Feeling Thankful

Thanksgiving may be my favorite holiday because there is minimal commercialism and it's all about spending time with family and friends.  I love thinking about gratitude and what I have to be thankful for.  This year in particular I have been trying to practice gratitude, from the big things like my healthy son to the little things like listening to a good audiobook on a beautiful commute to work.

I am particularly thankful that Trey is having a successful kindergarten experience, has a great teacher, and has made some good buddies.  He is learning a ton right now, and it has been a real joy to watch him soak in information in a typical way, especially since I have spent 18 years working with students who do not learn in a typical way.  While I am really lucky to have summers and school breaks to be home with Trey, it is super sad for me that I do not get to spend any time with him in his classroom in his learning environment.  Randy does drop off and pick up and if anything needed to be handled during the day, Randy would be the go-to guy as he is across the street and I am an hour away.  As a doting and "involved" mother, this is tough for me.

When I saw an opportunity to help out at Trey's Thanksgiving Feast, I jumped on it.  I took a half personal day so I could drive back to Beaverton and be in his classroom.  When I walked into his room, there were several other volunteer mothers waiting in a circle with the teacher, and the teacher said (harmlessly, I know), "This is Trey's mom.  She can't help out in the classroom."  That was awesome.

The teacher read the students (27 of them!!) some stories and then led them through some songs.  It was pretty cute.

Trey enjoyed his feast with the Native Americans and the pilgrims, and it was neat for me to meet many of his friends who I have only heard about and even some of their parents.

Trey and Miguel 

Mrs. Moon and her kindergarten class 

On Thanksgiving Day, we had a relaxing morning at home.  Grady and Case came over for a bit to play, and then we went to the Kopplins for dinner.  All in all, it was a fabulous day.

I got a lot of cuddles that morning. 

Batmans! 

Cuddling up and watching some shows 

Trey took probably 200 pictures at the Kopplins for Thanksgiving (I'm not kidding) and almost all of them were garbage.  The boy needs to learn to aim at something and get the camera in focus before hitting the button.  Makes. Me. Crazy.

Ruben and Neil did the finishing touches on the meal, which was delicious, and then we all enjoyed the food.  As always, we probably overdid it on the appetizers, but I guess that's what Thanksgiving is all about.

Zander and Trey, one of the few good pictures Trey took 

Neil appreciating the moment before everyone ate 

Photo credit to Trey

 Family shot on Thanksgiving Day

On Friday, we did Thanksgiving Part Deux at my sister's house.  My dad came up, and our family friends, the Moreaus, came over for the meal.   It was delicious as well, and we wrapped up the weekend fully satiated.

Auntie Kristin with a win for the cheese and cracker appetizer tray 

Case was really excited about the pies.

Dressed up as superheroes, of course. 

 The kids' table

Case finally got his pie. 

Family dessert time 

We wrapped up the holiday weekend with a movie.

We took the kids to see the Good Dinosaur, which I really enjoyed.

How Pixar gets the scenery to look like that is amazing.  

This certainly is a year to be thankful.  I'm thankful that Randy and I both have the opportunities right now to pursue different career paths, that our son is healthy and learning a ton in school, that we live in a comfortable house with food on the table and warm clothes on our backs, and that we are surrounded by friends and family who love and support us.  We are a lucky family!