Better late than never!!

So clearly I have a hard time keeping up! I make all kinds of goals to write on here and then it takes me ages to get it done. 

I have wanted to write a little post about Thanksgiving (American thanksgiving-in November-so I am not THAT late) but i have also started all kinds of Christmasy things that I wanted to document and so I have some SERIOUS catching up to do. 

Catch up #1 Thanksgiving. 

Kyle and I packed up our car and headed to utah for some Thanksgiving enjoyment with his family. 

(Indie ready for the car ride with her little troll buddy)

Since Thanksgiving for my family was way back in October, I wasn't thinking as much about the food etc as I was about black friday! I thought this year we would take advantage of some sales since I've never done it before. (Last year we just drove around and looked at all the freezing people in the ridiculous lines and then went home). 

Anyways, I had an epiphany of sorts as Kyle and I got in the car to go look at some stores. Not only am I totally and completely NOT cut out for black friday chaos, I really find it sad that after spending a week preparing for thanksgiving and then spending the day thinking about things that we should be grateful for, we go out and get sucked in to getting a good deal (which by the way is a joke-it's a fabulous marketing scheme for whoever came up with it but there really aren't that many wonderful deals-take it from me, i did my research!)

It was sad to see that a day of thanks became a day where people were prideful, rude, greedy etc. I find it interesting that a day that is dedicated to family and gratitude has become a day full of the above. Needless to say that we went to one store and left without anything. Our decision to leave led to an awesome conversation in the car about our lives together for the last 2 years and all the wonderful memories we have created together as well as all the things we can be grateful for. 

Below is a a small little list of the things that I am grateful for and don't want to forget even though the holiday is over. 

• #1 Family. I'm grateful for my family now-Kyle, Indie and a new healthy baby on the way- I could honestly go on forever about how much I appreciate them but I'll save it for another time. Point is I count my blessings every day that they chose me because I have never been happier even when things are hard. I'm grateful also for my siblings and parents who I am constantly referring to for cooking help, parenting help and good conversation. They love me for who I am and I'm grateful that they laugh with me when I make mistakes instead of thinking I'm a looney--maybe they do...

• I'm grateful for temporal blessings we have like a house, teapot for hot chocolate, a very comfortable bed and a car (especially in the winter...ay ay ay I can't stand the cold weather and would be a little hobbit in a cave if I didn't have warm transportation)

• I'm grateful to have faith that things work out and the hope that things will get better when they are hard

• I'm grateful for pinterest which has inspired many successful projects that have beautified our home and filled our tummies and many unsuccessful projects that are fun memories

• I'm grateful for a daughter that loves to dance and has recently added her waving arms to her bouncing legs which makes for plenty of giggles and video opportunities

• I'm grateful that hair grows back because I totally don't know how to do short hair but I'm even more grateful that someone out there who doesn't have hair to be grateful for this year may be able to have some of mine. 

• I'm grateful for school and education. I love to learn and have LOVED the classes I've been able to take and I love that Kyle is graduating next week!

• Lastly (but not really, I could keep going) I'm grateful for Idaho and the memories that we have here. We are sad to be leaving but Idaho has been good to our family and it will always be a special place where I met a man better than my dreams and started our lives as 'the Slaughters'