Thanksgiving 2011

What am I thankful for?  I am thankful that I have been on vacation for the past 2 weeks!  More importantly I am thankful for my beautiful and healthy daughters, my family, friends, health, career, husband, home, faith, and so much more.  I have enjoyed being home these past few weeks with my girls and with my family.  I have been able to get some crafts done, some cooking done, and even some cleaning done.  Mostly, I have enjoyed being able to spend time with our extended families and not having to miss out on baptisms and such due to working or being overly tired from working.  We spent Thanksgiving Day at my parent's house with my brother, sister, Grandma, Aunt and Uncle.  It was a beautiful day and the kiddos got to play outside...which is always a bonus.  We went home for a quick nap and then headed downtown with my mom and dad to see the Holiday Lights.  Lily was well  behaved and Avery was NOT...it is usually the other way around.  She screamed and threw a fit almost the entire time and the entire ride home. 

 Mom and Dad

Downtown Omaha Holiday Lights

Maddie and I decided to brave the crowds and do some late Thursday night and early Black Friday morning shopping.  It is something I have never done before and it is something I will NEVER do again!  We waited in line at Walmart for 3 hours and I that I got was 3 pair of jammies and a baby guitar for Presley.  Not worth my time or sanity.  We headed out to Village Point after that to Carter's and it wasn't busy at all.  We hit a few more spots but didn't get anything else.  We ended up getting home around 1:00am and went back out again Friday morning around 9:00.  I guess I can say that I have experienced the chaos of Black Friday.  Friday night we took the girls to Village Point for the Santa Parade and to see the lighting of the big Christmas tree.  This is something we have done for the past 3 years.  This year was cold and rainy though, but better than years past because fireworks went off as the tree was lit!  I absolutely LOVE this time of year.  The decorations are up and the tree is decorated.  I want my girls to feel the magic in this time of year, but more importantly I want them to understand what Christmas is really about.  My mom got Lily a Fisher Price Nativity Scene for her room.  We have been reading about the Nativity and about how Jesus was born.  She has recently been practicing her songs for the Church Christmas Program on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday nights at Church.   She did such a good job singing last year so I can't wait to see her this year!

 Kylie and Presley

 Presley and Avery