Due to all the traveling we’ve done this year, Shane and I decided to forego our usual Thanksgiving trip to Minnesota and instead spend the holiday closer to home, in Portland with my brother’s family. Â We arrived on Thursday morning, and from the moment we set foot inside Mitch and Kathryn’s cozy home, the blessings of family were lavished upon us. Â Morgan looked up at me with her big brown eyes and I scooped her up in my arms; Elise giggled her three year-old giggle and we quickly started making our play plans. Â Mitch put the turkey in the oven and Kathryn and I got caught up with each other’s latest goings-on. Â Goodness, these people are special to me – and their home has become a place full of so much comfort and joy for Shane and I.
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Since we won’t see the girls at Christmas, and since Elise saw the gifts we’d brought and couldn’t contain her excitement, we opened presents that afternoon. Â The blocks we bought for Morgan were a huge hit with both kids – Elise is an expert tower-builder, and Morgan is the queen of destruction (you can guess what happened about three seconds after I snapped this photo).
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Post-presents, we put the finishing touches on the big Thanksgiving feast. Â Elise has taken after her parents and loves to cook – she was eager to help with meal preparations and whipped up an extra-special soup for Uncle Shane with a few miscellaneous cupboard finds: oregano, raisins, and dried chili peppers in warm water. Â Shane is smiling on the outside, but inside, he’s thinking, “How do I get out of having to eat this?!”
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Morgan also loves being a part of the cooking action – she excels at: trying to climb in the dishwasher, finding anything that fell off the cutting board, and opening cupboard doors and drawers. Â But seriously, how you not want this face in your kitchen?
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We ate until our stomachs couldn’t hold a single bite more, and after the dishes were washed and the kids were tucked into bed, I stretched out on the sofa and thanked my lucky stars for apple pie and baby girls.
We all went out together on Friday morning to do a little shopping, and then spent the rest of the afternoon cozied up indoors. Â Living room tea parties, rounds of Candyland, and snuggle time with little Morgan. Â Lovely.
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We spent this morning at Cathedral Park before hitting the long dusty trail back to Seattle. Â After spending the previous 48 hours lounging and eating, it felt good to get out for a walk. Â Elise skipped among the leaves and Morgan enjoyed the view from her stroller.
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As I reflect this weekend on things that I am thankful for, family both near and far, is at the top of my list.