Thanksgiving and Family

This Thanksgiving I had grand plans, and not one of my plans involved me cooking a turkey. Dani and I have hosted Thanksgiving for the last four years, and I was excited to forgo it for a year. Instead, we were going to Plymouth Rock to their period dinner, where you eat with your hands & speak to people in period costumes. This was all fine and dandy until I realized that tickets go on sale June 1, and lo and behold, are snatched up way before November 14. :)

That being said, I am so grateful this Thanksgiving. I am grateful that Steve and Ie Li drove 12 hours with two young children to stay in our small home with us for the holiday. I am grateful that Jack loves his cousins so much that he woke Stephen up in the wee hours of the night to convince him to climb out of his crib and play with him on multiple occasions. I am grateful that Steve and Ie Li found this as amusing as we did (although we were cautious to let the boys catch wind of our amusement). I am grateful for friends who kept calling until I agreed to combine our Thanksgiving dinners. I am grateful for a seriously delicious meal that I couldn't keep from saying "mmmm" over and over again with each course, and I am most embarrassed to say included the dishes that I made :). I am grateful for our gps, despite the fact that it took us all on a wild Turkey chase instead of to the correct Boston Public Gardens. I am grateful for family spread all over the world that make our lives richer and full.

For Records Sake (Post 2) We went to a Harvard Game

About a month ago, we went as a family to the Harvard/Lafayette game which was played on campus. It was FREEZING that day!! Zack and Jack sat next to each other while Zack explained every play to Jack.



Jack got way into it and wouldn't hear of leaving before the last play was over, despite Harvard's pathetic loss. While I was sitting on the freezing cold cement seats, replying to emails and surfing the internet thanks to Zack's iphone, I had an "a-ha" moment. Here I was trying to create a great family moment (okay, not at that precise moment since I was surfing the internet) but the important "moment" that actually happened was a bonding moment between father and son.




So a few weeks later when Zack wanted to get tickets to the Harvard/Yale game down at Yale, I politely declined the invitation. Zack looked sorry for me to be missing all the fun and asked what I would do all day by myself.

My response? Anything I blessed wanted.

Zack and Jack had a fantastic time at the game. They ate hot dogs and talked football. They stayed for the entire game, and Zack convinced Jack to go down and get his picture taken with Harvard's team after the game, which they won!

See how timid he is at first...




Since this game, Jack has become obsessed with Harvard. Whatever football, soccer, basketball game he is playing he is always Harvard (and therefore the winner, and the other player gets to be either Lafayette or Yale).

The boys thoroughly enjoyed their game, and I had the most glorious day of waking late, reading in bed for hours, eating top ramen for dinner and chocolate for dessert, that didn't need to be shared. All in all, it was a perfect day.

we're safe

Thanks to all for prayers and emails.
Love.

Prayers

Not sure if anyone is awake or reading this, but we have a tornado warning here in Warsaw. We are okay right now and I think the worst is past us (more about our experience once we see the blue sky), but I am petitioning for prayers. As many as you can offer for us. Now.

Love.