November 30

I found this at Target last week. It's a re-release of a car that was produced a number of years ago and I bought it because I thought it would be a fun addition to our family room holiday decor. And because Logan loved Ramone in all of his incarnations -- including this one.

I always miss Logan and wonder what he'd be like --how tall he'd be, what activities he'd enjoy, what he'd like to eat-- but that sense of longing for what could've been usually intensifies over the Christmas season. And this year is no different.

So today, as I passed by my desk and saw this car sitting there ready to take its place on the mantel, I felt a renewed sense of gratitude that God created us to hold memories of those who have gone before us in our hearts. It's not the same as having him here, but it's most definitely better than nothing at all.

November 29

I spent the bulk of the afternoon working on a crochet project, and this is how I found Brady when I emerged from my cave (room) for a drink:

In the foyer, surrounded by an array of boxes. (And Chub. And BearBear.)

When I asked what he was doing, he said he was putting together a house for Isaac's dog Slime. He went on to explain that Isaac had taken Slime upstairs to keep him occupied so the surprise wouldn't be spoiled.

They're definitely growing up quickly, but I'm grateful that they still act like little boys sometimes because the days of playing with stuffed animals and building box forts are far too few.

November 28

Signs of the Christmas season keep popping up at our house.

This one --my wee little tree-- showed up at some point today. It is, for the record, placed in the hallway between the boys' bedroom doors (and that's the front door down below the overlook. You can probably see the lights from the street through the upper arched window).

This season may not hold the parties I was so hoping to host, but it will still be fun to continue to figure out how to decorate our new home. And for that, I'm thankful.

November 27

Despite the weirdness of 2020, it was a day-after-Thanksgiving that largely resembled our traditional days-after-Thanksgiving. To start, Abby and I got up and headed out for some (masked, of course) Black Friday retail therapy. We hit the usual haunts (Starbucks, Walmart, Target, Ulta, Old Navy, JCPenney) for the usual reasons, JoAnn for some new Christmas decor for the living room (where we decided on a silver and gold theme), and finished off in the Burger King drive-thru for lunch.

While we were out, Adam and the boys did some exterior decorating --front AND back--and put up the 9.5-foot artificial tree we purchased to grace the front window. 

Isaac was particularly excited to go pick out a (small) real tree for our family room, so after Adam finished his nap, we headed out to a local lot, found a good one, and brought it home. After reconfiguring the furniture a bit, Adam put it where it will stand for the next month or so and strung the lights. 

Then after Abby and I wheeled the neighbors' trash cans up and down the street a few times (long, rather amusing story there that Abby will smack me if I relay here so I won't but I mention it anyway lest I should ever forget) we closed out the day's informal festivities with a viewing of "Home Alone."

Both trees still need to be decorated and there are pieces of wall art that Abby and I picked out that need to be hung and there are still presents that need to be bought and wrapped and holiday cards that need to be addressed and sent, but it feels Christmas-y at our house. I feel a sense of anticipation for the season of joy and cheer that lies ahead. And for all of that, I am grateful.

November 26

It was most definitely a different kind of Thanksgiving. For the first time ever, we had dinner at our own house with just our immediate family. And we used our china --the good dishes!-- for the first time ever, too. (Seriously. The sets were still sitting in our garage in their original boxes. All I can say is that 18 years can fly by and things just don't get opened when you don't have the occasion to use them.)

Anyway, we all chipped in to make the meal happen. Isaac made the Jello yesterday, Abby made an apple and pear pie, Brady helped with a few sides, I whipped up some mac and cheese (which, along with the inclusion of the Jello, prompted Abby to note that we'd added a Kids' Menu to the Thanksgiving dinner offerings this year), and Adam took care of the turkey breast, pumpkin pie, and cranberry bread.

So yes, we gathered around our beautiful table in our dining room in our lovely new house and enjoyed a meal that we prepared ourselves, for each other. And although he wasn't here-here, Logan was represented by Lambie, who had his own place setting. So we ate and gave thanks to the One who created us and enjoyed our time together.

This life is filled with peaks and valleys, but there are always reasons to be thankful. And today I am grateful for all of mine. And for all of you.

November 25

Since we're doing Thanksgiving at our house for just us this year (for the first time ever!), we asked the kiddos what they wanted to have for dinner. There were plenty of interesting responses for sure, but Isaac wanted Jello. And he wanted to make it himself.

I ran out to buy a pan (which is not pictured; the mold I bought wasn't big enough to hold all of the liquid so we put the overflow into a mini cupcake tray) and then we got to work.

Jello is easy to make, but it was really the first time Isaac had contributed to a larger meal, so it felt like a noteworthy event. And I definitely felt a sense of pride as he carefully poured his product into the mold and the pan.

As I've noted many times of late, he's growing up. (And quickly! According to our unofficial height measurement from tonight, he's shot up about two inches in the past five months.) And that is a blessing that's worth noting over and over again.

November 24

With the threat of day-before-Thanksgiving traffic snarls lurking in the hallows of my mind, we headed back home today. On the way, we made a quick stop at the candy store in Murphys.

I poked my head inside the charming little store long enough to choose my treat and then --mindful of COVID headcount restrictions-- I popped back outside.

I love peanut brittle. I've always had a thing for the peanuts and the crunchiness and the sweetness... all of it. So today, I'm grateful for little treats. (And I'm grateful to be home again, too.)