Thanksgiving weekend 2015

Every year I list off the many things for which I am thankful. I remember taking a "positive psychology" personality test in graduate school, which said my #1 positive psychology trait is gratitude. I think this is definitely true, because not a day goes by without me pausing with thankfulness about one thing or another. I never forget that I am fortunate beyond all measure.  I have more than I could ever have dreamed of, and how many people get to say that?

This Thanksgiving weekend began with a 5 mile Turkey Trot in Philadelphia. It covered some of the same ground that the half and full marathons used the weekend before (oh, yes, I ran the Philly half marathon a week ago and survived!), and the ground was covered with sticky sugar from the energy gels they had passed out the week before.  My sister and I ran the course in 47 minutes, which is pretty good for me.  Then I came home and took the kids to the playground, because it was a perfectly beautiful sunny day.

My friend's husband swinging next to Charlotte

Thanksgiving dinner was at my aunt and uncle's, as usual.  There were 9 kids, ranging in age from 18 months to 15 years.  The 6 youngest sat together at the "kids'" table, and seemed happy there.  I look forward to our Thanksgiving feast all year long.  I ate more than I do almost any other night.  And of course, my kids want none of it- a few bites of turkey, a few string beans- that's it.  I need to work harder to instill in them a love of Thanksgiving food!

Part of our meal. Does not include the string beans, salads, rolls, gravy, and 2 types of cranberry sauce.

The day after Thanksgiving was also warm and beautiful, so we boycotted Black Friday by going for a hike. We picked a 2 mile loop, which was a little far for some little legs. I got extra exercise by carrying Charlotte for part of the walk (Benjamin pointed out it wasn't truly a "hike" because there was no mountain).

 They were also disappointed by the lack of wild animals on our walk in the woods.  There were signs up that deer hunting was allowed with bow & arrow, but we didn't see any deer or hunters.

Benjamin woke up first from nap (if he even took one), and I took him to ride his bike in the parking lot at his school. He asked Eric to take his training wheels off, and then off he went!  Somehow he knows how to ride with no training wheels, and neither one of us got to teach him!

Benjamin- 2 wheels!

My mom said we should be glad we didn't have to teach him- no running with him, hunched over the back of the bike trying to instill confidence.  He just took off! I am so proud of him. I couldn't stop bragging to everyone, and he told me to stop because it makes him uncomfortable.  

Friday night my sister and I went out for a drink. I wasn't feeling well, but she left for Africa on Saturday night and so she wanted to spend some time together just the two of us.  We had a very nice time together.

On Saturday, I woke up feeling really lousy.  My throat hurt, I had a headache, and I was SO tired. Eric let me sleep until 9, and then I spent the rest of the day on the couch.  I watched many episodes of Master of None, which I enjoyed.

Today I felt better. I don't feel 100% myself but much more so than yesterday. I took the kids to the Delaware Children's Museum.  We've never been, and I had the desire to do something new but not overly adventurous.  They loved it! A lot of the exhibits were more sophisticated than the ones at the Please Touch Museum, so I think it's a place they will enjoy more as they get older, too.  There was a huge climbing structure in the middle which they couldn't get enough of. There was a car repair shop, with actual instructions on what to do to repair the car; another area had all kinds of building tools to build big and small structures. We spent 2 hours playing and could have stayed longer, but I wanted to get them home for a nap.

Charlotte cooking in the kitchen- she made "mash a-tato."

Asher organizing the gears so that each one would turn when he turned the crank

Tonight we had a quiet evening at home.  Charlotte enjoys imaginary play, so she and I had a great time playing with her stuffed kitty cats.  Unfortunately, she also has a great time with repetition, so what was funny once is funny 10 times.  The first time we all hid under the coffee table from the monster was funny; the 5th wasn't so much for me.  I got to pretend to be Black-and-White Kitty, and she thought it was hysterical.  Asher got in on the fun, too, and at the end Benjamin brought his Panda to play with us.

I am very caught up in how temporary all of this is.  Asher is getting so big, and I have a hard time carrying him places.  But wasn't it just yesterday that I was slipping his little body into his crib with no effort at all?  Charlotte is sweet and delicious, but wasn't it just yesterday that she was still in my belly?  Benjamin is riding a bike by himself, but wasn't it just yesterday he couldn't even figure out how to nurse? Any minute now they will be heading off to college, or some other nonsense.  Whose soft and sweet cheeks will I kiss, and whose round little bodies will I snuggle?  I am so thankful for these 3 wonderful, healthy, lovable children.  In whatever stage, at whatever time.