Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was far better than last year for multiple reasons:  One Zach and I are married =) (that makes life infinitely better)  Two, Lisa got to spend it with us and she always makes anything more fun, Three, We did not get the flu from the squirts, Four, We got to spend a ton of quality time at Christie's with her, Tyler and the kids.
Zach and I spent Thanksgiving day itself with one of his mission companions, Marcus, his wife and his entire family.  It was a very loud, boisterous, fun and fulfilling day, there was tons of good food and company.  The rest of the time we spent watching Christie's kids, which was just an enjoyable and just a tad bit more exhausting.

Since Christie has moved she now lives very close to the Tranverse Outlets so one day, Lisa, Zach and I walked down to the mall.  On the way down we took the "less traveled" route which included fence hopping.

Once there we spent time window shopping, sitting by the fire and looking at the very large Christmas tree.

(I am the one behind the camera)
But besides going to the mall for the afternoon, eating Thanksgiving dinner, hanging out with kids and going to see Hunger Games: Catching Fire, we mostly just relaxed.  During the this time of no schedule I was able to reflect about what I am grateful for.  I am grateful for a hospitable older sister and her husband (even when she bosses me around ;) )  I am grateful for kids, they make everything so much more lively.  I am grateful for family, I love having Lisa around.  I love my parents and everything they taught me, especially the rule of hard work and how it can pay off.  I am grateful for Peter and Jill, who allow us to crash at their place constantly.  I am grateful for Drew and Jess who do everything above and beyond the call of duty.  And I am grateful for Katie Jo, who I wish would hurry up and be brilliant, graduate early and come out here =).  Again I am just grateful for my family.  I love you all.  I am grateful for Zach's family, who raised him to be who he is today and his sister (who we missed dearly this thanksgiving year).

(These are just videos from last year's Thanksgiving, but they have Emilie in it)

(So athletic our cousins are ;), love you all!)


Lastly and surely not least I am grateful for Zachary.  I love him and I am grateful for his patience and his persistence,  without either we wouldn't be where we are today.

Happy Thanksgiving!