms surgery went well and that she is on the road to recovery and that she sounds like our "mom" again. I'm thankful for the gospel- without it there would be no meaning to my life. I'm thankful for my friends, some new and some from my early childhood - they listen to me vent and help me see the comedy in life... life would be so much harder with out friends. I'm thankful for the country we live in- despite all the negative we can say, we truly are blessed to live in this great land. I'm thankful for my nice home and the good schools that my children are able to go to. I am thankful for the quiet, peaceful moments at night when I get to relax with my husband, read a book, catch up on some cleaning or blog our family memories. I'm thankful that I didn't throw up after the Turkey Trot this morning when I felt like I was going to and I'm so very thankful for my life - I have a good one!