Happy Thanksgiving

I sit here listening to the Zach Brown band and drinking Omission as my kids sit on the couch with my parents watching football. Our windows are all steamed up with the smell of turkey cooking and my mind feels more at ease than it has for days.

Four days off school and work and alarm clocks and the harried routines of modern life. A break from responding to the cries of other people's children. My own are enough. For now.

Earlier today, Nick and I rode rented fat-tire bikes though APU and Russian Jack parks, as Nana and Papa walked the kids on their bikes to the playground at Takishla Park.

Life is good.

Last night, as I lay in the dark with Olive, snuggling her before bedtime, she asked, "Mom, why does Elias need help with so much?"

"Well, his body has to work a lot harder than yours or mine to do things."

"Why?"

"Remember how he was born early?"

"Yeah."

"Well he was injured, or hurt, when that happened, because his body wasn't ready to be out of my belly."

"Why was he hurt?"

"He just was Sweetie."

"Was I hurt?"

"No, just Elias. But, you know, there's a lot he can do."

Today he rode his three-wheeled recumbent bike through the neighborhood over a dusting of snow and ice. He helped us clean the house for Thanksgiving, taking his turn vacuuming and putting the throw pillows on the couch just so. "That's how they do it on the home shows, Mom, like that."

"Thanks, they look great."

"Do you like how I did the pillows?"

"I do."

"Thats how they do it on the home shows I watch with Ms. Julia."

"I like them."

And I like you exactly as you are, and your sister, and your Dad, and my parents and his and our siblings and our friends and this oh so wild but tame place we live.

I like everything about my life right now, a loving family, a warm house, and food cooking. What more does a girl need?

Cheers all, I like you too!

 

Comments

[fleming]

We have so much to be thankful for…XoX from our family to yours.

[Alexandra Heidinger]

You have nails! Funny the things we remember, but I definitely remember you as a nail chewer! I'm glad you got to enjoy your sweet parents on Thanksgiving. Cheers back from Portsmouth.