Oh, So Thankful

Our little family of six, was able to spend our first Thanksgiving together as just our little family.  I admit I was rather disheartened about not being with family in the beginning, but grew quite excited about the prospects of cooking our own Thanksgiving Feast!

The boys had the entire week off of school and I planned several activities to keep us busy for the week.  But between errands and gymnastics, our time was quickly eaten up.  The kids LOVE their gymnastics and we were able to attend four different days this week!  I can't get enough of watching their skill and ability levels improve each week.  Coleman is so flexible he can touch his feet to the back of his head while laying on his stomach.  Campbell has strengthened his arm muscles to do several of the bar moves that he struggled to do before.  Even little Addison is starting to work on her cartwheels. 

Marc surprised us on Wednesday with a boating expedition in the afternoon.  The weather was glorious as we took the boat out into the gulf.  After cruising around, we had a little picnic on the boat and just enjoyed the rocking of the boat and warmth of the sun.  Hard to believe that it was the end of November!  On our way back home, we came across some dolphins playing in the water.  We stopped to watch them, marveling at their bodies jumping completely out of the water.  Marc and I were almost as excited as the kids.  After a large boat scared them away, we continued on home and came across more dolphins and then more dolphins!  It was amazing!  One came right directly in front of our boat and kept leaping in front of us.  It was incredible how close it was.  Coleman commented on how clearly he was able to see the dolphin's belly and the different colors of it's body, how the white shifted into the gray area and then dark gray.  It was awesome! It almost felt like you could reach right out and touch it.  We were so entranced that we didn't even think about cameras to capture the moment and by the time we did, we didn't get a clear shot and then our battery died.  I figure it was just life's way of telling us to stay in the moment.

Thanksgiving day was pretty fun.  The kids were all so eager to become chefs for the day.  Each of them helped Marc and I with the feast.  Marc, of course, was the major chef and created a glorious spread that even our pickiest of eaters was willing to try.  After dinner was an enjoyable bike ride through the neighborhood and watching the sunset.  While it would have been wonderful to be with our families, it was rather hard to beat this spectacular week of Thanksgiving!

We are so grateful for all the many blessings we have been given.  I'm so grateful for a husband who is able to create a home no matter where we are and for four of the most incredible children ever who show such unconditional love to us and who remind us what life here on earth is all about - family.  I'm so blessed and grateful they are mine.  Grateful to our families back home and scattered about, and grateful for the friends who have become family.  We love you all.