J Cooper Photography

I’m not really even sure where to start.

Thankful that my husband is finally home from Africa.  Thankful that the strep throat stopped short of our entire family (didn’t miss me, however).   Thankful for a little one in Ethiopia who should find out she has a family coming next week.  Thankful for a meal prepared by my parents that was allergen free for me (that was a culinary feat and I so appreciated the effort!)  Thankful for some lazy days with my little people.  Thankful for more family visits tomorrow.  Thankful for Christmas decorating and violin recitals.  Thankful for pumpkin muffins and Chai tea in the afternoon.  Thankful for a visit from grandparents.  Thankful for a new pantry overhaul.  Thankful for Black Friday clothes shopping for Sunshine.  Thankful for Ethiopian coffee.  Thankful for friends since kindergarten.

We gathered at my parent’s house for dinner and time with Gaga.  Tomorrow we’ll hop in the Swagger Wagon and head to Grand Island to see the whole family (14 cousins=one rowdy house).  We’ll do Thanksgiving again, clean the dishes, then fast forward to our annual Christmas gift exchange.  This time with TWO new cousins!

{smoking out my parent’s house making traditional Ethiopian coffee!}

After our great afternoon, we came home and unload the Christmas decorations!

How about some sweet little violinists playing music from The Nutcracker to get you into the spirit????

Julia playing March from the Nutcracker

Anna playing Waltz of the Flowers

The girls have worked so hard to have these pieces ready for their Christmas violin recital!   Their teacher was my stand partner throughout junior and senior high.  Her daughter plays the violin as well so we had fun performing Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer as a quartet too!

I hope you have MUCH to be thankful for this week!!