This was one of my fave Thanksgivings. I want to pinpoint why, and I think it is people. The past year I've read books and articles on happiness and personality, etc.. and the key to feeling satisfied seems to be identifying what fulfills you and then filling your life accordingly. As an extrovert who thrives on busyness, surrounding myself with friends and family that I love and keeping our calendar full brings me satisfaction. Monthly dinners with cousins, playdates, date nights, etc I hope my kids take the time to figure out what fulfills them and then take the necessary actions to make that happen.
So this Thanksgiving week, there was grandparent's day at Jackie's school so we had some Grandma and Pop-pop time. Then we picked up Em from school and headed to Target for little Xmas trees for the kids to decorate and keep in their rooms. Then Em and me and Jim and the kids hit up Grammy and Pops for dinner with Aunt Katie. Wednesday we decorated the entire house for Xmas and went to Martha and Kevin's to hang out with Jim's high school friends and their kids. We scheduled a trip to California with Martha and Kevin and the kids to visit Alan this spring. Thursday bright and early we went to Grandma D's for Thanksgiving and when we got home we stopped at our friends Lisa and Kevin's house til late. Busy and fun and filled with friends and fam. Just my style. SO THANKFUL.
Below are my 2 playing together. This sight never gets old.
I babysat baby Kate for a bit the other week (I think- seems like ages ago). She and Benny playing.
Below- lunch.
Benny, ready to wow his buddies in the 3 class at school.
Friday afternoon happy hour at Lisa's.
These 2 goons.
Coloring.
Bath time with Em! Bath bombs that turn the tub different colors. Organic no doubt.
Thanksgiving at Gpa and Nana's- Jax and Gma Shoemaker.
Hillers wearing Gma Shoemaker's lipstick. After they had a fight over who is a better vocalist. Both of them believe they won the fight. Hillary is a true Shoemaker.
My girl Jack in her lipstick chilling with one of her fave uncles. She is reading this over my shoulder and wants me to document this game her and Brian played where she hid a plastic dog and he found it and then he would hide it for her to find. This guy played this game for a long time!
Eagles game at Kelly and Dan's. Benny loved this batman city thing.
Ben and Hill snuggling.
Ben and Hill probably about to rumble. Those 2 are either playing like crazy or fighting like crazy. This is exactly how it was with me and Uncle Mickey when we were young. Sometimes I have flashbacks when I'm watching these 2.
Jackie's roller skating party at school. She did awesome! Here she is holding hands w her friend Lily.
Jackie, Vivan and Lily.
Below are Jackie and Sarah. I love Sarah. And my girl Jackie, of course.
Jackie enjoying an icey. She just told me she actually didn't enjoy it. Well, I did. I love those things.
Ben and Hilly reading the postcards we received from Pop-Pop and Aunt J at Disney.
These 2 playing like crazy while I had their school conferences. Both of them received great reports- very strong academically. Nothing negative.
I took them to the dermatologist with me. They were very interested.
And also fairly bored.
Hilly creating a rocket with our Williams-Sonoma cheese knife....
Reading with Pop-pop after Grandparent's Day and after going to lunch at Grotto's- Jackie's fave restaurant.
Sleepy kids.
At Target helping the checkout lady.
Tree decorating!
In this picture, Ben is actually singing Christmas Carols. I love him so much.
Facetiming with cousins and Aunt Katie.
