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Gymnastics…

The girls are hard at work preparing for their first performance!!!

Black Friday!!!

Thanksgiving {DAY 22}…I love holidays and celebrations!!! I love Halloween {dressing up and eating candy}, Thanksgiving {family, friends and food...what more could a person want!!!} and of course Christmas {my love language is presents!!!}...but one of my favorite yearly traditions is BLACK FRIDAY...a race for a great bargain to such a fun quest!!!  Today, I am at home searching for online bargains!!!

Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving Day!!! I am thankful a wonderful God that works everything out for my good and His glory. I am thankful for the story He has written for me and all the fabulous people I get to share my story with!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Lisa Fountain totally made my day when she gave me not 1, but 2 DAIM bars this morning!!! As I was seriously shoving the first one in my mouth on the way home, I wanted to cry!!! It was so thoughtful and could not have came at a better moment!!! {There are currently no DAIMs available in St Pete...even at IKEA!!! These were "imported" from Estonia!!!} My heart is just full of joy and thanks...for a dear friend bearing gifts; the fun of the adventure of seeking and finding Thanksgiving treasures {turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries...DAIM ;-)}; friends to celebrate with; a fabulous home, family, city; listening to K-LOVE while cooking; even a bit of Internet Black Friday shopping...and Facebook to share my thoughts, joys and wishes to all...HAVE A TERRIFIC DAY!!!

One more Thanksgiving shout-out...I am soooo thankful for such a great husband...we are complete opposites, but make a perfect fit!!! Keith Sullivan~In advance I just want to say thanks for all the little things you do for us...and all the little things I will ask you to do today!!! ;-) Love you!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving Day…

I am not sure when it happened, but I am no longer a kid.  I don’t get to sit on the couch bickering with my siblings or complaining about the days events or leave the table with no thought about dishes, cleaning up or left-overs.  Thanksgiving looks vastly different than it did 30 years ago!!!

Preparing the turkey…

 

My attempt at recreating my mom’s cranberry salad.

Our additional winter fridge space.

Thanksgiving at IA

A little learning…

Feasting…

The gang…

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Thanksgiving Memories…

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

A Car…

Thanksgiving {DAY 21}...A car! I love driving, music blaring and being able to accomplish so much more!
I remember saying "I would never send my kids to School on Thanksgiving or Christmas"...then I discovered the joys of holiday preparations in peace and quiet...and now I rejoice that tomorrow School is in session!!! My sympathies do go out to the fabulous IA staff that has to work...we do love you all!!!

Thankfulness

Thanksgiving {DAY 20}...Thankful there is only 2 more days until Thanksgiving!!! I love feasting, friends and the fact that I can stop being soooo thankful!!! HAHA!!! I really have enjoyed seeking thankfulness in all things...everyday...really!!!

Another thankful shout out that I got everything I needed on my grocery list...including turkey, sweet potatoes and cranberries!!! 2 more days until I am feasting!!!

Vacation…

Thanksgiving {DAY 19}...The fact that in one month we leave for Christmas Vacation!!!

Getting my biggest thing checked off my list and I am excited, relieved and thankful!!!

Freedom…

Thanksgiving {DAY 18}...I am thankful for our passports...the freedom we have to travel as Americans...every stamp and adventure it brought with it!!!

A Fun Night Out

Learned Thankfulness…

Thanksgiving {DAY 17}...I am thankful for all the things I have had to learn to be thankful for while living overseas...an unlimited supply of hot water for a hot shower or long soak in the tub; ice; free water with ice; sunshine; grass and so much more!!!

Organization…

Thanksgiving {DAY 16}...Organizing...I love to plan, organize, prepare, research, pin and then celebrate!!! Having lived in less than 1,000 square meters for most of my adult life...I love learning how to organize and maximize small spaces, reduce clutter and simplify.

#8!!!

Accomplishments!!!

Thanksgiving {DAY 15}...The Season of "To Do Lists" and the filling of accomplishment when it is all finished!!!

Almost…

I am thankful for all the "almosts" that never happened...almost got hit, almost got in a wreck, almost late, almost lost it, almost drowned {OK~that is only a joke, but all of this rain makes me feel like I could!!!}...all of which happened this morning!!!

I am thankful for pants…even though they are wet; shoes…even though they are muddy; a coat…even though it is wet!!! 

I am thankful for a sweet husband that on the day my coat was sopping wet went out and bought scotch guard to spray my coat!!!

Still super thankful for twinkling lights and a cup of coffee!!!

The Ups and Downs of Being Thankful!!!

1:00~I am having a completely thankless moment...the kind in which I contemplate crying, screaming or pigging out...my usually water-proof coat failed the constant mist during my miserable 3 hour sightseeing adventure with a new friend leaving me cold, tired and irritated...I all but ran to Stockmanns in hopes of warming up with Starbucks and a DAIM....neither of which I could purchase...which only leaves me nominally gratefully for the money still in my pocket.

2:30~I comforted my sorrows by purchasing an entire bucket of my favorite market yogurt and a bit of this fruit filled cheesecake stuff, grabbed a spoon from a cafe and am having a pig fest in the car with the music blaring!!! DAIM crisis has been temporarily adverted.

4:00~Thankfulness saga continues...after my pig-fest in the car, I failed to seal the lid and when a bus pulled out in front of me...the bucket of yogurt spilled in the floor! I am thankful for the bit of yogurt I was able to lick from the bucket!!!

8:00~Keith helped with homework and made the kid’s dinner, Emme helped with laundry, Gid…OK Gid wasn’t much help, but super sweet!!!  After Keith left for English Movie Night, the kids and I curled up in bed and watched a movie {that usually translate to mommy falls asleep} but I am dry, warm and home…wish I had a DAIM, but I am thankful for all I do have!!!

Saint Pete!!!

Thanksgiving {DAY 14}...The Outdoor Souvenir Market...I love all the handmade trinkets, the people and the view of the Church in the background.  Living in a gorgeous city.

Hello!!!

Thanksgiving {DAY 13}...Returning friends...Emme is super excited that her friend returns today!!!

Family Time…

Thanksgiving {DAY 12}...I am thankful for a fun, relaxing weekend with my family and discovering old family movies from our first years in Russia...the only bummer was poor Emme felt completely neglected because there were no VHS tapes of her!!!  After purchasing a new digital camera with video in 2005 {the year she was born} we stopped using the video camera.  Nevertheless, it was a great weekend!!!