30 Days of Gratitude....Almost time to wrap this up

The list of reasons why I haven't been keeping up on this is quite extensive.  Instead of boring you with the specifics of my procrastination, I shall get right to the point.

#23 - The wonderful way that Ned loves things he knows will delight our girls.  I've always said that Ned was the perfect person to be the dad of many girls.  He loves to spoil them and he even indulges in the crazy princess escapades.  Ned is a total dude.  He loves football, sports, golf, motorcycles, cars, and anything with a motor.  While he is a total boy, I love to watch him get excited over a new princess movie that he knows Abby will love.  Ned has watched more princess movies, sought out more Ariels in more Disney stores, stood in line to see more princesses, and had more tea parties than any other dad I know.  I am grateful for a husband who is such a good dad to his girls.

#24 - Good movies.  I love movies.  I love some movies I probably shouldn't for whatever reason.  I really love it when I find a movie that is good to watch and that I like.  We saw 'Tangled' and loved it.  Abby loved it and I laughed so hard.  It was fabulous.  I love seeing movies as a family and this was one of those times.  I love a good bit of entertainment.  I am grateful for food movies.

#25 - The BEST Thanksgiving dinner around.  My grandma is the best cook.  She makes unarguably the best Thanksgiving diner I've ever eaten.  Everything is fabulous.  The turkey, perfect; the stuffing, tasty; the cranberries (homemade - not out of can), fantastic; the potatoes and gravy, more that wonderful.  I've never been a big fan of this holiday.  I am a fan of giving thanks but not the rest of it.  I am a fan of food.  For some reason I don't see giving thanks and eating good food at parallel concepts.  I don't know why. Anywho, I have always been a fan of my grandma's cooking.   I am so grateful for the most delicious Thanksgiving dinner (that makes me so happy and full) ever.
*This is my mom and Zoey right after we'd finished eating.  This was Zoey's first Thanksgiving!

#26 - Email.  I love technology.  Email may just be one of the best things that the internet has ever given us, well online shopping is a close second.  Email has provided a way for us to almost instantly communicate with people without having to call them or see them in person.  This was particularly wonderful as a college student and as a teacher.  I could type out a response to a parent, re-read it, change it and then send it.  And as an added bonus, I had a copy of what we all said for proof for whatever.  Even better than the idea of missing out on an awkward conversation, is the fact that we can get and receive email from my brother on a mission in seconds. Snail mail takes almost 2 weeks to get there and at least 3 to get back.  UGH.  Email is the best!  Ned is always saying how unfair it is that now they can use email.  We didn't have email when he was in Australia (from 98'-00').  It took months to get letters to and from.  I am very grateful for email.

#27- The Wallis girls.  I am so grateful for my sister-in-laws.  They are all wonderful people and so much fun to be around.  I am so glad that I have such wonderful women as family and as friends.  They make me laugh, cry and they make me a stronger person.  We have shared late nights, shopping trips, stories and giant bowls of guacamole.  I am so grateful for these women and their friendship.

#28 - The simplicity and joy of falling snow.  I love to watch snow fall. I love to be inside, warm, cozy and warm while it's falling.  I don't, in any way, shape or form like to spend much time outside in the snow.  It's cold.  It's COLD.  I do love watching snow fall and the quiet peace that it seems to bring.  Tonight I ran outside to take a picture of the snow for Nathan and I realized how beautiful and still the night was.  If it hadn't been so COLD out there I might have stayed and absorbed some more peace - heaven knows I need it.  Despite the cold, I am grateful for the beauty and simplicity of the falling snow.
*Zoey and me heading outside into the snow.